Am I seeing the doctor enough?

[Jen27]

sorry, a very long drawn out question! I can't get my words together

I live in a very small town in country WA. Since finding out I was pregnant I have been seeing the doctor in next town (also very small, the only doctor around). When I was approx 20 weeks he said I could have 'shared care' with a doctor in Albany, one that did deliveries. So I went to see the doctor in Albany, he took my blood pressure, and even had an ultrasound in his room so showed us the baby. He told me to come and see him approx every two weeks after 30 weeks, then weekly closer to the due date.

I went to see the Albany doctor again at 26 weeks, he gave me a referral for a glucose test and blood test for iron. So at 28 weeks I went to a clinic where they did the glucose and blood test, no problems there.

I haven't been able to get an appointment with the albany doctor since 26 weeks! I can mainly go on wednesdays and saturdays and but he doesn't work then. I have tried on other days to get an appointment but he has been busy. I have managed to book another appointment with him at 36 weeks, and will be seeing a different doctor in albany at 34 weeks (tomorrow).

I was worried about not seeing a doctor for so long after my last appointment so went to see my doctor in the next small town. I mentioned that I hadn't had any urine tests, and wasn't I suppose to be tested for proteins? He said ''ooh hasn't the albany doctor done that' so he did one there and then, and said 'all is good'.
(oh he also had a feel around my belly to check position, after I told him at 26 weeks baby was breech, but he wasn't 100% sure which position but said to me 'feel here' i think I can feel a head (down low). But I wasn't convinced (just with certain movements I have been feeling, baby seems to be all over the place!).

I have read in the pregnancy books the doctor will check your urine at most visits, but neither doctor had tested mine before then. Is this unusual?

What other tests may I have missed out on? strep? I have had 1 blood test and 1 urine test the whole pregnancy.

When I visited the 'small town' doctor last week, I told him I couldn't get an appointment with the albany doctor, and he said thats fine as long as I come and see him at 36 weeks and 39 weeks. does this seem right?

I have felt well throughout this pregnancy, but I have noticed in other threads people talking about fundal heights and low amniotic fluids, but I haven't been measured for these. Is it routine? I usually just have my blood pressure taken, though at about 20 weeks and 26 weeks the albany doctor did show us the baby on the scan. At 26 weeks the baby was lying breech.

just to make it clear, as my post is all over the place!
I have seen the albany doctor at 20 and 26 weeks
small town doctor at around 6, 12, 15, 20, and 32 weeks. (he said it would be fine just to not get an appointment with the albany doctor if I can't, but see him at 36 and 39 weeks).
I seeing a different doctor tomorrow (34 weeks)
should I be going more often? or is this fine

Thank you!!

[first_time_mummy]

that fine i think.
Im in a very busy suburban are, and i only saw my local share doc at 7 weeks, 12 weeks and 18 weeks.

Then i booked in with the hospital, and have only been again at 22 weeks, 28 weeks...and i have a check up next week at 34 weeks.

So ive only really had about 6 appointments all up. I think if everything is going okay with you and bub, there isnt really a big need to have such frequent visits. unless you have problems with blood pressure etc.
Im sure you and bub will be fine. No need to stress

[Jellyfish]

:yeahthat:

If things are going well, there is no real need to be seeing the doctor more often. I had a similar amount of appointments. I also never had my urine tested, I think they only do this if you are showing symptoms (high blood pressure etc) rather than as standard. The strep B test is also not routine in a lot of places (I never had it) as it can show up positive at 36 weeks but then a person is negative at birth and vise versa.

Sounds like everything is going great. Best wishes for the remainder of your pregnancy, birth and life with a new bub

[kawazuki]

we see every 2-3 weeks after 30 weeks.
only check for protein from 30 weeks.
there is a strep swab done at 36 weeks

if you feel concerned see a doc more frequesntly if not enjoy the minimal intervention.

i would prob be seeing a doc at 34-36-37-38-39 but thats just me as i had issues in late pregnancy with my dauighter so am a bit concerned this time but routine is
30-32-34-36-38-39-40

[Jen27]

Thanks so much for the replies!!! I was beginning to get worried (but probably as I'm not that keen on my small town doctor!) so you have all put my mind at rest.
I will be happy with less intervention from now on then

[Nelle]

I'm glad your mind's been put at ease Jen.

I had my urine tested maybe once each time and decided not to be tested for strep. I had blood tests to check my iron every now and then but I have a pretty bad track record when it comes to iron.
If things are going well there's not really much they need to do apart from check blood pressure, have a feel of your belly and scold you about not drinking enough water (which I always completely deserve!).

It's a good thing, especially as you go for more children and you might have to bring them along to appointments - then the less the better!

[first_time_mummy]

I also never had my urine tested...

me either, i have never had my urine tested, and never had anyone even look down there or do an internal. I only had it done once, and that was 2 days ago when i took myself to the hospital, and they thought i was having early contractions.
But other than than, its a simpl, how are you feeling? check my blood pressure, listen to bub, and away i went.

[Stevie]

i had my first app at 6 weeks and have then had one every 4 weeks. went to my MW app at the hossy at 21 weeks and didnt go back there til 30 weeks ( i was concerned that i hadnt been seen to often enough) but everytime i go everything is fine. and when i went to the mw at 30 weeks (i made the app they didnt call me like they said they would) she told me she wasnt sure why i even went in, everything was fine. i told her then that that is why i came in.. to hear that it was all ok lol.
I have had a urine test every app ive been too. but i dont think its a big deal if you dont.
i have an app for 34 weeks that i have to get a blood test before i go in (wont get the results for that til my 36 week app) which is where ive been told ill have to do the GBS (is that right.?) test.. for strep b im pretty sure.

[Now we're 3]

Had my first appointment at 8 weeks and then '4 weekly' after that - though 5 minute jobbies - take blood pressure ask me how I am feeling and out I go. Sometimes I wondered was it actually worth the 3/4 hour drive there and back . I did get to ask questions however if I had any.

Moved to fortnightly visits after 32 weeks and now on weekly visits from 36 weeks. As visits progressed they did measure the fundal height but never had weight taken or urine tested. Did start to check position of baby however from about 32 weeks.

Step swab/ test was done at 36 weeks and also had full bloods at that stage - this included 2nd test for GD. First one was done at week 28 from memory. (Have to go for another blood test this week as I am suffering from the "itches" so we need to eliminate OC/ICP - but that wouldn't be the norm).

As kawazuki said my preference especially as it gets closer to the day would be to do weekly from 37 weeks. This way you know about position of baby, whether it is dropping into pelvis or not, size of baby and ability to deliver naturally - however maybe it is possible to get hospital appointment where you are hoping to deliver to discuss this sort of thing with midwife? If baby is still breach they can discuss options with you. (As I am seeing the OB who will hopefully be helping deliver my baby so it makes sense for me to ask him the questions but this wouldn't make sense in your case).

Sounds like you haven't missed out on much to date though. Best of luck and hope all goes well.

[Karina]

I think how often you are seeing your doctors is fine. I only had about 7 appointments in total for my entire pregnancy. I didnt have my first one until I was 20 weeks. If everything is good and fine, and you feel good you dont really need to go too often, but usually you do start to go more often towards the end of your pregnancy. It really depends on your doctor and your condition though - obviously if you were having problems then you would be going more often.

[Jen27]

Thanks for the replies

I had an appointment yesterday with the doctor, was a bit scary at first, she couldn't find the heart beat for a long time, but she went and got an ultrasound and everything was fine, phew!. Also, baby is head down, yay.
I feel much better now, and I'm going to have appointments at 36 weeks, 38 and 39 I feel better being going along to the appointments, as we live a 2 hour drive from the hospital, I like to make sure everythings ok.

thanks again