Normal OB experience?

Question

When I found out I was pregnant about two weeks ago, I was right away scheduled for an 8ish week appointment for an ultrasound. I was not provided with any counseling. They said I could not come in earlier than 8 weeks. No initial appointment to confirm pregnancy with a blood test. nothing. I was scheduled with a midwife, no specific person given, and I was not given an option to see a different provider type (I wanted a midwife but still).

A week later I tried to schedule an appointment to confirm I had a yeast infection and I voiced my concerns and they dismissed my specific concerns saying the “benefits outweigh the risk” for treatment and would not let me schedule to come in to get the yeast infection checked out.

It is my first pregnancy. I have been with this healthcare group for GYN services for years so I have been giving them the benefit of the doubt. My mom and grandma think my experience is abnormal but I am not sure if I am just being high maintenance. I just kind of feel like a number and I’m afraid I will not get optimal care. I don’t know if I should switch to a different healthcare group.

Thoughts?

Answer

they don’t typically do confirmation appointments unless you’re high risk or have had previous miscarriages, they can’t see anything on an US until around 8 weeks anyways, so it’s pretty pointless to get one before then, people don’t typically get an appointment until 8-12 weeks.

Answer

Ive had 5 pregnancies only 1 dr has ever done a confirmation appt. And most make you wait between 6 to 10 weeks for 1st appt.

Answer

Here first appt is after 12 weeks, us or midwife, doesn't matter, you won't get it earlier 🤷🏼‍♀️ they will not do confirmations, I got the hcg rise test only because I've had several losses already. We do not get to choose providers, or schedule appts, you get what you get, when you get it. Usually midwife appts are set up while you're there, but us are rutine, set up when they have time between x-x weeks along. We get two of them. We also get told to just buy and start treatment if we suspect we might have yeast infections, they absolutely will not check it. 
I'm almost 19 weeks now, and had a midwife appt today, we checked the baby's heartbeat and I got to hear it for the very first time, because I was concerned, they usually don't do it until after 24 weeks, but she wanted to give me some peace of mind. Second us is on monday, and we get the due date and get to know gender then. 
They may not give unlimited care, or what you might expect or want, but so far at least the care I have gotten has been great, my midwife is so sweet and caring, and tries to do what she can to help. 
I won't say suck it up, but try to give them a chance, your standardized care is likely to be enough, just try to think about how they meet you, do they listen to your concerns and make you feel heard and taken seriously? Do they make you feel safe? Do you feel seen? If not, maybe checking out your options is the right thing for you 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

This sounds pretty normal with a hospital. If you want a more personal experience, then you could try a birth center. 
I had the same OB for 4 pregnancies (2 losses and 2 healthy babies) all since 2018 and I swear my OB didn’t know me one baby from the next. I felt like just a number and even appointment to appointment, I felt like he had to check my chart to remember who I was. 
He was great, and kind and I felt heard and taken care of but rushed 20 minute appointments with a stranger just didn’t feel like something I wanted to do again. 
Im on my third and final baby and going through a birth center this time and at 6 weeks 4 days pregnant, I already feel seen, recognized and cared for in a more personal way. My first appointment was yesterday and it was an hour and half long. It was so personal. It felt like I was just chatting with friends. A much better experience.

Answer

For me, my first two OBs were so amazing, however for this pregnancy at the beginning I had the worst OB. I was high risk last pregnancy and after you have one high risk, they treat all of them as high risk due to previous complications. My OB at the beginning of this pregnancy, knowing I had GD last pregnancy delayed glucose testing forever! She also “forgot” to schedule my 13 week ultrasound, then gave me the wrong appointment date for the next ultrasound knowing that I couldn’t get scanned passed 14 weeks 2 days for a time sensitive scan of the baby, she scheduled it 14 weeks 4 days…….. I drove 30+ during traffic time to be turned away and have to not be scanned as well as waste my gas and time. No apology or anything. The front desk sent her a message regarding her mistake and she didn’t bother to address it or discuss with me via phone, in person, or message through the portal. When I finally had my glucose test, she gave me the wrong directions for my testing and I had been without a meal for 14 hours. So she sent me back to do it again for 3 hours. When I asked her about the testing process she claimed she never told me the directions she gave me, my husband was a in the room as a witness. She then changed up her story and tried to blame the nurse assistant. She did not give me any medication or treatment for my GD either. Due to her neglect, my GD turned into Type 2 diabetes. I switched insurances and doctors. I’m now getting the best care with a great team of doctors. When she did my Pap, she used the wrong speculum and admitted she did and didn’t apologize or show any sympathy even though she hurt me. She would also keep asking during the appointment how far along I was as if she didn’t care to remember or look at the computer on her lap. I thought I was just being sensitive or something. However, she has so many negative reviews and complaints, I felt validated that it wasn’t just me. If you feel like you aren’t getting the best care with this OB regardless of how long you’ve been seen there, trust your gut feeling. If they don’t treat you with care and attention now, they most likely won’t later on when things are more serious.

Normal OB experience?

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