First Appointment Questions

[heytheredelilah]

In my experience the first appointment isn't really a big deal, but can be kind of long. They will usually make you pee in a cup. You will have a pelvic exam where they will do some cultures, check your cervix and do a pap if you haven't had one in awhile. They will give you orders for bloodwork and then ask if you have questions. The only questions that I can think of that you may have is to find out how your doctor feels about your favorite foods (deli meats, sushi, fresh squeezed juice, eat.). Also, if you are nauseous ask for nausea Meds). I started at a new OB since DD and they also have you meet with billing no matter what insurance you have. I appreciate this because they will let you know what to expect out of pocket because even with really good insurance there is usually something out of pocket.

[moutonrouge]

My appointment isn't for a while, but when I'm worried I plan so I do have some questions to ask.

I think my main questions are about nutrition and weight, so I would ask about her expectations and suggestions in those areas. A friend had a kind of big gain followed by a plateau during her pregnancy, and her doctor was really hard on her about it at every appointment thereafter. Weight is a sensitive topic for me (and lots of people I know) so I'm hoping to avoid some stress in that area by talking about it early and making sure I'm okay with their stance.

I'm also seeing a midwife, so I want to know what the appointments will usually be like, what are the big events, etc.

And then I want to know how late they'll let me go. DH and I were both born 2 weeks late, and I have no idea if that's a genetic thing, or just a typical first baby thing, or a lack of ultrasounds. But I'm not expecting to be on time. Probably an ongoing conversation but it's on my mind now.

[kinipela7]

At my doctor, your first appointment is for blood work and any questions you have and is pretty uneventful. It's the next appointment (8 weeks I think) where they do the early ultrasound - that is the good one where I will hopefully be seeing a beautiful beating heart!

[muskiefan]

Our first appt is just a pregnancy confirmation appt. The next appt (12ish weeks) is when we meet with the nurse, who goes over the "rules" and the FAQ.

I will probably ask about activity recommendations (I run a lot, but last pregnancy developed anterior tibialis pain/compartment swelling) and if I should have any limitations on amt of weight I can lift (DD is 40 lbs).

I have a personal relationship with my OB, so I can text her if I have questions or concerns. She's really great.

[muskiefan]

Jul 11, 2016 13:22:18 GMT -5 Fearsy said:

Jul 11, 2016 12:42:00 GMT -5 moutonrouge said:

My appointment isn't for a while, but when I'

I trusted her to only bring it up if we really needed to talk about it. I got on the scale backwards at almost every appointment and told the nurse not to tell me the number!

Same. I dealt with weight issues for a looooong time so I stepped on the scale backwards as well. It really helped to keep me focused on health and not the number.

[danvers]

Pee in a cup. Basically every appointment involved peeing in a cup.

Our practice is pretty small. Since I had E one of the obgyns retired and they are desperately searching for a replacement. I love the one they still have but can't imagine what it is like for her to serve the whole county. We're pretty rural area but we have a small urban center too where the hospital is at. While I feel for her I also want to know what I can do when I have questions after hours and there may not be an obgyn always on call. I feel like every time I call the hospital they basically default to "come in" and my overthinking self probably doesn't need to do that every single time.

I think first time around I asked about:
- weight gain
- foods (ok foods, not ok foods)
- medicines I could take it and what to do when I thought I might need to take something for like a cough or maybe a coldsore that might come up
- who to contact after hours with questions
- any weird aches or pains I had at that exact time
- excercise (I was running and weight lifting the first go around)
- I garden so we talked about the Toxoplasmosis since I live in middle of no where
- safety of the sunscreens and any lotions or acne/face wash stuff I had


Something to talk with your SO about is genetic testing too and if you'll get it done. Each practice is different in what kind of testing they do or recommend and not everyone decides to get it done. I remember signing the paperwork to get the quad screening done and not knowing what it was at the time. I don't *think* I would have changed my mind anyway but I just felt caught off guard when the nurse asked at my first appt and I was signing a bunch of paperwork all at once

[mikaela20]

My 7 weeks with the RE is my first appt.

Questions so far are about excersise- what kind should I do. I was not too fit before but do walk 70 mins 5 days a week. I am hoping they will say it's ok to do bike riding and spin class.

I also have questions about being high-risk due to my uterus abnormality (didelphys) and what it would mean, what to expect, etc. I have an idea from Google, so I won't be completely blindsided but I want to hear it from the doctor.

My DH is not able to come to this one due to work, he is pretty bummed about that. I told him we will try to get him to the next one.

Edited typo

[bluedaisy0627]

DH wants to be there, so I scheduled it for a later time. IIRC, they did a basic exam, and they gave me a bunch of paperwork about what to expect, what to avoid, guidelines for when to call them, what future appointments would be like, etc. This was 3 years ago, though, so I'm sure I'm not remembering everything.

[daisylola11]

Everyone pretty much covered it, you pee at every appt. Usually they do a Doppler check and all your vitals. At my first appt they will do the internal (dildo) ultrasound then the Doppler after that until the anatomy scan around 20 weeks. I'm opting to do an early gender scan at 14 weeks at a private place.

My only question is how often they want me in. My pregnant friend goes once a month, that seems like a lot to me. But if need be it's nice to make sure everything is ok.

[moutonrouge]

Jul 11, 2016 13:49:54 GMT -5 danvers said:

- I garden so we talked about the Toxoplasmosis since I live in middle of no where

I need to ask about this, too. I was doing some yardwork/gardening the weekend I got a positive test, but then stopped and haven't done anything other than watering since. I hadn't actually known it was an issue until I read it in Expecting Better. 

[danvers]

Jul 11, 2016 14:32:53 GMT -5 moutonrouge said:

Jul 11, 2016 13:49:54 GMT -5 danvers said:

- I garden so we talked about the Toxoplasmosis since I live in middle of no where

I need to ask about this, too. I was doing some yardwork/gardening the weekend I got a positive test, but then stopped and haven't done anything other than watering since. I hadn't actually known it was an issue until I read it in Expecting Better. 

My doctor advised gloves when I weed but gloves make it hot and a bit difficult on stubborn weeds. She didn't think the risk was huge but she said if we have stray cats near the house (and we do!) it might be better to be safe then sorry.

[britab]

Last time it was pee in a cup and here's your due date based on a 28 day cycle.

I'm going to a new place and couldn't get in until 8 weeks. They said we would set up an ultrasound then. DH doesn't have paid time off so we just have him come to ultrasounds unless he happens to be off work that day.

[cosmicav]

I think each practice does things a little differently; at mine, we did not get a pelvic exam till the 12 week appt. However, peeing in a cup is the universal doctor appt thing. Lol. It gets more and more interesting of a task the bigger you get.

Last time, my first appointment was at 8 weeks, and it went like:
-pee in a cup
-check weight, blood pressure, oxygen, etc
-dating scan ultrasound
-get blood drawn (like 6 fucking vials)
-they gave me a bajillion pamphlets on pregnancy and a can of formula. Lol

Last time, I had an appointment about once a month, and only 2 ultrasounds-at week 8 and 20. Appointments for me were at weeks 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 34--and then they wanted to do an appointment every single week from 36 weeks on, but I never made it that far (my kid was born at 35 weeks).

I am indeed bringing my SO to this first appointment because there will be an ultrasound, and they don't do many of those at my practice.  

I am a little concerned about having another preemie, so I suppose I'll ask about statistics but other than that, I haven't really thought about questions to ask at the appointment.

[seeingstars]

One of the things I appreciated getting at my first visit was a list of OTC medications approved during pregnancy