20 weeks and yet to PIAC! What tests are required

Hi, I'd appreciate opinions / experiences from those seeing a private OB in particular, although any views would be useful.

I?m seeing a top end OB (at the top end of town!). I?ve been there twice so far ? once at 9 weeks, once at 14 weeks. The second time he was called away to a delivery as I was walking in, so I just briefly saw his lovely midwife. At both appointments my blood pressure was checked and a quick ultrasound performed (yay!).

In addition to these two visits, I had the 7 week viability scan at the 12 week NT scan at the ultrasound clinic.

In terms of other testing, the OB referred me for thyriod and glucose tolerance tests at around 13 weeks, both because of possible pre-existing issues. (Both came back clear). Plus bloods (haemo etc I think). Oh and I had the full suite of pre-conception testing previously ? rubella, HIV etc etc.

My next tests are: 19 week scan at clinic (next week) and next OB appointment following week ? 20 weeks.

My questions are as follows:

1. is it normal to be half way through the pregnancy and have not yet had a urine test? Some things I read suggest that you'll even have a urine test at the first prenatal appt, looking for bacteria and protein.

2. Is it also normal ?nowdays? for no starting weight to be take and no discussion to occur re weight gain or loss?

3. Are there any other blood tests I should have had before 20 weeks that were missed out because I didn?t have a proper appointment between 9 weeks and 20 weeks (due to OB?s absence at 14 week appt?).

TIA

OK, from memory I didn't start taking urine samples in till about then with all of my pgs, and some Drs will never weigh you at all during your pg. There shouldn't be any tests that you missed out on as there isn't really a lot you do have anyway - especially if you had rubella and HIV/AIDS before you got pg.

I think all that sounds pretty spot on to me. That's all I have had anyway, except for a few bajillion more scans to keep a watch on bubs heart.

I am yet to have a urine test, and I haven't had any tests for GD yet.

My Dr never weighed me at the begining although now I'm seeing a new one he likes to! I think now days with weight gain it's mostly about making sure that you eat healthy, excersice still and let your body do what it needs to do look after your baby. So I don't think any weight issues will come up unless you're on the upper end of the scale and they'll affect your birth and the health of you and your bub, or if you ask.

Nope, there are no blood tests between 9 and 20 weeks unless you're having problems!

HTH, Sit back and enjoy not being prodded and poked, I say ;)

Hi AliB! If you're concerned I would ring up and ask your OB, but from what I know I don't think you have anything to worry about. To answer your questions:

1. My OB did urine test at every appointment but when I went for my 6 week post natal appointment he actually mentioned that they were stopping doing them because the latest research suggested that they were unnecessary.

2. My OB never took my weight or asked about my weight gain. The only time we discussed it was when I raised it because I thought I was putting on too much. He told me that there was no such thing as 'normal' and that they expect you to put on anywhere between 5 and 30kg. He said that was reason they don't check weight gain anymore and that he found that checking tended to stress out the mother more than anything and really didn't provide any indication of how the preg was going. Of course if you are loosing weight then you should discuss it with your OB, but I think it isn't that uncommon in the first trimester particularly if you have morning sickness.

3. I don't think so. By the sounds of things you've had everything I had. It wasn't until 28 weeks that I had anything more and that was just my Glucose Challenge test.

Good luck with your pregnancy. I think the best thing you can do is listen to your body, it will tell you if there is something you need to be worried about... and if there is then you should call and talk to your OB, after all that's what we pay them the big bucks for.

neither of my obs in either preg did urine testing as a routine test...

well im nearing the end of this pregnancy and I havent had a urine test done at all!!!! In NZ where I had my previous pregnancys they do them everytime you have an appointment.
Other than that I think it all sounds normal. I also saw a specialist throughout this preg and I have only been weighed one time and nothing has been said about how much i have gained or not. :)

You're all completely brilliant, thanks so much. It sounds like everything is as it should be so far, thank you for putting my mind at rest.

After all the poking and jabbing of IVF, it's great that the main 'intervention' since getting UTD has been ultrasounds, we love to see little Scooby!

Cheers all xo