OB vs family doc

[awick14]

When you started to TTC did you go see a OB/gyno if you haven't seen one in the past?

[Deleted]

Yes, but only because my surgeon removed my cervix (cancerous) last year, so I will need special monitoring. I won't be allowed to go past 36 weeks and I have to have a c section. That's if I can get pregnant and gravity doesn't work against me too badly in keeping it in there!

[simpsongal]

If you've never been to an OBGYN, I would probably see one. Do some family docs to paps? I'll be seeing a new OBGYN since my previous one is a bit far. I haven't gone to the office but I got recs' from a coworker.

Unless you have a reason to alert your doctor about TTC (e.g., cheshire's case, or if you're on meds and don't know how they'll interact w/TTC & pregnancy). I don't think you need to see a doc before TTC. I asked my OBGYN a couple years ago about the process. She said to start taking prenatals a year ahead (I did 3 months worth....), get healthy (could be better on this front too), and good luck when the time comes.

[Deleted]

I can see starting with a family doctor if you plan on seeing a midwife later on but if you are not planning on having a midwife, then I would start with an ob-gyn. It can be hard to make a new patient appt if you are already pg so it's easier to see one while ttc or before.

[magpie]

I'm still seeing a family doctor (she does routine paps and everything). I did see my doc before ttc just to ask a lot of questions about the process, especially in terms of when to see the obgyn. She recommended calling her after a bfp, at which point I would get a blood test to confirm. Then she said I could either call or come in to get a referral to a good obgyn. She told me that once I am pregnant, I'll want to check out the hospital/delivery options and choose an obgyn based on where they deliver as well as recommendations. She had just had a baby and really seemed knowledgable of all the docs and hospitals in the area and didn't seem to think that I needed to rush. But, that doctor left the state and now I have a new doctor who I haven't met yet . Hopefully, she'll have good recommendations for me too. I have an appointment with her soon. After reading this thread, I'm going to ask her if she thinks that I need an obgyn before getting pregnant (unless I'm pregnant by then...fx!).

[ilikedonuts]

No. I called the OB I wanted to when I got my first + hpt to schedule my first appt. I didn't see him when we started TTC.

ETA: I had an gynecologist that I went to before TTC. I did not want to stay with that office when we got pregnant (my gyn didn't take OB patients anyways).

[vmars]

I've alway seen a gyno for paps/bc, etc. At my annual I told her I was going to TTC soon and she prescribed me prenatals, ran blood work to make sure everything was okay, and told me not to stop the pill until I was okay with the idea of GP.

[awick14]

My family doc does Paps and such like that but no obgyn stuff.

I'm asking because my doc doesn't seem very knowledgable about my cycle at all.

My cycle seems to be getting longer again. 40+ days now. (At least my last 2 were longer then they have been)

I asked him about it and he didn't seem like its a big deal. He says as long as my cycles happen its not a big deal. So I asked if I could get a referral to an obgyn so I could talk about my cycle with them and my family doc was like fine whatever and gave me the referral.

I just want to be able to talk about my cycle with a doctor that seems like they care.

[Deleted]

I think that you should definitely see an ob-gyn based on your history of irregular cycles. Have you had testing for PCOS?

[awick14]

No I haven't been. But I actually got a call from the obgyn today and I also went in I meet her.

She's in the same office with my doc and she had an open appointment today. (A lady had her baby last night so she didn't need the appointment.

She only had a short time to meet with me so we just discussed some things and she thinks that I may have PCOS, (based on a few things).

She also gave me the forms to get CD 3 testing and CD21 testing. She also wants me to start temping ASAP.

She says that I may not be ovulating so she wants to see if I am.

I'm glad we have a plan in place.

She seemed so nice and like she cared about what I was going through.

She did say it was a little to early to do any tests normally but with my hx of irregular cycles she says we should start it now and see what happens.

(I live in Canada so there is no OOP expense so I'm more then ok starting the tests earlier then later)

[Deleted]

What is CD3 and CD21 testing?

It's great that you got such a proactive doctor now. I hope you get some answers soon.

[awick14]

The 2 tests are hormone tests. I can't remember what the first one is for but the second one is to check to see if my progesterone levels are high enough post O.