How often do you see your care-provider?

**~Kaz~** · November 7th, 2008, 07:59 PM

Hi girls,

Just a bit of curiosity really as to how much variation there might be in your appointment spacings of pre-natal visits.

I have seen my ob (there are no other care options in my town), monthly since 8 weeks. Once I get to 28 weeks, he will see me fortnightly and then in the last month (I think) it becomes weekly.

Is this standard practice for obs? I guess I am wondering why it is not individualised for each pregnancy/woman as this seems to be a routine schedule the practice does with everyone. I did ask today why the shift to fortnightly when I have not any problems or issues but all I was told was that we will start talking about pain relief options for the birth

Thanks in advance for your replies

**visitor1** · November 7th, 2008, 08:15 PM

I see hospital OB's.

I was every 4 weeks until 30 weeks...now fortnightly until 38 weeks (im 31 weeks atm)...then weekly til bub is born

**Antheia** · November 7th, 2008, 08:16 PM

I see my GP monthly until 32 weeks and then fortnightly until 36 weeks and then weekly until birth but it does depend on how im going. If all is fine and i have no worries etc she'll make it 3 weeks or so instead of 2 weeks.

**StrawberryMumma** · November 7th, 2008, 08:38 PM

We have ob app's every 4 weeks, then every 2 weeks from 32 weeks, then weekly from 36 weeks.

**Jakabella** · November 8th, 2008, 06:50 AM

I see my public hosital OB evey month till I was 30 then f/nighlt till 38 and then weekly till I pop!!

**Indadhanu** · November 8th, 2008, 06:57 AM

Well I went midwife... monthly to 32 weeks, then fortnightly to 40, and then weekly until 42 (though i didnt go that long). I think its fairly standard to go fortnightly as problems can arise quite quickly, and you might not be able to pick them up, whereas your ob/mw would...? Thats what i thought anyway...

**Karina** · November 8th, 2008, 10:40 AM

I had midwife care. Had my first appointment (just to book in) at 10 weeks. Then my antenatal appointments were at:
20 weeks,
24 weeks,
28 weeks,
31 weeks,
34 weeks,
36 weeks,
38 weeks.
I gave birth 2 days after my 38 week appointment, but had I not, then I would have had another one at 39 weeks, 40 weeks and then once you go past your EDD they schedule appointments depending on your individual needs.

**Olive** · November 8th, 2008, 10:48 AM

you've seen my appointment scedule!
im happy with mine spaced out as so far its a low risk birth, all is good, and i dont have to drag DD around to appointments!!

**~Kaz~** · November 9th, 2008, 03:34 PM

Thanks for all your replies girls!

There does seem to be a fairly standard pattern so it seems I am going to fortnightly appts a couple of weeks earlier than the usual 30 or 32 weeks. I actually think Christmas will get in the way of my 'first' fortnightly appointment anyway.

I guess I'd like to have as little intervention as possible and it seems like the more appts I have earlier in the pg, the more likely intervention will be. Maybe I am being silly. I have no drama going more frequently at the end of the pg and will probably prefer that but the idea of needing to be seen more often to discuss pain relief seems silly to me (given my preferences) and is not based on any earlier discussion for him to know my preferences or the reading I have already been doing for myself. Feels a bit sausage factory I guess.

**rufalina** · November 9th, 2008, 04:10 PM

I personally found the weekly appts a bit ott. We sorted out my birth plan at about 30 week, and was on fortnightly appts after that till 36 weeks, then went weekly...My appts lasted about two minutes... just a quick check of the bub, and see if I had any questions, then thanks for coming... see you next week. There was no push for any extra intervention, (infact my OB recommended calm birthing to me...) but knowing I was more than likely having a c-sect I needed to keep seeing the OB, and I did feel that if i had needed anything,or had any concerns or questions, i would have had it taken care of for me. And once I reached the medicare threshold after the big management fee, the appts barely cost me anything, so i was ok going along.... Good luck with the remainer of your pregnancy.

**~Kaz~** · November 9th, 2008, 05:07 PM

Thanks Ruffalina. My appts now last only about 5 mins lol - we check bubs, my blood pressure and there's usually not much else to discuss. Occasionally I have questions but none of them have been urgent or pressing issues.

I am rarely ever sick generally though and I have an aversion to the medical system/hospitals etc based in teenage experiences so I think this is where my reluctance is coming from. Obviously I want to do everything 'right' though so I will probably attend as often as he wants me to. Thanks for the reassurance that regular contact doesn't mean a higher chance of heaps of intervention too.