WWYD re: changing OB practices

[pugz]

I'd do this next appt and then switch!

[DarcyLongfellow]

I'd keep the ultrasound appointment just so you get a chance to see the baby :-).

As far as going out of town shortly afterwards, I've been lucky enough not to lose a pregnancy, but I would imagine it's probably better to know sooner rather than later. At least, I would want to.

Also, be prepared for some possible insurance hassle with switching OB's in the middle of a pregnancy. All the OB practices I have been to don't charge a regular co-pay for OB appointments because it's all rolled into one fee for the whole pregnancy. So you may need to pay retroactive co-pays for the visits to your current OB. Also, I had some problems with my pregnancy with DD where Blue Cross had a policy of not covering routine ultrasounds in the first trimester. My OB's office had to fight with them to get them to cover the routine ultrasound I had at 6 weeks. They may be less likely to fight for you if you've left the practice.

But don't let that stop you from changing! It's so important to feel comfortable with your OB!

[MadamePresident]

Sure, I loved seeing the ultrasounds.

[halfpint]

I'd keep the appointment. With my last pg, I did my first appointment with one office, then called and scheduled an appointment with a new place when I realized I didn't like the first one. They were happy to send my records over, so my new office had all my bloodwork, first u/s, etc., and didn't need to go through all the initial first visit stuff again.

[statlerwaldorf]

I would keep the u/s appointment, but after that I would get in with the new clinic as soon as you can. I decided to switch to a different ob/gyn so I could deliver at a different hospital, but I had a hard time finding ob/gyns that would take new patients in the 2nd tri.

[cilantro]

Go to the ultrasound for sure. Then, confirm with the new practice whether they do the 12 week NT scan or not and really think about whether that is acceptable to you. Most women I know would not accept that. It's a pretty big deal.

[curbsideprophet]

I realize I am in the minority, but I would just call the new doctor and try to set up your first appt with them. Once that is set, I would cancel the other appt and the u/s.

[DarcyLongfellow]

Cilantro brings up a really good point -- maybe call to make sure the new practice offers the NT scan. I know there is a new test that some OB's are doing instead/in addition to the NT scan (the MaterniT21 maybe?), but unless you know you don't want any first trimester screening, I'd clarify that before you leave the current practice.

I'm just giving this advice based on watching a friend of mine change OB's so many times during her first pregnancy that she kind of got black listed. (I love her dearly, but I'm sure her histrionic firing of the second OB was spread around town. We joked she was going to have to just give birth in the ER..) I'd just recommend making sure you like everything about the new OB that you can find out ahead of time so you don't have to change again :-)

[Deleted]

The "listen to fetal heartbeat" at 12 weeks is with a Doppler, it's like an amplifying microphone they hold externally on your abdomen. So you get to *hear* the heartbeat. There's no u/s, where you could *see* the heartbeat.

[Deleted]

If you do genetic testing at 12 weeks it will include an ultrasound. Part of the test is to measure the neck fold. If you opt out of GT then you won't have an u/s until 20 weeks.

I would keep the appt with the old place. I switched with my first pregnancy after 8 weeks. It was NBD.

[chia]

Part of the reason they may not list the 12w NT scan, is that many OB's will refer you out to a specialist for that scan. Mine was not at my OB's office, it was at a Maternal/Fetal Medicine & Genetics place. While I'm pretty sure that my insurance covered it, it was optional on my part. I didn't have to have it done if I didn't want it.
So, I wouldn't immediately be concerned with the lack of NT scan.

ETA:  I would go to the 8w appt at your current office, and then switch.

[pippilongstocking]

I would go to the ultrasound appt then switch.

[Deleted]

I would go to the appointment and then switch.