Tell me how it works?

Question

My husband and I will start TTC on January (happy is getting closer and closer) but if I get pregnant... 1) when I have to schedule an appointment with a doctor?
2) With a ppo insurance, I need to go to a regular family doctor and he will transfer me to a Gynecologist?
3) Should I start with vitamins since now?

Answer 1

Since some things vary by locale, I will tell you what I did (or do), and hope that will at least provide some parameters to follow.

1. I made my appointment with the doctor when the home test was positive (I usually went at 4 weeks, give or take). I wanted to confirm the results, and get started on whatever regimen the obstetrician wanted to put me on. This also gives the doctor the opportunity to prepare for anything in your history (STDS, maternal age, health challenges, etc.) that might pose a complication further down the line. It also gives you an opportunity to start getting your questions out of the way, and to get on vitamins or switch to prenatal vitamins (if recommended).

This also gives you the additional opportunity to determine if you like your OB (if you get someone you have no experience with), and decide if you will be happy with this person for the duration of your pregnancy.

2. We have a PPO too. Having a PPO means that you can go to see the doctor of your choice whenever you want to, but some plans provide coverage at a reduced rate for seeing doctors that are out of network. You should be able to go directly to your OB/Gyn without being transferred from another doctor, but I suggest you call your plan and confirm how they want you to handle this.

3. Starting vitamins now should be fine, since you want to be in the best condition possible when you get pregnant, but you might want to consider giving your gynecologist a call and asking what steps to take prior to conception.

Hope I helped. God bless you. And I hope everything goes amazingly well.

Answer 2

I don't have a PPO (I'm an HMO) so I'm not sure... my answers are based on my experience with my pregnancy with my daughter (13months old now) and my current pregnancy 4 months along.

1.) First appointment with doctor is scheduled after you take a positive pregnancy test. I personally always take HPT and if positive I go take Kaiser's test then when you call in for the results, they schedule your first appt.

First appointment is primarily paperwork... very boring stuff. First real appointment with sonogram is at about 10-12 weeks pregnant.

2.) I don't know how that would work. I just see the same gynecologist I see for everything else, pap smears, birth control etc.

3.) YES. Both my kids were surprises, and I hope someday to "plan" a baby (how fun to try!!) but it's better if you are planning and can begin taking the prenatals 2 or 3 months before becoming pregnant to get your body healthy and make sure that the baby has everything he or she needs right from the get go.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

1) Once you get a postive home pregnancy test you can call and make an appointment. They usually like to see you for the first time between 9-12 weeks. It depends on the doctor.
2) You can look in your PPO network for a gynecologist. You should not need a referral from your family doctor. Or you can just call your doctor and get a verbal referral.
3) Yes, you can go ahead and take prenatals now

All the best to you and your hopes for a little blessing!

Answer 4

1) You shedule an appointment with the doctor when you find out you are pregnant after having done a home pregnancy test or you suspect that you are pregnant. The doctor will confirm the pregnancy for you.
2) Once the doctor confirms your pregnancy he will refer you to a Gynecologist or ask you to choose a hospital and wait for an appointment for a scan which happens before 16 weeks, typically around 12 weeks of pregnancy. That is how it works here (Ireland) anyway.
3) Start taking folic acid now, as you need to build up a level of it before conception. Doctors recommend you take the folic acid 12 weeks before conception and 14 weeks after conception.
Best of luck.

Answer 5

You can schedule an appointment with a family doctor, they are just as good as a gyno. My doctor is a family doctor and i love her, she is also both of my sons doctor and im planning on having her as my baby's doctor as well. Thats the good thing about a family doctor. Yes you can start taking prenatal vitamins now. Good Luck!!!

Answer 6

Obgyns won't usually ask you to come in until you are 7-8 weeks along.
you should start taking folic acid or prenatal vits now.
PPO insurance, well it depends on your plan. I have ppo (BCBS) and i went straight to an obgyn and didnt need a referral.

Good luck!

Answer 7

1 and 2 - you would go to your family doctor to have it confirmed after you find out, he can refer you to an OB.

3 - Yes, start prenatal vitamins now.