Hi Ladies! I peed on a stick and....

I am pregnant! I found out Sunday which is the day my daughter turned 8 months. I have had 2 miscarriages before having my healthy baby. I called my OB today and I am very confused by what the nurse told me. She said that blood HCG levels are not normally checked by their office in early pregnancy. BUT all 3 of my previous pregnancies they have verified that they were doubling normally as soon as I found out I was pregnant. She said that I should just make an appointment when I am near 8 weeks. HUH??? Is this normal protocol? People are supposed to assume the pregnancy is viable without ever having their blood hcg levels checked? Anyway, does this sound right to you??

I am not telling anyone yet so if you are a buddy of mine on another website... Shhhh! Thanks!

Julie

My OB wouldn't see me until 8 weeks. That is why I went to my RE to get blood tests early on even when I got pregnant on my own that cycle. Maybe your PCP will do it for you?

I wish you a happy and healthy nine months!!

Traci

The OB that I have been seeing is a high risk, and my PCP has never really been involved in any of my pregnancies. Anyway, maybe I will have to talk to her about it. Thanks!

Congrats! My OB doesn't test HCG either. I had an ultrasound at 8 weeks to verify viability (I had a miscarriage in June). In a "normal" pregnancy they don't do an ultrasound until 20 weeks unless you are getting the genetic testing! I had one at 11 weeks the first time with the high risk Dr, that's when they discovered the miscarriage.

But standard practice is a nurse visit around 6 weeks to fill out paperwork and you see the OB for the first time around 8 weeks for an internal and PAP.

Good luck and congrats!

Liz

Hello,
I just found out last Wed that I am pregnant and my OB is not seeing me til I am 9 weeks and I wont see the Doctor till im almost 11 weeks.

I got pregnant a  year-ago June and my doctor just had me pee in a cup - said "yup, you're pregnant" (did a pap smear because I was due for one anyway - not pregnancy related) and sent me on my way until 8 weeks.

I was *this* close to asking for HCG levels to be tested, but figured.... he's the doctor and I'm sure all will be fine.

WELL -- turns out 2 weeks later I was in the ER having a ruptured Ectopic and emergency surgery! 

Had they tested my HCG levels they would have seen (most likely) things were NOT doubling like they should and may have caught the ectopic early.

Well a few months later I got pregnant again.....this time he tested and tested and tested and did an ultrasound at 4 weeks, 5 week, 6 weeks and 8 weeks -- then sent me to the high risk OB for an ultrasound every month after that! 

So NEXT TIME I am pregnant I will DEMAND HCG levels (in a very polite manner) to rule out early problems.  And also see if I can get a sneak-peak at the baby via ultrasound!

Make sure you do what you feel is right --- any doctor can order the HCG so if you have a good relationship with your PCP have them order it for one day and the next and you should see the number double (if you're pretty early out.)  You can google HCG levels and it will tell you when the doubling in 24 hours happens vs. doubling in 48 hours, etc.

Cindy

I don't know. I don't even call to make my first appt. until I am well over 12 weeks or more. I saw my OB for the first time at 16wks this time.

Viable or not they can't stop a miscarriage and I suffered a m/c before this pregnancy so I have BTDT.

Thank you Cindy,
You just affirmed my need to "politely demand" for my HCG to be tested. They are mailing me a lab slip. My argument was that even though it is not their "normal protocol" that there was no harm in testing it. The nurse could not argue with that one.

Thanks again!

Julie

I'm w/Liz...I'd either be getting the PCP to do it...or calling back and asking to talk to the dr directly - even if it means he has to call you back - and explaining your concerns to him.

Congrats and good luck.  I hope this is a sticky one for you.