frequency of appointments? (public)

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ctrbabe1

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Hi there... I'm just wondering about the frequency of doctors appointments. I know in the States it's customary to see the doc only once a month for the first 7 months or so, then it increases to every 2 weeks, and in the final month it's every week.

In the public care system here, how often can i expect to have appointments? I've had my first one, but my second one was scheduled for 6 weeks later.

I'm also wondering when will they try to listen to the heartbeat? And is that something they will do at every appointment?

Thanks!
 
from what i remember, unless there's a problem, it's usually around every 4 weeks or so.(however, for lucky ones like me... it's every 2 weeks throughout the entire pregnancy!!!)

usually after 11-12 weeks they try to hear the heartbeat and they listen for it at every appt thereafter.
 
I'm going through the public system right now. It has been every 4 weeks until 28 weeks. And then every 2 weeks until 35/36 weeks. And then it's going to be every week.

Just completed 32 weeks ! 8 more weeks to go :)
 
thanks for the info! I'm just wondering why they scheduled my next apt. 6 wks out, though. Hmmm... I'm getting anxious to hear the heartbeat!! :)
 
how many weeks along are you ? Maybe they scheduled it for after 6 weeks so that you will be seeing them every 4 weeks till you get to 28 weeks ?
 
At the time of my first appointment I was about 10 wks along, now I'm about 13. So I guess at my next appointment I'll be about 16 wks, and then 20 wks for when they scheduled my ultrasound. Does that sound right?
 
I think it's different if you've already had a baby. My first time I had appts every 4 wks, but this time only every 6 weeks until 24 weeks or so, then every 4.
 
I think it's just that you had your initial appointment earlier than most - I think I had my first scan at Tsan Yuk at 12wks - and there are things they want to test at 16wks and 20wks, and they didn't see the need to have you in at 14wks and 16wks. So checkups every 4wks should start from your next appointment.
 
Oh, about the heartbeat. If you had a scan at 10wks (they normally do one for Down's screening between 10 and 14wks), the doc will have seen a heartbeat. They may not have pointed it out to you, however. They see the scan as being for their benefit, not yours. But rest assured you would know about it if there was no heartbeat. Try to ask as many questions as you can, because information is not always volunteered.

I remember I had an appointment at around 14wks where they tried to listen to the baby's heartbeat with a doppler (small instrument on the belly). The student doctors tried in vain to locate the heartbeat. So of course I assumed the worst. "So the baby's dead?", I asked, eyes welling up. They said, "Probably not, it's perfectly normal that we can't always find the heartbeat". I was not reassured by their response, given how anxious they had been when not being able to find the heartbeat (which in retrospect was just their anxiety akin to failing a test or something). So I paid to see a private doctor to have a scan, who confirmed everything was fine! And I also found out on the internet that in western countries they don't attempt to find a heartbeat with a doppler so early because it is quite difficult.

If it's your first baby and you have anxieties and want reassurance, you might want to see a private obstetrician occasionally as well, if you can afford it.

I wish the staff had better bedside manner, but just remember the student doctors have to learn somewhere and they are under pressure to get things right, therefore may not always say the right thing to us because they are trying to cover up their own inexperience. I had a similar situation recently with my second baby: nearly full term, a student doctor was trying to assess the position of the baby. "Something is a little bit unusual here", he said, and my heart skipped a beat. He made a guess at the baby's position and the senior doctor then corrected him. The junior doctor was basically trying to cover up the fact that he didn't know the answer, and wasn't considering my feelings. So don't be alarmed if that kind of thing happens to you!
 
Thanks for the responses. I did have an ultrasound around 7 wks because I was afraid that I was having an ectopic pregnancy. I did see the baby's heart beat. Maybe that's why they didn't try to listen yet. Or maybe I'm just too impatient. lol.

And believe me, I know all about student doctors... my dh is one! He's in his 4th year at HKU, and I'm terrified that his classmates will be on their OB rotation when it's time for the baby to be born. lol. I would rather not have dh's friends see me down there, if you know what i mean! And I remind dh often to be gentle when he's doing exams (he tends to poke), and remember that these ladies are someone's mother or wife or daughter, and to treat them as if it were his wife or mother or daughter. I hope it's sinking in with him! lol
 
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