Very early Intro and question 1st u/s

[Blackout81]

Hi - I just got a positive yesterday. I posted on Getting Pregnant and I'm a regular on the NJ fake nest under a different name. We were TTC our second child for 8 cycles, I was beginning to wonder if it was going to happen on its own (and beginning to be okay with it wont happening). Anyway, here I am! I used an OB for my first and had an extremely traumatic L&D that ended in an unplanned C and post-c complications. I loved my OB but she merged with a huge group and that totally turned me off, plus I knew if we had another id like to VBAC, so I switched to midwives even for just my annuals.

i just called to make my 1st appt at 8 weeks and they do not do an u/s 'till the NT scan. I am not comfortable waiting till 12 weeks to hear/see a heartbeat - is that common? I feel like in my area/circle almost everyone gets an u/s anywhere from 7-10 weeks to date the pregnancy. I know it's not really necessary, but it would just put me at ease. I'm going to call tomorrow and ask if there's anyway I can get one in, but who knows. I'm also considering having my 1st appt with my old OB, who does do an initial u/s, then switching to midwives for the remainder of the pregnancy. Crazy? Thoughts? 

[achi]

Congrats and welcome to the board!

Dating ultrasounds really vary from area to area. I certainly understand being anxious, but unless you had a lot of early complications with your first pregnancy or a history of losses a lot of practitioners won't order the ultrasound. If you're really that anxious about it, I'd try to talk to them and see if you can get one

[emoflamingo]

Yes, that's common. They don't do dating U/S here unless you don't know your LMP and even with a prior loss, I only had betas. I wasn't offered an NT scan with my first, but health history of my family changed and I got one with my second and third.

[dojo]

congratulations!

[Susie]

My practice does both the first app't and first u/s at 8-9 weeks. So, relatively short wait for the first u/s, but my first app't is at 9w1d, which feels like a really long time to wait to talk to a doctor (or NP in my case) the first time!

[nmosrob]

Congrats and welcome!

I don't know how common it is at other practices, but mine did u/s at my first and second appointments. 3rd one, too, but I don't think she was planning on it. I mentioned we were going to visit my parents and finally tell them about the baby (around 14 weeks) and she said well, you'll need a good picture then!

I'm in NNJ, I can PM you my dr's info if you want.

[meltoine]

Congrats! Standard here is anatomy scan only. That's all I had with my second pregnancy. This pregnancy I had one in the ER at 7w because severe sharp abdominal pain had us thinking ectopic. But other than that I will only have the AS.

[busterpup]

Congrats! I think that's normal, but I could see myself saying I forget my LMP to get one and put my mind. At ease.

[Blackout81]

Thanks everyone! Someone on my local board said my midwife practice does send you out for an u/s at 8 weeks, I'm going to call to confirm today.

I had spotting and cramping the 1st tri with my first and I had some pinkish brownish tinged discharge last night, which I know is normal, so I might mention that. I don't need a million u/s, but we're waiting to tell my daughter until after we see a HB and keeping a secret from her for 2 months would be incredibly challenging since it's just the three of us in the house. She's almost 4 so she's able to pick up on things, we'd have to not talk about it at all in front of her, which means practically never talking about it!

[coda]

Congrats!

[runblondie26]

Congrats!

With my obgyn group, dating u/s are standard practice at the first 7/8 week visit. I know it varies greatly by region, and even by office.

It's even tricker to find a HB with a doppler, so I wouldn't recommend that if you are already nervous. However, I had success find the HB at home starting around 8.5 weeks. It helped keep me sane during the 1st tri.

[Deleted]

Congratulations!

[Koala]

Congratulations and welcome! Nice to see you over here.
My practice does them at the 8w appt to check for a heartbeat, but I know that isn't always typical. I hope that you can get some re-assurance soon.

[statlerwaldorf]

Congrats! It depends on the practice. My old OB didn't do an 8 week dating u/s, but my current OB does.

[Blackout81]

I called today and it depends on insurance. My insurance is pretty good so I'm hoping they'll be able tonsend me for one - I forgot how worrisome the beginning is.