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First trimester appointments??
Hi ladies! Can you tell me the tests in order starting when you get your BFP? Ok I know first beta... Then another beta a few days later to make sure numbers are going up... Then another beta??? Then ultrasound?what week do you hear the heartbeat? How often to you see your dr?
Thanks
Thanks
At my first sppointment I was 4.5 weeks and they actually did an ultrasound. I was shocked, but of course it was too early to see anything besides the gestational sac. They did a blood test for hcg and progesterone, and I went back 2 days later for another blood draw. I also asked them to screen for toxo because I felt the chances that id been exposed were fairly high as ive been eating rare meat and cookie dough all my life (was hoping for immunity but it came back negative).
Honestly, I found all the testing this early a little unnecessary. I'm 28, this is my first pregnancy, have never had a miscarriage, and have no family history of problems. On the one hand it's reassuring to have everything so thoroughly tested, but on the other hand I wonder if my ob is just over billing my insurance company for extra ultrasounds and tests.
Honestly, I found all the testing this early a little unnecessary. I'm 28, this is my first pregnancy, have never had a miscarriage, and have no family history of problems. On the one hand it's reassuring to have everything so thoroughly tested, but on the other hand I wonder if my ob is just over billing my insurance company for extra ultrasounds and tests.
PS- In rereading Brandilou's original question about al the tests coming up and what to expect, I am starting to wonder about all of the screenings myself. After reading about risk of M/C and lots of false positives that canmake you crazy, I am starting to think I would really need to be convinced by my doctor to agree to a CVS or amnio (since we would never consider ending this pregnancy anyways). What other tests are there? Any of you ladies that have been through this before have any comments or experiences to share about the different screenings?
Two comments-
1. A doctor might perscribe estradiol and progesterone therapy in early preganancy, based on beta monitoring. Progesterone levels are thought to be associated with risk of miscarriage. This type of monitoring is especially applicable to IVF patients, and probably with other endocrinological disorders as well, such as PCOS, which sadly has a high risk of M/C assoc with it. If you don't carry these risk factors, I'm not sure a beta test would be used, because your doctor would likely not need to prescribe these therapies for you.
2. Some u/s equipment is sensitive enough to not only see but also hear an early fetal heart beat. I was amazed when we got to audibly hear our babies' hearts beat away, each at 120 BPM. This was at 6 weeks 5 days. Awesome! So I think it depends on the equipment. Probably not at your everyday OB office though. It must be very pricey, indeed.
1. A doctor might perscribe estradiol and progesterone therapy in early preganancy, based on beta monitoring. Progesterone levels are thought to be associated with risk of miscarriage. This type of monitoring is especially applicable to IVF patients, and probably with other endocrinological disorders as well, such as PCOS, which sadly has a high risk of M/C assoc with it. If you don't carry these risk factors, I'm not sure a beta test would be used, because your doctor would likely not need to prescribe these therapies for you.
2. Some u/s equipment is sensitive enough to not only see but also hear an early fetal heart beat. I was amazed when we got to audibly hear our babies' hearts beat away, each at 120 BPM. This was at 6 weeks 5 days. Awesome! So I think it depends on the equipment. Probably not at your everyday OB office though. It must be very pricey, indeed.
I think it costs them too much. Whether the numbers are doubling or not there isn't much they CAN do since most early miscarriages have nothing to do with anything anyone has control over. If you don't have any significant 'history' of infertility or miscarriage they're wasting resources and unnecessarily worrying people.
It seems odd that a doctor would not do a beta once or twice just to make sure your numbers are rising. Then again, I'm not pregnant...so maybe I just don't know anything about it. But even if your low or high risk....your doctor needs to do a beta to make sure your levels double when they should.
I had 3 betas last week to make sure #'s are rising, i'm seeing a regular ob but she has me on medication and she wants to monitor me closely. I can't wait for my first u/s on 05/05/10 then my dr does u/s at every appt she thinks it is easier than measuring the uterus externally and listening to the heartbeat. My last miscarriage was at 3 months so till I get past that point I'm sure I will be nervous. My dr told me to not think about the miscarriage cause this is a totally different chance.
I'm 20 and this is my first pregnancy. So far I'm low risk so the doctor wouldn't even draw a beta. I won't have any tests until 10 weeks.
It kinda depends on your doctor and your risk factors. My ultrasound is today at 6w2d. My 1st prg 9 yrs ago, I had one at 5 weeks because I was having pain but it normally wouldn't have been til 13w I think. You do have to pee in a cup alot to check sugar and such. Blood pressure and weight too. If you have problems, they'll check alot of things and do more ultrasounds. good luck to you
Since I've been TTC for over 2 years, I see a RE(reproductive endocrinologist)...since you are getting betas done I'm guessing you do too? Because with my first I was just with a regular OB/GYN and I remember getting the positive test, making an appointment, having a physical exam to confirm, then had an ultrasound at 6 weeks.
The way my RE does it is the first beta is done as soon as the + urine test (I got my BFP 12dpIUI on a Sunday so I went in on Monday) and then another beta 48 hours later to make sure the numbers double. Then, an ultrasound is scheduled for 2 weeks later (once you are about 6.5 weeks along) to check on the baby and the heartbeat, which you should be able to see.
That is what I am waiting for...the last baby ultrasound I had was with my miscarriage, and there was the sac but no bean :( If I can just get past that successfully, then I will really really be on cloud nine!
The way my RE does it is the first beta is done as soon as the + urine test (I got my BFP 12dpIUI on a Sunday so I went in on Monday) and then another beta 48 hours later to make sure the numbers double. Then, an ultrasound is scheduled for 2 weeks later (once you are about 6.5 weeks along) to check on the baby and the heartbeat, which you should be able to see.
That is what I am waiting for...the last baby ultrasound I had was with my miscarriage, and there was the sac but no bean :( If I can just get past that successfully, then I will really really be on cloud nine!
The babies heart starts beating around 5-6 weeks, you may see it on an ultrasound, but may not hear it yet. I didn't have betas done with my last pregnancy, they didn't do them unless there was an issue and same thing this time. With my son I got an ultrasound at my first appointment, 7 weeks and then I just went every month and got weighed, they tested my urine, for I forgot what, and I was measured, pubic bone to the top of the uterus, and they used the doppler to hear his heartbeat. At my 20 week appointment I had my second ultrasound for measurements, and then after that I just had monthly appointments for measurements, until I got to the point of every two weeks having appointments, and then every week until I had him by c-section at 39 weeks, he was breech. I had an ultrasound done with him at 33 weeks when I went to L & D for contractions, and had them every appointment after because they were checking if he was still breech.
Thanks.. I'm going for my third beta Friday.. Thanks for your help.. Good luck to you!
This is a 1st time for me...i had 3 betas. Starting with the 1st one when i found out i was pregnant, then i had another one 4 days later...then a thrid one four days after that.
They then set me up with an ultraound when i will be at my 7 week mark. They advised me that it is possible to be too early to hear a heartbeat at 7 weeks, i might see a flicker on the monitor, and if it is too early for a heartbeat then they will do another ultrasound one week later when i will be 8 weeks. Not sure what happens from there.
I have heard that you can hear a heartbeat as early as 6 weeks. Some do, and some dont.
Congrats& Good luck. Hope that was somewhat helpful :o)
They then set me up with an ultraound when i will be at my 7 week mark. They advised me that it is possible to be too early to hear a heartbeat at 7 weeks, i might see a flicker on the monitor, and if it is too early for a heartbeat then they will do another ultrasound one week later when i will be 8 weeks. Not sure what happens from there.
I have heard that you can hear a heartbeat as early as 6 weeks. Some do, and some dont.
Congrats& Good luck. Hope that was somewhat helpful :o)
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