I've just found out that I am pregnant and the doctor confirms that I am indeed 6 weeks.?

Question

She prescribed me with folic acid but that was about all there is to it and told me to only come see her again after I hit the three months mark. Is this normal? Does it really mean that there is nothing a woman can do and just wait another 6 weeks without checkups or ultrasounds? I am confused as this is my first time. I'm 25. Help.

Answer 1

with my first pregnancy i saw the doc at 6 weeks to confirm the pregnancy, he gave me some leaflets, then booked me in at 12 weeks to see the midwife, 20 weeks for my anomaly scan, and midwife appointments at 4 weekly intervals till the final month. This time round though i have been booked in for my first scan at 10/11 weeks as they do dating scans as standard now at my surgery (they only did dating scans if you were unsure of your last period dates). Also, they are now offering downs syndrome scans (at a cost though) so your dates have to be more accurate now.

MANY doctors surgeries/hospitals don't offer appointments before the 12 week mark as so many pregnancies don't last beyond 3 months. They can't really hear the heart beat with their hand held Doppler's, and you can't have any blood tests done before then. In the past, you only saw a midwife for your blood tests and if you felt unwell, like signs of pre eclampsia.

I know its a long time to wait but the first 3 months do seem to fly by so hang in there!! Make sure you read up on what you should and shouldn't eat, and things to avoid and when. I think the first 12 weeks are the worst bit as you feel so ill and you're not showing either so no-one understands how cr@p you are feeling!!

Just sit back, relax, eat sensibly, sleep a lot, and have a couple of glasses of red wine over Christmas and new year (1 or 2 will NOT harm the baby).

Good luck, take care and I'll be thinking of you!!

{{{{{{ hugs }}}}}}

Answer 2

You don't need ultrasounds all the time when you are pregnant. You also don't need to consult every now and then. At the beginning you consult every 4 - 6 weeks; when you are closer to delivery the consultations become frequent. A lot of ultrasound scans are actually not encouraged, that's why most medical aids only pey for a number of them (about 3 or 4).

As for folic acid, every woman who wants to have a baby or is pregnant has to take folic acid. Sometimes Drs prescribe a pregnancy multivitamin; but sometimnes it's just iron & folic acid. Take that and maybe your Dr. will prescribe a more generic supplement in future. You do not need to worry a lot. If you need close supervision, you'll be given that. Pregnancy by itself is not a sickness and it should go normally.

Answer 3

Hi Laura

Yes, this is normal. My experience was the same.

You need to keep taking the folic acid. The other things you can do to keep well is cut back (stop) drinking alcohol, reduce caffeine and eat as much fruit and vegetable as you can.

My understanding is that the doc doesn't do any checkups before the 12 week mark because before that there isn't much to see. By 12 weeks the foetus has developed more, and there is more to check up on.

Stay well, eat well and rest. Enjoy your pregnancy and try to relax. Nature is an amazing thing, and will do a good job.

Answer 4

Same with me and I'm high risk. I was seen at 4, 5, and 6 weeks with weekly ultrasounds, but then not seen again until 12 weeks, or 3 months. This is the crucial time, if your going to miscarry it will more than likely happen before the 12 week. They will usually do a ultrasound at the 12 week appointment and check for the babies heartbeat. Then you should be seen every 4 weeks. This is very normal.

Answer 5

Get a new doctor. Once you are told you are pregnant by a doctor she/he is suppose to see you once every month til your about 7 months (every 2 weeks) and 8 months (every week til baby is born.)
At least that is how it went with ALL 3 of my pregnancies. At 12 weeks you are suppose to have cultures,lab work and a pap smear if she didn't already do it. They are suppose to take your vitals signs and listen to the heartbeat at every visit. What if you had a problem in your 2nd month and you didn't know it because she told you to go back when you were 3 months?
Also Folic acid is good but you should also be on prenatal vitamines. This doc seems kinda shady to me.

Answer 6

Hi

Yes this does seem normal, my attitude was the same as yours when my wife was pregnant with our daughter 2 years ago. Try not to worry but usually you won't get your first scan till 12 weeks and then a second at 20 weeks.

They say the first 16 weeks is the first trimester (thats not spelt right) and usually if anything was to happen (though don't spend time worrying about it) it usually happens in the first 16 weeks so you have got to look after yourself.

Take it easy, don't stress about needless things. don't lift anything, don't drink too much fizzy drinks because apparently caffine is not good, epecially in the early stages. Eat well and relax.

And remember, I stress this point the most! If you are ever unsure of anything then ring your midwife, it might be nothing, might not be but it doesn't hurt to check, that what the midwives are there for. You have never been pregnant before so you are going to be unsure of lots of feelings and changes.

Congratulations

Answer 7

Yeah i Had that same problem my doc was like come back in 7 weeks. What they dont say is that there is not much to see until you hit 12 weeks. Even in a healthy pregnancy you will only see the doc every few weeks till you get to the last trimester unless god forbid you have some complications. At this stage in pregnancy the most important thing is to not stress eat right, no drugs or alcohol. Goodluck, I just has a baby 4 mths ago so i know your fears.

Answer 8

6 weeks till next apt is a bit long, 4 week between visits until 30 to 34 weekss is normal. Also did they ask you to take a prenantal vitamin? And you should be getting 800mg folic acid . If you are comfortable w/ siuation stay if not this is the time to find a new OB

Answer 9

I had my implant removed in October. On Boxing Day me and my family went to the pub and I had 2 bottles of cider, I suddenly felt really ill, like my head was too heavy for my shoulders and ran to the toilet to be sick. After 10 minutes I felt fine. Christmas morning I took a pregnancy test but it was negative. I wasn't sure if it was too early because after having the implant removed my period had come earlier and earlier each month. The next morning I took a really cheap test and saw a very faint line, hardly anything there at all. I kept getting tugging and pulling pains in my lower abdomen all day so by 9.30 that night my husband had had enough and ran out to find a better pregnancy test. He ended up driving round for over an hour trying to find a shop that was open and eventually managed to find a clear blue test. I took it that night because I couldn't wait and next thing I know me and hubby are jumping round the room with a positive pregnancy test :)

Answer 10

Firstly, congratulations!

This is normal, I only saw the doctor once and then it was all done with my midwife who started seeing me from 12 weeks which should be when your first ultrasound is done, if you're in the UK.

However if you have any worries at all contact your doctor. I had slight bleeding early in pregnancy so I called my doctor for advice and without even seeing him he got me in for an ultrasound the next day to check everything was alright.

Your best bet to help yourself is to look up on the net what you should and shouldn't do whilst pregnant like not having reflexology and not eating non-pasteurised mayo.