Frustrated!! Any advice?

Question

I have pretty much no idea how far into my pregnancy I am, because I have no clue when my LMP was since they've always been irregular. I had one exam where the GP determined I was probably 13-15 weeks or so, based on how my uterus felt. At my first prenatal appointment, they just scheduled me for another exam to do the same thing! I asked for an ultrasound, so that I can know for sure, and the nurses said that I should just get the same exact exam as before. She then said that they don't do ultrasounds until at least 18 weeks. Well how are they going to know whether I'm 18 weeks or not if they don't do an ultrasound prior to that?

Am I wrong to want a dang ultrasound? I want to know how far along I am! And the exam that I got (as well as the next one will be) is merely an educated guess that can be wrong. What if I'm a lot farther along than they think? What should I do?? Thanks =)

Answer 1

It's not wrong for you to want one, but it is curious as to why the doctor did not perform an ultrasound.

First trimester ultrasounds are most accurate, and they determine if the baby is thriving and developing as she should.

I would suggest maybe trying to go to a different doctor, if you can.

Answer 2

I too had the same problem. I have always been irregular and when I got pregnant with my daughter I had no clue when I had my last cycle. The doctor guessed at how far along I was by measuring my uterus and then gave me a due date which was Nov 13th. When I had an ultra sound when I was about 6 months pregnant the doctor moved my due date to Nov 1st. Well she was born on Nov 16th. They were actually closer with the original due date predicted from the uterus measurements. For me that was so hard. When the first of November came around I was so ready for her to be born. Then she ended up technically being 2 weeks late. I wish for my mental health I would have just stuck with what they had said the first time. I know that it is frustrating not knowing the exact date to give the doctor but remember they do this all the time and if you have a good doctor I am sure that he or she knows what they are talking about. If you really don't think that they know go and get a second opinion. By the way, the used the same method for my second child my son, the measuring and not an ultra sound. He was due March 13th and was born on March 11. I think that is pretty accurate. Hope that helps! Good luck!

Answer 3

Generally, they would preform an ultrasound to date the pregnancy if you are not sure when your LMP or approx. date of conception was. Even though ultrasound dating is done a lot remember that it is only an estimate of your due date so the fact you have an ultrasound to date the pregnancy does not necessarily make it an exact date. Also, it is possible that your doctor has not done one at this point because it is not covered by your insurance. Ultrasounds are really expensive and trust me, you don't want to have to pay for it!

I do agree, however, that they should probably at least try dating with an ultrasound since the earlier they do the more accurate they are. If I were you I would try contacting another doctor. If you are not comfortable with the advice your current doctor is giving now it will only get worse! I was not happy with my doctor and I waited it out for a while. I ended up changing doctors at 29 weeks and now I LOVE my doctor and wish I had changed earlier!!! Ask around for OB's that people have had and liked you will find someone you like! Do it now while it is still early!

Answer 4

I was the same way because my periods are irregular too. My first appointment was just to confirm I was pregnant and to fill out tons of paperwork for insurance and whatnot. My second was with the midwife and she just shot me down because I had no idea when my last period was so she had no idea how far along I was. Then she had to leave because somebody was in labor so her nurse sent me to the hospital to get blood tests done. The hospital screwed up my blood tests so they said I was high risk and I got transfered to another hospital who ran more blood tests and said I was fine. They said I could go back to the other hospital but I said no because I was pissed they screwed up my tests and I hated that b*tch of a midwife. Then my third appointment, they did the belly measuring thing and guessed. So I never got an ultrasound until my fourth appointment and I was 4 1/2 months along by then! But I think thats mainly because there was such a problem with the first and second appointments and with the first hospital.

I would demand an ultrasound. They're perfectly safe to do before 18 weeks! A lot of people have them in their first trimester and many have more than one in the first three months! And you dont know for sure how far along you are! Thats something that definitely needs to be known! And ultrasounds are more accurate at calculating the due date when they're done earlier.

Answer 5

They offer the tests based on insurance as well. They have to look at what your insurance will cover based on the criteria you meet as well as your health and the health of the baby. If you are not considered a high risk case they will put off any other tests until the need arises usually at the end of the first tri mester. I would confer with your insurance company or whoever is paying the bills. Also, if your family history of childbirth is shown to have birth defects, miscarriage, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, ect you may want to bring this up with the doctor. But, if you have health insurance then I would contact the company about their requirements about pregnancy. If they do not have a problem with covering additional procedures then I would discuss this with the doctor. If you are still adamant about this procedure as well as early ultrasounds I would look for another doctor to take your case. Just remember though, doctors do not learn an exact science that is why they call their business a "practice". My doctor was sure I was going to have my daughter on the 22 of May and because I have always been on time with my periods and we planned our child I knew what day (within a 5 day window) when she was conceived and told him she would be here the 15th he laughed at me and said the ultrasound says that my due date is around the 22nd or 26th. She came on the 15th. So even ultrasounds are not exact. Congratulations on your new love!

Answer 6

I know this sounds stupid but it has A LOT to do with your insurance. With my first son I had minimal maternity insurance because of that I only had one ultrasound covered. With this baby I have everything free [I got better insurance...] so I get an ultrasound every appointment.

Call your insurance company and see how many ultrasounds you are allowed. Learn about your coverage. You could always opt to just get one but pay for it yourself [$100+] but when they do your external ultrasound at eighteen weeks they'll know for sure how far along you are.

With my son the one ultrasound I had it was very accurate. The due date was February 10th from the beginning. [I didn't know my LMP either.] He was born on February 6th so it was pretty correct. When they measure your stomach it is also very accurate. I hope this helps! Congrats and good luck!!

EDIT--I'd look at your insurance policy before deciding to switch doctors. If you are permitted more then one ultrasound from your insurance company that's when you should switch.

Answer 7

most of my ultrasounds were donr way before 18 weeks. My 1st preg i was not sure either bc my mom had her periods when she was pregnant. So i asked for an ultrasound and they deemed that was a good reason for an "early" ultrasound. It turned out I was right and I was only as far along as I thought. But at least I had the peace of mind. You need to find out for sure earlier than 18 weeks bc some prenatal tests are done at certain times and you do not want to miss those times or have them inaccurate. Demand one or go to see another DR.

Answer 8

Try a different doctor or tell them you are spotting which will force them to do a sono. Just a way around it...this is my first baby and I got a sono at 3 weeks! It was just a tiny tiny dot but I whined and cried until I found a dr. that would give me a sono that early. I called over 20 doctors for my first appt and all of them told me I would have to wait until I was 20 weeks to get my first sono, alot of the dr's are idiots!! Just keep looking you might get lucky and find one who will do an "early" sono like me.

So after my 3 week sono I had one at 5 weeks because I saw some light pink when I urinated. That sono only showed growth for the sac and the dr. had the nerve to tell me that my baby may be growing abnormally, it wasn't big enough!! I was crying so hard becuase I didn't undertand, it had only been 2 weeks how big did they want my baby?? So that was grounds for another ultrasound at 11 weeks when I switched to my other dr. Now 23 weeks my baby is growing "normally" and everything is fine.


Good Luck and GodBless!!!

Answer 9

I too wasn't aware when my LMP was (not cuz of irregularity, but just never really paid much attention to them) - so, at my 8 week appt, they did an INTERNAL ultrasound. At that point they marked me down for a certain due date and gave me a good guestimation etc.. . Than at my 22 week appt they did an EXTERNAL ultrasound which was with in a day of the previous guestimation...sooo can maybe try to specify and ask for an internal one? NOt sure if they will still....but its worth a shot, and better than continuing to wait. I was anxious to figure it out as well. Good luck..if they stil say now, well than, u find out later and thats ok too - patience is a vengeance.

Answer 10

demand the care you expect and if this doctor doesn't comply, see another doctor. You are not wrong for wantng to know exactly how far along you are. Actually, early ultrasounds are best at determining how far along because up to about 11 weeks, most babies look the same, after that alot of different factors go in, like mothers diet and genes, which can make babies at the same gestation look different. The sooner you get it done may determine how acurately you will know.