First appointment?

[FastHands]

What happens at the first ob/gyn appointment? I'll only be 6 1/2 weeks, so they can't see anything on a u/s yet, right...? Maybe just a blood test and chat about crap I shouldn't do/eat?

My 30th bday is a week from tomorrow, but I am hopelessly ignorant of any and all things baby- and pregnancy-related. So apologies in advance for the slew of stupid questions. lol

[Deleted]

My ob did a dating u/s @7 weeks. I would call to see if you could get one. Bring your H. They will ask for full medical histories.

[kermit]

I was about 7 weeks and had an ultrasound, blood test (for stuff like STD's, toxoplasmosis, blood type) and I also had a PAP smear since it'd been over a year. Also they'll want a urine sample. Other than that, yeah it was don't do this/eat this kind of stuff.

[Yankees21]

It depends on the doctor...mine did an U/S at my first appointment but it wasn't until almost nine weeks. Some other places do the first appointment where they take a family history, etc but nothing else. Others have had appointments at 6.5 weeks where they did get an U/S- that is right around the time where you start to see the heartbeat.

[speyedr]

My first appt at 6 weeks was with a nurse just to go over health history and give me info in what to do/not to do, when to call the doc, how to deal with m/s. I had my first u/s and appt with my OB at 8 weeks and also had a pap because I was due for one.

[mannah]

Happy early birthday! I think at 6 weeks they actually can see a little something on an ultrasound but not every practice does one routinely at that point. At my first appointment they weighed me, did vital signs, had me pee in a cup, took blood, did a breast exam and a Pap smear and also an internal an external pelvic exam to just poke around and make sure everything felt okay. She also asked me a my h a ton of questions about ourselves, our family, and our preferences about genetic testing and various screening options. I had a bunch of questions for her about stuff that was specific to their practice about birthing and whatnot. Also, we scheduled all the appointment for the rest of the pregnancy which was exciting. Also, since I was 9 weeks, she tried to find the heartbeat with the Doppler but we couldn't hear anything--too early! But it was fun to try. I know 6 weeks will be too early for that of course but maybe you'll get to have an ultrasound (if you want one)!

[theatre4life]

Checking into this thread so I can find it again. My first appointment is on 1/24/13, which should be right around 10 weeks, apparently.  Congrats, FastHands!

[chicago]

Ditto calling your office. Mine was sometime between 6-7 weeks IIRC, and they took a urine sample, blood, did an ultrasound for dating purposes, a breast exam, and health history. They asked a few questions about genetic testing (I.e. Did we want to do the NT scan at 12 weeks). The ultrasound, of course, was the best part. I didn't need the internal/pap because I had just been in for my annual not too long before that.

[shelbyann]

I had U/S at 6 and 7 weeks and saw a tiny speck of baby and HB. My first appt with the actual midwife wasn't until 9ish weeks and that included lots of bloodwork, discussion of family history, PAP and breast exam, and I think she used the doppler at that appointment to hear the HB but I can't remember.

Good luck, the wait until that first appointment is killer!

[narockshard]

Our first appointment was at 8 weeks I believe, and it was just with a nurse. It consisted of bloodwork, peeing in a cup, and questions about our medical history. I did end up having an ultrasound at 6 weeks because of spotting but that was not routine for our office (we only technically get 1 at around 20 weeks) and I saw the heartbeat then. Our first official appointment with the doctor was after I was 11 weeks, and she did a pelvic exam, Pap smear, and listened to the heartbeat on the Dopplar.

[ringstrue]

I could see them still doing a u/s. Either way they'll probably want you back in a couple weeks to do one at 8ish weeks.

[D2M]

Congrats and happy early birthday! I was with an RE at six weeks and so I had an internal ultrasound. The doctor was able to show me the flicker of the heartbeat at that point but it was too early to hear it. At my first OBGYN appointment (at almost 8 weeks), I had another internal ultrasound, some bloodwork and a sit-down chat about family history. The doctor also went over various testing options and gave me a big information packet. I did call beforehand to find out if I'd be getting an ultrasound.

[catsarecute]

My doctor did an ultrasound at our first appointment to date the pregnancy. We got a packet of paperwork to take home and bring back the following week at a required prenatal class. She went over some do's and don'ts. Overall it was a quick appointment!

[carawestt]

Being as early as you are, they'll most likely just give you an EDD based off of LMP, do blood work and give you an information packet. Most practices do the first u/s at 8 weeks, once they're able to see the heartbeat for sure.

[Wonderwall]

Dec 30, 2013 12:06:33 GMT -5 D2M said:

Congrats and happy early birthday! I was with an RE at six weeks and so I had an internal ultrasound. The doctor was able to show me the flicker of the heartbeat at that point but it was too early to hear it. At my first OBGYN appointment (at almost 8 weeks), I had another internal ultrasound, some bloodwork and a sit-down chat about family history. The doctor also went over various testing options and gave me a big information packet. I did call beforehand to find out if I'd be getting an ultrasound.

This was exactly my experience also. 

We were able to see the heart beat at 6 weeks and that was super cool. :-) 

Oh just to add to that they do make you pee at every appointment.. just FYI. Drink your water prior 

[statlerwaldorf]

They can usually see a heartbeat at 6.5 weeks. With DD, there was only a fetal pole, so don't freak out if they can't. I went to two different ob/gyns. One did ultrasounds in the office and the other makes a separate appointment, so it depends on your doctor. I was with a RE with DD, so they did weekly u/s starting at 6.5 weeks. It's more common to wait and do an 8 week dating u/s.

It was mostly going over family histories. You may want to start thinking about genetic screening because they might ask you to make the appointment for that. They do a pap if you are due for one. I just had one, but they still did a swab for gonorrhea and chlamydia. I had to get a blood draw, but I can't remember what all they were testing. There was also a urine test. They gave me a lot of paperwork. I also met with someone to discuss financing and my insurance coverage.

[chickadee77]

Ditto most everyone else. The heart starts beating right around 6 weeks, IIRC, so some doctors won't u/s that early just to prevent that worry.

My doc does first appointment 7-9 weeks with an internal u/s, blood work, urine sample, pap (if you're due for one - they test for any STDs, too), complete medical history of both parents, and then q&a. Bring a notepad, lol, to jot down any of your questions as well as doc's answers - my first appt with first pregnancy had a lot of info to take in.

[andthentherewere10]

due t my IF history, I was given a t/v ultrasound. we had the traditional first appt at 8.5weeks. welcome!

[robinsbff]

mine was pretty basic -- health histories (bring your DH), pee in a cup, bloodwork, time for questions, some talk about future testing and appts, etc. we barely touched on the dos/don'ts since my practice has a booklet on their website we had downloaded and read beforehand. with my practice ultrasounds are done in a separate office so i got an order for a dating ultrasound which i had done the next day.