New Here!!

So this morning I took a pregnancy test (this is our 4th month trying) and got a line on the Internet cheapies (either 11dpo or 12 dpo) and confirmed with the digital.

I made my first appointment with OB for March 10th I am super excited and nervous at the same time!

My question is I am from Pittsburgh so we do things probably slightly different...but the Dr. said at first appt since only 6 weeks exactly all they do is go over what we need to know and run/order some tests (no doppler or ultrasound). They said next appointment at 10-12 weeks they do a doppler.

They said they do not do an ultrasound until 18 weeks I am dissappointed but I guess they is common around here (I asked a close friend just to see if it was same for his wife which it was)!

Did anyone else experience a similar timeline. How they they know if there is not an empty sac if they do U/S this late? I am worried something will be wrong and will not know!

I do not want to switch practices cause hospital that is asssoicated is the toped rank national hospital (#6 in US). I figure this is more important than an ultrasound and I know all practices associated will be same.

Thanks for help!

Re: New Here!!

Congrats and Welcome!! I think every state does things differently. I am sure if they thought anything was wrong before the 18 weeks they would do an ultrasound to make sure everything is ok. I have heard of places not doing ultrasounds until around 16-18 weeks because the baby hasn't really developed yet.

Re: New Here!!

Welcome and congrats!



I don't have any other advice for you; if that is the practice of the OB you want to see I don't think there's really anything you can do! They'll be able to tell from the results of the bloodwork whether the pregnancy is viable, and of course they'll be able to hear the heartbeat 4 weeks later and confirm the same. I would be disappointed too, though.

Re: New Here!!

Sorry I'm not much help but I think you're right about it being common around there. My SIL and I were PG at the same time and she's in Pittsburgh and got all of like 2 ultrasounds while I was getting one at almost every visit until after 20 weeks. (She actually kept insinuating it meant something was wrong with me )

Re: New Here!!

Welcome and congratulations! I live in PA too, but I am in the Philly area. I would say that I had a pretty similar timeline to you...first appt was around 6 weeks, doppler at 12. The reason they waited to hear the heartbeat is because a lot of HBs aren't detectable until around 10-12 weeks, and they want to give us the least amount of stress possible . I did, however, have 2 sonograms before the 20 weeks anatomy scan...one was 8 weeks just to confirm that there was a LO, and the 12 week one was an optional NT scan (optional meaning a lot of insurances don't cover it). I'm sure your OB will go over all of the different types of tests you can do at your first appointment!

Re: New Here!!

CONGRATS!!!

I live in Virginia and they do things a little differently too I guess.

I do not get an Ultra Screen. Im a little saddened by that but what can I do?

They did a quick sono at 9 weeks just to see that there was a baby and a heartbeat and the next one I get is at 18 weeks as well. Then no more :(

I felt just like you did. They weren't even going to do one at 9 weeks for me but I kept saying the same as you. What if theres two in there, or what if theres no heartbeat. So to calm my nerves, she did a quick one for me.

Good luck!!!!

Re: New Here!!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS

Re: New Here!!

Thanks everyone! At least I know I am not the only one who has to wait so long! I am sure if anything came up before 18 weeks that made them wonder anything they'd do one before then. I am sure the secretary was just stating their standard practice.

I still can't believe the time has finally come :)

Re: New Here!!

Congrats and welcome!

Re: New Here!!

congrats!!!

Re: New Here!!

Congrats and welcome!!

Re: New Here!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Re: New Here!!

Congrats and welcome!!!

Re: New Here!!

Congrats and welcome!

I don't blame you for wanting to go sooner. I'm 14 weeks and I've had - no joke - probably 5 or 6 ultrasounds already. My doc believes coming in asap in a pregnancy is the best way to go, but I guess every doc is different. He believes the early part of the pregnancy is the most important developmentally for the baby, and I agree. He, thankfully, had me on baby aspirin from week 4 or so, which is good because they now see I have a tendency to get blood clots. He also put me on Metranx, which is an extra folic acid supplement to my pre-natals. AND he had me on prometrium since my progesterone was low. And that was all early in my 1st Trimester!

It's a tough call since you want to stay with your current ob and that seems to be the way they do things there. And it's hard to start off with a doc questioning their practices. Maybe you can just ask if they can do an earlier appoinment and do an ultrasound to allay your fears that it's not an empty sac and to test your progesterone levels. It's not good for us mommies to have those worries!

I wish you lots of luck with your baby!! God bless!!!

Re: New Here!!

I live in Maine and it's different here too. They do first appointment around 8 weeks with family history and ultrasound and another ultrasound at 12 weeks to make sure everything is progressing. 16 weeks for blood tests, then 18-20 weeks for level II. Another ultrasound at 18 weeks and 36 weeks to check on the size of the baby. I have more ultrasounds than that because of recurrent cysts and complete placenta previa.

Re: New Here!!

Posted by teaforthree

Congrats and welcome!

I don't blame you for wanting to go sooner. I'm 14 weeks and I've had - no joke - probably 5 or 6 ultrasounds already. My doc believes coming in asap in a pregnancy is the best way to go, but I guess every doc is different. He believes the early part of the pregnancy is the most important developmentally for the baby, and I agree. He, thankfully, had me on baby aspirin from week 4 or so, which is good because they now see I have a tendency to get blood clots. He also put me on Metranx, which is an extra folic acid supplement to my pre-natals. AND he had me on prometrium since my progesterone was low. And that was all early in my 1st Trimester!

It's a tough call since you want to stay with your current ob and that seems to be the way they do things there. And it's hard to start off with a doc questioning their practices. Maybe you can just ask if they can do an earlier appoinment and do an ultrasound to allay your fears that it's not an empty sac and to test your progesterone levels. It's not good for us mommies to have those worries!

I wish you lots of luck with your baby!! God bless!!!

Re: New Here!!

Congratulations!!!!!

Every doctor is different as far as how they do their appointments/sonos.

Also, some insurance policies limit the amount of sonos one can have during a pregnancy.

I am a little surprised they don't do the Level I ultrascreen since that is a genetic test for chromosomal abnormalities (downs syndrome, trisomy 18, etc).