Is it safe to go this long between appointments?

Question

My husband's employer messed up and canceled our insurance. We wont be covered again until April 1st. My last appointment was February 7th. Has anybody gone two months without having a doctor’s checkup? I'm 15 weeks right now. So, I'd be about 20 weeks at my next appointment. Do you think everything will be ok? I'm looking for people who have had an experience like this, going so long between appointments. Did everything turn out ok?

Answer 1

Oh, pfft.

Re. AFP test -- were you actually going to bother? A not-too-accurate test that's only useful if you'd abort if problems were found. Lots of women happily skip it.

Re. gestational diabetes testing: that's not always done, either. I think it's a bit overblown. Do you have any risk factors? And, even if you do, a few weeks isn't going to make a difference. Plus, it's a controversial 'disease' to boot.

You can, as mentioned, easily stroll into a pharmacy and check your blood pressure. You can also buy strips there to check your own urine, should you be worried.

A 20-week ultrasound is certainly not mandatory; no reason it can't be delayed a bit, and -- well, there's very little doctors can do about these problems anyway. Sometimes, pre-natal care is a bit of a crock. Ask here what to do if you're bleeding and cramping, and you get all manner of women shouting "Go to the ER!" -- even though there's not a thing that can be done to stop a miscarriage in progress. A little _less_ faith in doctors would not be inappropriate here.

Figure out what tests you'd likely want based on your own health and family history; if everything's healthy, you'd probably be turning down a lot of these anyway -- so don't stress about being a few weeks off for the not incredibly useful test of your wee, your blood pressure, and token listen to the heartbeat.

But, for what it's worth, midwives are apparently cheaper (am in Canada; little idea of the usual charges for these things), and, in my opinion, better. A nurse-practitioner could also sort out the basics for you for less money.

And given how stupid that is, I'd think about harsh words with your husband's employer. Can his employer be talked into paying for the visit? I think it would be reasonable to flip out on somebody who 'messed up' and ditched a pregnant woman's insurance...

Answer 2

Because of insurance issues, I didn't go to my first prenatal appointment until I was 15 weeks along. I'm 26 weeks now and my baby is fine. I kept myself educated by reading pregnancy articles and subscribing to pregnancy websites before my first appointment, and that helped ease my worries a lot. However, it is true that you can pay for the appointments and get reimbursed later (I think you'll only need to pay for one appointment before your insurance comes in), but I must warn you that the reimbursement process can be quite tiresome and take a while. Someone else mentioned the AFP test. This test is optional and while it is done during the aforementioned timeframe, my doctor told me personally that he found it rather unnecessary. I didn't get the AFP test done (it detects Down syndrome) since my fiance and i have no family history of it. Have you tried talking to your clinic about any other payment options they might have in a situation like this? They might be helpful. Also, remember that there was a time not too long ago when women didn't have to go to prenatal check-ups and they had healthy, strong babies! Try not to worry too much and good luck!

Answer 3

It should be but tere is a test done between 14-18 months called an AFP test and it will be missed this way. His employer is responsible for the interim and you should talk with your husband about it. You can talk to the doctor's office about it and see if they can help, the business office usually can. If you don't get the test, its no big deal unless you are seriously at risk but the doctor would have already told you (you would know because your family would be riddled with certain disabilities).

Answer 4

If you are 15 weeks now, then you would be more like23 weeks, and yes you are pushing it. At 20 weeks you need to have your big ultrasound to make sure baby is developing correctly, also it will be near the time you need to have your glucose tolerance test, and any other blood work your doctor may seem important.
The best thing is to call your doctor and explain the situation, and ask him/or her what they think you should do.

Answer 5

at this point you are only going once a month, which is every 4 weeks so you will only be a week late. I say as long as you make your appt for April 1st you shopuld be ok. Any longer than that it would be unsafe as it is important to not only check babys progress but also to check you to make sure your blood pressuer is ok and stuff. good luck.

Answer 6

I never went that long between appointments, but I have a couple of suggestions for you. Have your blood pressure tested at one of those free things they have at drug stores (walmart has them near the pharmacy) to make sure your blood pressure is fine. Ask the doctor if you can come in and have your urine tested without an exam (that test is only about $10) and have the nurse listen to the heartbeat while you're there (the nurses in my doc office were always willing to do that for me if I came in between appointments for free). And weigh yourself at home.

Answer 7

I don't know about that. You need to go every 4 weeks. It's important for you and your baby. That's like 7 weeks! Almost 2 months that you wouldn't have been to a doctor. I think you should still go...make your husband's stupid employer pay for the visits themselves.

Answer 8

Explain to your doc what if going on and if there are tests that need to be done in the interim, maybe you can work out some sort of arrangement with him. Don't just not go or call. Each appt. is very important during your pregnancy.

Answer 9

as long as your other appt have been normal and you have no complications it should be ok. i just experienced this, i had to reschedule and cancel and reschedule a few times and i went 7 weeks without a check up.when i got to go (last week) everything was fine. great heartbeat, good weight gain, etc. don't stress it and if anything does come up and you think you need to be seen sooner call your docs office and explain your situation.good luck.

Answer 10

No big deal. They only make you come every 4 weeks at that time during your pregnancy. When you get around 32 weeks you start going every 2 weeks until your last 4 Weeks & then you go every week.