Will you please wish me luck?

[VAfamily1998]

wow, I worked for OB?GYNs for 11 years. The first visit you always saw the Dr. Yes it was tons of paper work, and the draining of all your blood. But you did see the Dr. I have never heard of not seeing the OB on the first visit, and I also have 3 of my own that another Dr delivered, so it was done this way in their office also.

I don't know, maybe it's just different with military (or at least the military hospital I went to) medicine?

https://cpen.med.navy.mil/nhcp.cfm?xid=wap&f=obgyn&xp=l&xpa=52

If you look at the hosptial's website, you can see the information sheet they give you first says "You will receive prenatal information and schedule your first appointment with your future provider. You will also receive our Pregnancy and Childbirth book, referred to as your “Purple Book.” We will add suggested readings for your Prenatal Infosheet packets throughout your office visits." That's similar (or maybe the exact same thing, I can't remember exactly since it's been a few years! ) at my first appointment around 8 weeks, I think?

Then the 2nd sheet is given at 12-14 weeks, which is the first time you see the OB/midwife and states "Today:
Register for Prenatal Class 1
You will have a complete physical, including a Pap smear and breast exam. Be sure to talk with your provider about concerns you have with this pregnancy or your health!" It states you may be able to hear the heartbeat with a doppler, and at the next visit (16-18 weeks) they will "order" the ultrasound, which is usually performed between 18-20 weeks.

This is pretty much the way all my pregnancies went at naval hospitals, though they didn't do the whole "purple book" and info sheets with my first ones...I think they started it around the time of my 4th, but I didn't pay as much attention because I already had 3 kids and Dh was in Iraq and I had too much going on to sit around organizing and reading info sheets all day

I had no idea that other practices saw women and did routine ultrasounds so early on non-high risk pregnancies. Naval medicine OB care is all I've ever known.

 

[AKL_Megs]

My OB office has five OB's, and I have to cycle through each.

I had an ultrasound at my first visit, and was told at my LAST visit that we will listen to the heartbeat on each visit. I'm also under the impression that EACH doctor will do an initial ultrasound to "look" at the baby. I see a new doctor in two weeks, so I will find out then.

My DH has been to each of my appointments thus far, but I doubt he will attend them all. He wanted to be there for the initial US and to hear the heartbeat, but I doubt he will go as my appointments become more frequent. He is REALLY tickled by listening to the heartbeat, though.

I go to a pretty popular OB office, and I would say for every 10 patients, there are 8 dads there.

OP, I had planned on inviting my mom and MIL to the US in which we found out the sex, but my DH wants it to be private, just us. The more I think about it, the more I think how TINY that room is with just ME in there, let alone DH, the tech, myself AND two more people. I'm sure, in YOUR case, you can squeeze them all in, but on the first US, all you really see is a blob. It's really only interesting to YOU.

 

[mhsjax]

I don't know, maybe it's just different with military (or at least the military hospital I went to) medicine?

https://cpen.med.navy.mil/nhcp.cfm?xid=wap&f=obgyn&xp=l&xpa=52

If you look at the hosptial's website, you can see the information sheet they give you first says "You will receive prenatal information and schedule your first appointment with your future provider. You will also receive our Pregnancy and Childbirth book, referred to as your “Purple Book.” We will add suggested readings for your Prenatal Infosheet packets throughout your office visits." That's similar (or maybe the exact same thing, I can't remember exactly since it's been a few years! ) at my first appointment around 8 weeks, I think?

Then the 2nd sheet is given at 12-14 weeks, which is the first time you see the OB/midwife and states "Today:
Register for Prenatal Class 1
You will have a complete physical, including a Pap smear and breast exam. Be sure to talk with your provider about concerns you have with this pregnancy or your health!" It states you may be able to hear the heartbeat with a doppler, and at the next visit (16-18 weeks) they will "order" the ultrasound, which is usually performed between 18-20 weeks.

This is pretty much the way all my pregnancies went at naval hospitals, though they didn't do the whole "purple book" and info sheets with my first ones...I think they started it around the time of my 4th, but I didn't pay as much attention because I already had 3 kids and Dh was in Iraq and I had too much going on to sit around organizing and reading info sheets all day

I had no idea that other practices saw women and did routine ultrasounds so early on non-high risk pregnancies. Naval medicine OB care is all I've ever known.

That could be the difference. I don't know. Here we have military, although I am not. The naval hospital was so far away from where most of our patients lived that they all got non availability forms and got to come to us. We only did an ultra sound around the 20th week also, I think that part has changed, and now they do them early. But still the first appointment, patients still see the Dr.

 

[VAfamily1998]

My OB office has five OB's, and I have to cycle through each.

I had an ultrasound at my first visit, and was told at my LAST visit that we will listen to the heartbeat on each visit. I'm also under the impression that EACH doctor will do an initial ultrasound to "look" at the baby. I see a new doctor in two weeks, so I will find out then.

That sounds like a lot of unnecessary ultrasounds! I would find that pretty invasive.

 

[Kellydelly]

wow, I worked for OB?GYNs for 11 years. The first visit you always saw the Dr. Yes it was tons of paper work, and the draining of all your blood. But you did see the Dr. I have never heard of not seeing the OB on the first visit, and I also have 3 of my own that another Dr delivered, so it was done this way in their office also.

It's standard in my neck of the woods for the first OB visit to be with a nurse (not sure if she's a nurse practitioner or just an RN) who does all the medical history and sets you up with prenatal vitamins, etc. You don't see the OB until a few wks later. Of course this is assuming the first visit is within the first trimester. I guess if you were not aware of your pregnancy till after that an actual doctor may see you the first time.

 

[AKL_Megs]

That sounds like a lot of unnecessary ultrasounds! I would find that pretty invasive.

I'm not bothered by it! It's sort of fun to "see" the baby! If you think about it, it's really only a couple "extra" US's anyways.

 

[VAfamily1998]

That could be the difference. I don't know. Here we have military, although I am not. The naval hospital was so far away from where most of our patients lived that they all got non availability forms and got to come to us. We only did an ultra sound around the 20th week also, I think that part has changed, and now they do them early. But still the first appointment, patients still see the Dr.

When is the first appointment, typically, for a non-high risk?

 

[mhsjax]

It's standard in my neck of the woods for the first OB visit to be with a nurse (not sure if she's a nurse practitioner or just an RN) who does all the medical history and sets you up with prenatal vitamins, etc. You don't see the OB until a few wks later. Of course this is assuming the first visit is within the first trimester. I guess if you were not aware of your pregnancy till after that an actual doctor may see you the first time.

I actually should have put that in my post. Yes you could see the nurse practitioner, but you did see her or the Dr. on your first OB visit, this wa a requirement. I have never heard of any other way. Like I said, this was done with my employers also my first OB and also the different OB that I saw for my last 2. The nurses did draw the blood, gave you all the info, I fun little gift bag thing and also samples of vitamins and prescriptions for them, then you went in to see the Dr or nurse practitioner. Now that was 10 years ago, maybe this has changed.

 

[mhsjax]

When is the first appointment, typically, for a non-high risk?

I had mine, and I was a non high risk, I was about 7 weeks pregnant. But my first ultra sound would have been around 20 weeks, but there was a question of complications so I had one earlier that that.

It has been a while, so things may have changed, but the Dr or nurse practitioner always has to see the patient on the first visit. The did a pelvic and would try and get the heart beat, but it didn't always happen.

Frankly, I really don't think you would need to see the Dr that early, unless you were having problems or an infertility patient. It is just the way it was done at the time, maybe now it has changed. Frankly it has been so long, and I am getting so old, I can't believe people are still young enough to have babies. lol

 

[tiggersbombed2]

Tomorrow I go for my first OB appointment. I'm so excited but sad that my DH isn't back from his military job to be here with me. So my mother is coming with me. I'm wondering if I should invite my MIL to come, too. We're pretty close, and she's been dropping hints that she would like to come. I have no problem modesty-wise and my mom doesn't mind, but is that the norm that MILs come to the OB exams?? Or is she just strange and I never noticed before?

Only MILS who's DIL's love them and want them there.

 

[snapppyd]

How exciting! By all means bring your MIL, if that is what YOU want to do

I was friends with my MIL long before I met her son, we worked together. There is no "norm" when it comes to relationships, I think it's wonderful for you to include her.

 

[focusondisney]

Hi! Sorry your DH can't be at your appointment with you. But how sweet to include both future Grandmoms! I am sure they will both be thrilled to see the baby.

For those who think your mom will not want to share the day, I politely disagree. My only DD has a wonderful MIL. She has been only kind, loving & supportive to DD since they met 8 years ago. I really like her to & would be very happy to share such a special day with her. In fact, we even had her go shopping with us for DD's wedding gown. MIL has 2 sons, no daughters. She would never have gotten to experience wedding dress shopping if DD didn't include her. She was thrilled & so grateful.

Good luck at the appointment!

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

I have two related questions (since OP already had gotten the advice she wnted and made a decision I hope she doesn't mind if I ask):
1. Maybe this is an age thing (my kids are already 12 and 14) but when mine were born the standard was just one ultra sound at about 20 weeks. Has this changed?

2. Another possible age thing: Do most women have their husbands at most Dr. Appts for pregnancy and do most people have a "crowd" at the ultrasound?

I really don't know what the standard is but I'll be having an initial pelvic exam and an ultrasound, so I'm assuming that's standard since I have no risks that I know of. My father's an MD and when I told him about the appt he didn't say anything that would make it seem the ultasound was unusual.

For me, I'd like to have my husband come to all my appts but I know that's impossible. As for crowds, I have no idea! I asked if I could bring my mother and she said I could bring whoever I wanted. So I'm bringing 2 mothers.

 

[mhsjax]

I really don't know what the standard is but I'll be having an initial pelvic exam and an ultrasound, so I'm assuming that's standard since I have no risks that I know of. My father's an MD and when I told him about the appt he didn't say anything that would make it seem the ultasound was unusual.

For me, I'd like to have my husband come to all my appts but I know that's impossible. As for crowds, I have no idea! I asked if I could bring my mother and she said I could bring whoever I wanted. So I'm bringing 2 mothers.

Again, I worked for OBs for years. although it was years ago. Many women brought their DH, also it was very frequent that there were also mothers and MIL at these ultra sound appts. Most OB/GYN Drs love delivering babies and they consider seeing a pregnant woman a wonderful job, and welcome DH and parents as long as the room can hold them and they don't get in the way.

As for mom's not wanting to share the day with the MIL. I have both sons and daughters. I will gladly share anything with my DD future MIL and I would hope that if my future DIL is ok with me being in the room, that her mother would also be ok. I have a very long time to wait though, oldest is only 14. lol