Is my Dr. being neglectful?

Question

This is my first pregnancy and I'm not sure if my Dr. is being neglectful or if I'm expecting too much. I am 7 weeks. I have seen him 2 times, once to confirm and once to determine the due date (@6 weeks). He didn't really give me any information on what to expect. He asked some history questions, looked at a calendar to determine the date (no internal) then said see you in 5 weeks (that would be week 12) to ehar the ehart beat.

Answer 1

totally normal. There is not a great deal they can do for you at such an early stage. Once you hit 12 weeks you should see your doc every 4 weeks until you hit 28 weeks, then you see them every 2 weeks until you reach 36 weeks from there it becomes a weekly visit.
At the moment the baby is too small to be able to hear and feel so don't feel as though he isn't doing his job, he is. All he can really do at the moment is talk to you about any concerns you might have.
Just try and relax at the moment. Once you get into your second and third trimesters he will start feeling babies position and check movement and things like that. They generally don't do internals unless they are trying to find something specific. Even when you are in labour they really try to limit internal examinations. So don't stress. It's all totally normal! Grab yourself some pregnancy books and magazines and get reading. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 2

At the beginning of the pregnancy, unless you are experiencing some problems such as pain or bleeding, there is no real reason to see the doctor frequently. That won't happen until closer to the end of your pregnancy. I don't think he is being neglectful at all, it sounds just like the early appointments when I had my oldest 3 kids (my 4th and youngest was conceived unexpectedly when I had been on birth control pills for 11 years and there was nothing usual about that pregnancy, including not finding out I was pregnant until I was 17 weeks along already). My oldest daughter had my grandson a little over 7 months ago. Her early prenatal appointments were the same as yours have been so far. Other than some possible body changes and maybe morning sickness, the early weeks are pretty uneventful. You can get several books about pregnancy and there are numerous online sites that help you understand what is happening during each week of your pregnancy. My daughter liked the book "What to Expect When You Are Expecting". They have a website, too.

Answer 3

If you find that the Dr. is not giving you the attention that you seem to want, then my advice is to switch doctors immediately. Mainly, if he/she is not forthcoming in the beginning, then how the hell will he/she answer all the questions that will be asked by you????? as your pregnancy goes on. If you have friends that already have kids, have them recommend a good Dr. to you as well as a baby Doctor, that is the best way to go. Also, the less internal exams, the better it is for the baby. The first 3 months of pregnancy are the most important. Remember that you ARE NOT eating for 2, eat what you usually eat and in the same quantities, but throw in an extra snack and remember to keep yourself really hydrated. Increase your intake on: milk, fruit, vegetables and cut down on starches and fried foods. You may find, that certain foods that you liked before, turn you off now. Don't gain more than 15-20 lbs. total for your pregnancy, and if you do, you will have a hard time getting it off. Try and eat well seasoned food, but use less salt. Go for walks as often as you can, and for the first trimester avoid lifting of heavy items, and bend by squatting instead of over.
You may experience nausea, on rising in the a.m. so have a glass of juice with some crackers on your night table ready for the next morning. This way,your stomach will have something in it. After eating, wait for about 10 minutes before getting out of bed. You may also find that you are more tired and sleepy during the first 3 months of pregnancy, this is normal. Your nipples will be extra sensitive and sometimes may be painful, but that too is normal. Enjoy your pregnancy as each one is a unique experience, and keep a journal of it, because while you are writing it down, some questions may occur to you, and those your doctor could help with. Remember no one knows your body better than yourself.
You will probably get heartburn even if you don't eat spicy foods, find out what you can take against it.(Tums) seem to help but check with your Doctor first. I hope that you have a happy and healthy pregnancy and an easy time giving birth.
Once your child gets old enough to understand, share the journal with him/her so that they will know how you felt, and what you thought. It will make them feel more wanted and secure.

Answer 4

Dr's don't like to go into a LOT of info that early in pregnancy. Most of the time a person is not seen that early by the doctor either. I got info from the nurse that I talked to but it is just their practice to give out info. At 12 weeks a doc is pretty sure that you will be keeping your baby....no miscarriage. My doctor is not like that but many are. If you feel uncomfortable after your next visit then ask for a different doctor.

Answer 5

Most doctors, in my experience, wait to make sure the pregnancy sticks before doing all the bloodwork etc. I am now 13 weeks and when i saw my dr at Five weeks to confirm, he did a sono, we saw the yolk sac and that was it. The next time I went he did the internal, pap smear, took blood etc. But if you are not comfortable with your dr, you should switch, you don't want to be uncomfortable or overly worried during labor and childbirth, you want it as stress free as possible. Good Luck!

Answer 6

No. Most doctors wait till a person is about 3-4 months to do an internal (and lab) which he will take measurments and then later, around 7 months, they take the measurments again.
As far as information on your condition, ask him. He will give you answers, but the majority of women are listening to their mother's and other women friends talk about their pgs. You will be getting a lot of advice over the next 6-7 months.
Just relax and enjoy!

Answer 7

No he's not being neglectful. You should ask questions. ALWYAS ask questions. If you dont ask, you wont get answers. Sometimes doctors wont do a pap smear and all that until you get to the 12 week mark. Thats probably to office policy. Also it's hard to hear the heartbeat before 10 weeks. If he doesn't give you an internal or anything at your next visit, then I would ask "why haven't you checked me."

Answer 8

Yes and no. If you feel like he is not giving you the support you need then Yes and you should talk to your Doc about that.. However, that type of schedule is pretty typical. That early in a pg there's really not much a doctor can do and if you have positive pg test then there's really no need for an internal.

Answer 9

I'm pregnant with #2 and going to the doctor who delivered my daughter. She gave me a huge bag filled with pregnancy and parenting magazines and free samples and always asks me what questions I have. Sometimes, you have to ask the questions (make a list starting now until your next visit) and take your list with you. Get the book "What to Expect When You're Expecting." It helped answer a lot of my questions in between doctor visits. Good luck!

Answer 10

It's normal.
I felt that way to at first. They don't really communicate with you too much and they do have a lot of people waiting on appointments, they can't really sit there all day talking to you. If you want more interaction - I would suggest a midwife, instead of an OB. OB's tend to be in a rush often.