First Prenatal Visit at 12 Weeks

I did not see mine until 14wks for my last pregnancy. As long as you are feeling good and not having problems don't worry about it. They are the experts and for the most part, there is not much for them to do that early except do a pregnancy test or an ultrasound if you wanted one to determine exactly how far along you are. I went to early visits with my first two just because I thought I had to but in reality, nothing was done. The doc just asked how I was doing and then sent me on my way.

12 IS NORMAL AS THEY CANT EVEN HEAR THE HEART BEAT UNTIL THEN. sorry for the caps. to go before then you would just be talking to the dr about concerns if you had any and having them do a confirmational pregnancy test. might as well just wait.

Very normal. I am a midwife and we don't see clients until around 12 weeks. Sometimes, 10 weeks but that is pushing it. No blood test is needed. A positive urine test is fine. The reason for not doing appointments earlier than that is because miscarriage in the first trimester is fairly common. About 1-4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. And there is really nothing that can be done for first trimester miscarriages. Those pregnancies usually end due to some malformation or chromosomal disorder. While you are waiting you can start taking a food based prenatal vitamin if you want to. If you eat a fairly balanced diet though it is not really needed and you will just pee the extra vitamins out. Folic acid is added to a lot of foods, such as cereal. You can take extra if you want to but at this point the neural tube is either closed or its not.

As long as you are healthy, don't worry. Pregnancy is a normal, natural part of life. There is no reason to be medically managed.

Many doctors don't necessarily do a blood test to determine pregnancy (mine didn't). It is common for your first visit to be within a month or so of scheduling (provided you aren't having any problems) so if you just called it is not uncommon for you to wait. I think I went around 8-10 weeks or so w/ my first pregnancy.

What I would do while waiting for the appointment is start taking a quality prenatal vitamin, trying to eat healthy (if you don't already), cutting back on caffeine, and obstaining from alcohol. Also, I would try to keep active (not overly more active but walking and low impact things like that). Just taking care of yourself overall.

Congrats.

When you go for you visit and are that unsure of your last cycle, they will probably verify via your ultrasound (which are fairly accurate the earlier they are done).

They scheduled me to come in at 11 weeks with my second. Although I knew the exact week that I had gotten pregnant so they knew for sure that's how far I was. I thought it seems a little long to wait, but I took my vitamins everyday and everything was fine.

There are lots of doctors that won't see you till you're 12 weeks. There's so much that can go wrong within the first 12 weeks. (I don't mean to scare you) The only thing that a doctor will do before then is give you prenatal vitamins anywyay, for the most part, and that can be done over the phone. Just be sure you get the other information that's pertinent like what you can and can't eat and medicines you shouldn't take during pregnancy. That's what my doctor goes over in the first visit. My doctor does an ultrasound at about 8 or 9 weeks and she does a glucose test at that time but a lot of doctors don't. You'll find that different doctors have different procedures for what they do and when during your pregnancy. As long as you feel OK and aren't having any problems you should be fine and just roll with it. If something doesn't feel right, no matter how small it is or even if it's just a feeling, don't be afraid to demand an appointment. You know your body better than anyone else. Congratulations!!

With my first pregnancy I went in at 9 weeks for a viability ultrasound and then at 12 weeks for my first prenatal appointment. I also felt that that was waiting a long time but basically if you are taking prenatal vitamins and making healthy choices you should be fine and there is not much the OB will do for you until that point. If you have any questions or concerns you should call your doctor right away. Many things can likely be answered over the phone if they can't bring you in to see you. Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck!

I think more drs are having patients wait. When I went with last baby, they said that home pregnancy tests are so accurate nowadays that they don't feel the need to "confirm" that you are pregnant.

Aside from that they said that due to certain medical reasons, some pregnancies don't make it until 12 weeks. That's why they simply wait until 12 weeks to due the ultrasound and other tests.

Congrats on your great news. Don't think you need anymore pregnancy tests - after 2 positives I think you KNOW.

It depends on the doctor. Some will see you at 8 weeks, some 10 weeks. 12 seems a little late, but if you are young and it is a normal pregnancy, maybe not. It could be that this is a new doc for you and that is when they had for new patients. You could try a different doc and they could get you in sooner. I remember my SIL got really upset that they wouldn't see her until 10 weeks and created such a stink demanding to be seen that they saw her at 8 weeks and did a sono that day. But she was an established doc with that practice. I would ask if you could have an order for blood work and a sono for dating since you aren't sure what your dates are.

i will not go to an OB that does that as a general practice. my OB sees women ASAP, to get some bloodwork in the event that progesterone needs to be supplemented, and usually a quick ultrasound to verify a uterine pregnancy as opposed to ectopic. it's all about your comfort level, i have a very complicated history and have been seen at not even quite 4 weeks pregnant in the past. good luck with your pregnancy!

My OBs office schedules the first "Are you really pregnant exam" with the nurse practictioner and mine was within days of my call. I saw her at 5 weeks. I don't think I would wait 12 weeks.

I think it's okay as long as you are taking the vitamins.

Mine wouldn't see me until 10 weeks, which that even seemed long to me. But I've come to learn that it's not uncommon. I'd say that 12 weeks would be a little hard for me to take...

I've always thought that is too late, and I don't like how some practices make people wait. My OB office never even asks how far along you are when you make the first appointment. I like that.

I would try to find another one. I got in at 7 weeks and had an ultra sound and exam. Then i had my 2nd apt with her when i was 11 weeks. So by the time you see your doctor i have already seen my twice before they can get you in.

12 weeks is too long to wait. Mine does the first pregnancy at 6 weeks. I'd find another doctor that will take you sooner.

If you want to see an OB sooner, just call and tell them that you are nervous, unsure, etc and would really like to come in and see someone. My OB did not schedule appointments until the 8 week mark but brought me in earlier because I had had a miscarriage previously and because I was in my 30s. Your Dr may have to justify visits to your insurance so you may need to check on this - I think that is why my Dr gave specific reasons so insurance would cover it.good luck!