Does anyone think it is strange that my Dr. will not see me until I am over 12 weeks pregnant?

Question

This is my first pregnancy and I would think that prenatal care in the first trimester is important! Any suggestions?

Answer 1

When I was pregnant with my first child I thought it was kind of strange that they didn't want to see me until I was 8-12 weeks along, so I asked. The doctor told me they do that for a few reasons.

1. Most miscarriages happen in the first 12 weeks and their is nothing they can do to save them.

2. Almost impossible to find the fetal heartbeat before 10 weeks, sometimes as early as 9 weeks, but usually not.

3. There is nothing to talk about or go over that isn't common knowledge.

So, while the first trimester is important, there isn't anything the doctor can do for you until about 10 weeks anyways. Just get some prenatal vitamins and try to eat healthy. You can exercise but don't overdo it. In other words, the first trimester is up to how your body handles the pregnancy (if your body accepts it and if it does then it will do the rest as long as you take care of your body)

Answer 2

Some doctors are like that. The only reason my doctors saw me is because they thought I was farther along than I was. Now they are not seeing me until I am a little over 16 weeks and over. I am 11 weeks and 2 days now. So I have just under 5 weeks to go. They usually see you at least once in your first trimester and yes the first trimester is very very critical.

Answer 3

'Gig' has it right. What sort of pre-natal care do you expect? There really isn't much to be done by a doctor at twelve weeks. Or even sixteen.

You can still see your GP for a physical to make sure _you're_ healthy, but pre-natal care for embryos does not, realistically, exist in most cases.

Hit the library and pick up some books on pregnancy. Caveat: pick up as many as you can tolerate reading, because some of them have some pretty questionable, poorly-researched "information." Your GP can, hopefully, point you to some good ones. "What to Expect When You're Expecting" is, FWIW, _not_ recommended by a good number of practitioners.

Do a web search for "pre-natal testing" to satisfy yourself that there's not much to be done before 12 weeks. You do not need a "pre-natal prescription" -- the pre-natal vitamins you find in any drugstore are fine.

If you want somebody to hold your hand -- and there's nothing wrong with that -- think about finding a midwife in lieu of an obstetrician.

Answer 4

I've never heard of a doctor not wanting to see you unless you were 10 - 12 weeks. I would switch doctors, if he's like that now imagine what would happen if you called him and wanted to come in for a emergency appointment he might tell you to wait and make an appointment or something. With my first son the doctor saw me right away I actually had a midwife with him, he's 5 now and I still love her. Sometimes doctors could get real impersonal. I like to have some kind of connection with the person delivering my baby. But my doctor with my 2nd, i'm 14 weeks, wanted to see me right away and I was only about 6 weeks and he's been seeing me once a month since then.

Answer 5

With my first pregnancy, my doc saw me when I found out at 4.5 weeks basically just to confirm with a urine test. With my current pregnancy, I called right away and they said they'd see me at 8 weeks. Maybe there is a trend away from seeing women right away? I imagine many probably jump the gun...

Make sure you have a doc you are comfortable with. If it bothers you that they won't see you in the first trimester, then find another one. Some people don't even find out they are pregnant til 3 months, so it should be fine. If you feel they aren't giving you the best care, though, then you may not trust them later on in the pregnancy when they recommend various tests or talk about c-section vs vaginal birth.

Answer 6

That's average. If the being pregnant is ectopic you can not do something to repair it, you'll be able to realize from the anguish. The health care professional does not do any assessments earlier than 12 weeks, no longer in Canada besides. I noticed my GP whilst I had a pos HPT and he took a urine experiment(to experiment for protein) and took my blood stress to be certain I wasn't prime danger. He made an appt with an OB for 12 weeks alongside as good. Other than that they do not do something. No ultrasounds till 21 weeks. I could not wait that lengthy so I paid for an united states a individual health facility, that's constantly an choice for you. Buy all of the books you'll to teach your self till you notice the health care professional. I adored What To Expect When You're Expecting and The Pregnancy Bible. Good success!

Answer 7

No, they do that because the first 12 weeks is when a miscarriage would most likely happen if it was going to. They should call you in prenatal vitamins though. I guess they assume that if you make it 12 weeks things will be ok. I went in at 12 weeks for my first visit too.

Answer 8

some dr's are like that. My best friend had a dr like that with her pregnancy. He didn't want to see her until she was at least 12 weeks. Not sure why they are this way but some are. With both of my pregnancies my dr wanted to see me as soon as the test was positive so it all depends on the dr. If you don't feel comfortable waiting that long then find a new dr.

Answer 9

Take your vitamins & walk.

This is NORMAL... They cant see anything or tell you anything much before that. As long as you keep healthy your body will grow a baby.

(Some problems with development can happen in the first 5 weeks but are not detectable until much later with AFP testing or ultrasound! And yet other problem can occur later in the pregnancy. Most problems are VERY RARE! I hope i didn't scare you! )

Just take care of yourself...be patient! At that appointment you will get to hear the heartbeat!!!! Get the "What to Expect When Expecting" book, They're great!!!!

I live in California USA, my doc dodn't see me until 13 weeks!!!!

I recommend a midwife!!!!

Answer 10

It's somewhat normal for doctors not to see you at 12 weeks. Personally - that kind of practice was unacceptable to me and I found one that would take me in at the more standard time of 8 weeks (when you've missed at least two periods).

Thankfully I did because I found out I'm having twins, and automatically fall into a "high risk" pregnancy catagory!!!

If you don't feel comfortable - switch providers until you find one that you are happy with!