My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

I am in my 8th week and went to the doctor for my first visit. All they did was check my weight, blood pressure, give me a pap smear and then a vaginal ultrasound to see the baby/hear the heartbeat.

That was it. I was given no information about anything. I wasn't told any information about anything upcoming.

I was scheduled for another appointment in two weeks, for an ultrasound and some blood tests.

I am disappointed for a couple of reasons. One being that I thought the appointments were supposed to involve more somehow, and feel like I am not getting the information and/or healthcare and tests that I am supposed to have. My second reason is, my doctor also said she may not deliver the baby. The office has 6 doctors in it and even though I only go to see her, each doctor rotates days at the hospital, so it is whoever out of the 6 that is working at the day I deliver... this kind of upsets me as I don't know the other 5 doctors and was really hoping she would be there.

Are all the things I discussed common? How do I know if I am receiving proper care or not?

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

As far as what was done in the doc's office, checking BP, pap smear, etc. - that's normal for a first visit. And the following visits so far for me are just weight, BP, listening to the heartbeat, pee in a cup.

But if you're disappointed with the communication you're getting from your doc, you should maybe try pursuing it by asking lots of questions at your visits or considering switching practices. Regardless, you should be 100% comfortable with your doc.

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

Congrats!!

I have 3 Dr's in the practice that I go to and as you continue to go to the dr you will need to see all of them so you can get to know them that way when you are ready to deliever it will not be a shock to you, it kind of stinks because you get so comfortable with the one and then you have to meet everyone else.

My first appt was the exact same thing, your next appt should be alittle more informative but go with any and all questions that you may have.

Good Luck and Enjoy

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

Other than them not giving you much info, the rest seems pretty normal. As for who will deliver you, in a big practice that seems like the norm. You may want to rotate doctors throughout your pregnancy so that you'll have met all the doctors before you deliver.

At your next appointment, I would ask them if they have an info packet if they don't offer you anything. Also, bring a list of questions so that you can ask about things concerning you (do's and don'ts, the schedule of appointments and tests, etc).

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

All seems very normal to me. In fact I wasn't given any information on my first visit other than when my next visit would be. It was at my second visit that the doc sat down with me in her office and gave me a schedule of when all visits/tests need to occur.

Hope this helps!

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

Thats basically what your first appt is like. As you get further along your visits will become a little more detailed.

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

Did your doctor go over what you should/should not eat? Medications not to take? Anything like that? Did she ask if you had any questions? Mine did all that at the first appointment and also gave me an informational sheet.

As far as the multiple doctors in the practice thing - very common. Find out if you will rotate and see every doctor toward the end of your pregnancy. That is what happens at my practice. If you want your doctor to deliver your baby, you really need to see a single doctor practice.

Good luck and congratulations!!

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

I'm sorry you were disappointed

the office i go to also has 5-6 doctors and their policy is that you have to have an appt with each of them at least once since you are not guaranteed which one will deliver your baby. I wasn't too crazy about that either since 2 of the doctors I am not a fan of.

As for my first appt, aside from what you had done, they did ask me a bunch of questions about mine and DH's family health history along with an info pack. I liked visits like that but some of the doctors do not get very one on one...they just do the tests and go. Not a fan of that!

maybe you could go in with a list of questions next time so that you can engage them in more of a conversation?

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

Did they give you any hand outs to read or a prescription for vitamins?

My practice also has 6 Drs - they encourage you to see them all throughout your pregnancy to get to know them. I actually saw my regular Dr the least with DS and the Dr I saw the most was the one who delivered him.

I had 4 weeks between my first and second appointments though - maybe they will go over more with you at your next appointment?

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

My first appointment was the same thing. She write me a prescription to get the bloodwork done and then a prescription for prenatal vitamins and asked if I had any other questions. She is also 1 of like 6 doctors but she said I could go and meet all of them (I see her at a different office from her main practice). If you feel that uncomfortable set up another appointment and discuss everything you are apprehensive about to get it all out in the open.

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

My first appointment was basically the same thing. The only difference was that the dr did take me into her office to speak with me. I received a folder with information on the practice and what to expect during future appointments. I would just make a list of questions you have and ask to discuss them with her during your next appointment. There are 4 doctors that I saw throughout my pregnancy. I'm still not sure who will be delivering my baby. It could also be one of three other doctors that I haven't met that are on call when the others aren't available. I honestly don't really care who delivers my baby as long as they know what they're doing.

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

Everything sounds about normal thats all that was done at my first appt as well and thats all they really can do at that point. The only thing that was different for me was, after the exam I went into my Dr's office and we discussed everything in more detail. She provided me with a pamphlet which describes the practices policies and what I can expect from them. Lists all practicing OBs (there are 5 at my practice); when I will receive ultrasounds; the Chromosome tests they perform on site; what meds I can and cannot take if I have specific symptoms (constipation, common cold, etc)... She gave me time to ask questions because I had a million...

The only thing I would suggest is write down all your questions and concerns so at your next visit you can tell your Dr that you would like to speak with him/her regarding your questions/concerns...

As far as having 6 different OBs and it may not be yours that delivers you, that is very common for any practice. What they offer you as your pregnancy progresses is to meet the other OBs... At my practice they have a meet and greet once a month where all the OBs get together after hours and all patients are invited. Its a very nice touch and I plan to do that as I progress in my pregnancy. Find out if your practice offers this as well...

Most of all the best thing to do with any physician is speak up. They wont know your concerns until you let them know =)

Congrats and best of luck to you!

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

It sounds pretty normal, except that my doctor did give me an information packet for pregnant patients. Maybe they do that at your next appointment.

As far as your dr not delivering your baby: Don't worry about that too much....especially not right now. By the time you get to the end of your 3rd trimester you will have seen each dr several times and gotten to know all of them. At almost 40 weeks I have grown to love all of the doctors in my practice (even the ones I didn't like the first time I met them).

And Congrats!!!!!!

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

I'm suprised they didn't talk to you about anything. I remember my first appointment with DS, the doctor did all the testing and then brought me and my DH into his office to ask us questions and talk about PG related things. Especially since it was my first pregnancy. My current PG was a little different, since I was going alot due to issues.
Also, most offices now have mulitple doctors in the practice. Usually they like you to see them all during your pre-natal visits. The place I go now and my old office actually don't even guarrentee one of their OB to deliver you. They work with another practice and rotate weekends.

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

That was my first visit too, no worries

I go to a big practice and towards the end they made sure I met with each doctor. I was stresing about who would deliver but you know what's funny -- I was with random nurses for 12 hours and then my OB came in for the last half hour to deliver the baby. . .by that time I was so zoned out and focused on teh labor that I barely remember him being there but I totally remember my nurses and how awesome they were!

Re: My 1st Dr.'s Appointment Was Confusing

Sounds normal to me. But with my first appointment, I took it upon myself to ask alot of questions. I don't think all dr.s just offer up all this information, so you have to ask for what you want to know.

I also go to a group practice. You should make appointment with all the dr.s so that if they are on-call you have at least met them and you're not meeting for the first time at the birth. You can also ask those dr.s their take on things at that time. Just to make sure everyone is on the same page as you.

BTW- my dr. was the one to deliver me because I had a scheduled induction, but I liked all the dr.s in the practice so it didn't really matter.