Prenatal care?

I am so confused! I called to make an appointment with the doctor yesterday, and they don't want to see me until I am 8 weeks. Actually, they first scheduled me for 10 weeks and I basically begged for something earlier. I have read that the 4-8 week mark is a vital time for baby's growth and development, that you should be watching what you eat, taking vitamins, etc. Shouldn't they meet with you sooner to explain all this stuff to you? Or send you a pamphlet or something? lol. If I wasn't neurotic and constantly surfing the internet for information, how would I know what things I should be doing and not doing??

Does the stuff you eat not count yet in the baby's development? I switched to one cup of half-caf coffee in the morning...is that ok?

Re: Prenatal care?

They can't really confirm the pregnancy until that point so if you go earlier, you will end up going back two (very stressful) weeks later to confirm it.

You also don't share a bloodstream with the baby yet so you don't have to worry too much about what you are eating and drinking. Most women don't even know they are pregnant at this point.

I just started taking a prenatal vitamin, stopped drinking alcohol, limited my exposure to second hand smoke and stopped taking all medications.

Feel good!

Re: Prenatal care?

I was at my dr yesterday and he gave me a pregnancy test at 10DPO and it was positive.

He automatically gave me a blood test and is checking my Beta and I am going on Saturday for another Beta to see that it is rising.

I dont know if that is the protocol but pregnancy can show up on a blood test way before 8weeks and I know I would want that verification.

Good luck

Re: Prenatal care?

Re: Prenatal care?

With my first pregnancy (which ended in a m/c ) I called the dr. asap they did blood work to confirm what we already knew...I was preggers! She did a sono, for what? I don't know bc I was 4w and we didn't see anything anyway, this only made me worry that we should have seen something....

This time around, I'm already 6w, I haven't scheduled an appt. I'm waiting until the 8w mark to call and schedule bc I want to be sure we will see something. Many drs won't see you until 8-10w

Some people like to go early to have bloodwork done, esp. if you have low progesterone, etc. It's really up to you and ur dr. If you feel uneasy, maybe u can go in just for bloodwork and then go back at 8w for the sono?

Good Luck

Re: Prenatal care?

Posted by Tilde

They can't really confirm the pregnancy until that point so if you go earlier, you will end up going back two (very stressful) weeks later to confirm it.

You also don't share a bloodstream with the baby yet so you don't have to worry too much about what you are eating and drinking. Most women don't even know they are pregnant at this point.

I just started taking a prenatal vitamin, stopped drinking alcohol, limited my exposure to second hand smoke and stopped taking all medications.

Feel good!

Re: Prenatal care?

Posted by melbalalala

Posted by Tilde

They can't really confirm the pregnancy until that point so if you go earlier, you will end up going back two (very stressful) weeks later to confirm it.

You also don't share a bloodstream with the baby yet so you don't have to worry too much about what you are eating and drinking. Most women don't even know they are pregnant at this point.

I just started taking a prenatal vitamin, stopped drinking alcohol, limited my exposure to second hand smoke and stopped taking all medications.

Feel good!

ITA with everything that Tilde said. I was prepared for them to tell me not to come in until 10 weeks (thanks to LIF!) but I wasn't prepared for the lack of advice.. I figured on the phone they'd at least say "don't drink booze and make sure to take a prenatal!" but nothing. Good thing we're smart enough to know those things on our own

Re: Prenatal care?

i didn't have my first appt until 9w. there was nothing--no info, no advice, nada--until that point.

definitely sign up for the babycenter.com emails and start to cut things out of your diet now that you can't have (caffeine, though 8oz of reg coffee a day is ok, unheated lunch meat and deli sliced cheeses, soft or veined cheeses, alcohol, smoking, etc). the babycenter emails are so helpful, can't recommend them enough.

Re: Prenatal care?

i think my case is very different b/c i made an apt right away with my GYN (who isnt a practicing OB anymore) i went to him for the first few weeks...he gave me pre-natals, answered questions & did sonos...after we saw the heartbeat (around 7 weeks) he referred me to an OB

i saw the OB for the first time at 9 weeks...but i think that was mainly b/c i couldnt get an apt until a week and a half after my last apt w/ my GYN...my OB would have seen me right away at 7 weeks...i think thats the earliest an OB will see you

i would buy yourself some books to read so you can get yourself famiular with what you can/cant eat/do

good luck & welcome again!

Message edited 4/23/2010 9:18:45 AM.

Re: Prenatal care?

Everyone seems to have given great advice. All I can tell u is that most Dr's wait until 8 weeks, so don't feel like yours is strange. I'm sure he/she has their reasons. Maybe they don't want to make u come back 3 weeks in a row.

Definitely get some books and join Baby Center. One cup of half Caf in the morning is absolutely fine. If you were a big caffeine person prior to the pregnancy, It's better to not quit it cold turkey anyway. It's more of a shock to your system.

Welcome again and good luck!!!

Message edited 4/23/2010 9:27:41 AM.

Re: Prenatal care?

My Dr would not see me until 8 weeks- they say they really can't confirm much other than a positive pregnancy test before then and her words to me were "a lot can happen befoer 8 weeks"

I hear that 8-10 weeks is pretty standard to wait to see the Dr.

I just took my mulit vit with some extra folic acid until I got in for my appt and got the prenatals.

I think the stopping of booze etc is pretty common sense.

Message edited 4/23/2010 11:22:32 AM.

Re: Prenatal care?

I called the office when I got my BFP the other day and the nurse I spoke to said "You know not to drink or smoke right?" I thought that was funny that she even had to say it. But she did run down the list of stuff to avoid: cold cuts, soft cheeses, etc.
She also told me to stop by the office for sample of prenatal vitamins so I can test them out to see which ones I like best.

I'm sure if you call back and ask to speak to someone with your questions, they'll be happy to explain.

I'm going in for my first appt next friday. It's really early-again I think the dr is taking extra precaution because of the LP issues. I'm sure I'll attack him with a slew of questions.