[countryjewel]

Hi

So, was excited to head off to Doc's for first antenatal visit at 10 weeks yesterday. We had previously had a scan done for confirmation and dating ect at 6 weeks( long repro history involved so no idea of proper dates) Was rather excited even booked appointment 2 weeks in advanced probably even told the poor nurse / receptionist far more info than she wanted to know when booking and as a wee bit of a worry wort I was hoping to have some questions fear ect anwsered while there.

So the day arrives , 40 min trip into neighbouring town to visit and 15 mins later I sitting back in my car crying my eyes out.

After roughly 10 min max of the doc reading first scan report and typing info into computer and handing me a few blood test forms my doc was standing at the door to show me out and said the nurse may take a more details. When i said I had a few concerns / questions in a huff she sat back in her seat and as I started to speak said the nurse could help me and proceeded to walk out the door again.

Now sitting in with the nurse who quickly looks a the computer and says we will make this short as I have someone else waiting or perhaps we do this at your next visit in 4 weeks. Well at this point I started to tear up and walked out the door and to my car.

I didnt expect a great deal to happen at my first visit but being as this is our first baby I expected a little more information, care or actual examination ( blood pressure urine anything really).

Needless to say, I have rung around and am off to a different town to see another doctors tomorrow. I go big on first impressions and if thats the type of care I will be receiving I will go some where else thanks.

Maybe I expected to much from a first visit, but really dont think I expected so little.


Anyway, Had my rant, Thanks for listening.

[niggles]

I think it's perfectly reasonable for you to find someone who makes you feel comfortable so I'd say you're right to look elsewhere for someone who aligns with you. You certainly shoukdn't be rushed off and have your questions ignored.

That said, apart from my initial blood tests and chat with my GP I didn't even have another appointment til 20 weeks. You may have unrealistic expectations of how much monitoring needs to go on in an uncompicated pregnancy. Not that you can't or shouldn't have questions and that they shouldn't be answered if you have them of course! But it's not necessarily routine for there to be lots of testing, examining and so on at this stage.

Have you joined a due in group? That could be a good place to chat about any questions you have in the meantime. Sorry you weren't given the care you expected the first time around. It's often such a tiring time in the first trimester and your care providers should know that.

[needanangel]

Hi Countryjewel,

I am sorry to hear that your first appointment went so bad - i dont think it was very professional of them at all.
I have a scan today to see how baby is doing (just over 10wks but worried) and see my ob for the first time on Thursday. I hope she is as good as i have been told or i will change as well! Feeling comfortable is so important with your care providers so good on you for ringing around and seeing someone else!

being new to the location my GP has been a great help for referring me and due to my past 3 miscarriages knows my concerns.

I hope that the next person you see is way better and gives you the reassurance and information you need.

Good luck!

[Corella]

You'll get more support on here than from any doctor. At the moment you are in early pregnancy and not very interesting to them. They don't generally have time or interest to listen to your concerns when your baby isn't yet viable. If you want that type of support, a doula or midwife who wants to help you as a woman who is also pregnant would be much more suitable.

[Madnesscraves]

First appointments are generally short. 15-20mins but with the OB IMO.

Not much needs to be gathered or worried about until after the 12 week scans. If you're doing PHI and paying OOP for this OB. then I'd be looking for another one because If I am going to have to fork out thousands for care I would like the OB to show it.

It's not too late to seek another OB. OP. Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy.

[WithSprinkles]

I would be looking for another OB if you are going private OP. My OB was very supportive and at every appointment asked me if I had any questions/concerns and took the time to reassure me and answer any questions I had.

Where are you located? Perhaps someone could give you a recommendation?

ETA: Sorry didn't realise this was a due in group!!

This post has been edited by VanillaIcecream: 08/01/2013, 01:37 PM

[feliz6]

With my obs you always see the midwife first with the idea being you ask them any questions. The only times I would have spent more than 10 Mins with the obs was when I got past 38 weeks.
It would have Been nice for the staff you saw to acknowledge the excitement of a first baby they probably should have let you know what to expect at appt also. It doesn't sound like you received siblings standard care though.

[muggins_00]

None of my appointments have ever been long. Normally 5 minutes max, go in, blood pressure, later appointments it's a quick check of fundal height and a quick listen to the heartbeat with the doppler. In fact, my longest appointment was when they were picking what date to book me in for a c-section.

I've always gone public though so usually the first appointment is with a midwife who does a run down of health history which I would expect your OB to do too if it was your first appointment with them?

[Wishing2011]

I would be looking for another OB. If you are going private you are paying them a lot of money or their care. It shouldn't matter how far along you are they should still listen to your concerns and discuss them with you. I found I felt like this with my old OB/FS. He was crap I would never recommend him. After wasting a year on him I found someone else who actually took the time to answer my questions, never rushed me, asked ME a lot of questions and told me straight what my options were. I expect the same kind of treatment from my OB . I refuse to go back to the old one and by the sounds of it the person you saw isn't worth it if they are going to practically ignore your questions like its of no importance to them. It pays to research and look up a good specialist good luck and I'm sorry your first apt was not what you expected.

[howdo]

I had a private OB and my first appointments were always heaps longer than that. Well possibly not DD2 as I saw the same OB as for #1 and didn't really have any questions or anything. But with #1 I had a nice longish chat with the OB about why I was there (almost certain GDM diagnosis), a conversation about the type of pregnancy management I wanted, discussion about which testing I'd like to do and a physical examination. He also asked me if I had any questions.

So with #2, given the complications I had with #1, we discussed the plan of action to avoid them this time, another discussion re: 12 week testing yay or nay and any questions?

#3 was with a new OB who I discussed my previous births with, my expectations and desires, my thoughts about testing, confirmed his philosophy and has an U/S.

I disagree that first appointments with the OB are so short. Hope you can find care providers that suit you better, OP.