1st Antenatal Visit - what goes on??

[Kimee]

Hi I'm having my 1st antenatal visit next wednesday at the Redlands Maternity Hospital and am wondering what actually happens? Would be great to hear experiences from others (any hospitals). :) How long does it take and Also, do you get to hear bubs hb? thanks!!

[Snugglepot]

Let me think, they take a medical history, check your BP and feel the baby/your tummy. Probably listen to it as well. Then you go for your bloods (sorry I know you hate them Kimmee!) They will talk about the type of birth you want and with what type of care, Midwives only or Obs for eg. Generally ask how you feel etc.

It is pretty easy, but may take a while in a busy hospital, so allow a couple of hours!

Good luck Kez

[katherine]

mostly just filling in all the forms you probably have already sent off to them. aska few questions. and yes listen to the heart beat (so long as you are past.. i think its 12 weeks???)

[Kimee]

thanks Kez and Katherine!

I'd better start researching cos I haven't even thought about the birth yet!

more needles?!! yuk! I'd better get used to it.
were you partners allowed to go with you? have a good night!

[Kirst]

Hey Kimee, I wouldn't stress too much about having your birth plan ready. It's a LONG way away. If you're not sure about what's available, ask them, that's what they're there for. They should give you all the informatin that you need to make an informed decision, and then let you know what you have to do to make it happen.

As for partners, yes, of course they can come. But my first visit on my first pregnancy they did an internal examination (they didn't this time around). Maybe warn your partner..............just in case he doesn't feel comfortable about being in the room while you have it done. But then again, if he's planning ot be at the birth......................................

[Kimee]

thanks for all that useful info Kirst! I was scrambling around pregnancy mags before trying to cram in birth options before wednesday. Phew at least i don't have to have it all planned out yet. I don't even know what they offer so it'll be a good opportunity to ask.

It's good to know DH can come. I'll let him know about the internal, not that he'd be bothered by it. He saw half a dozen ppl doing that at the hospital when I had my m/c. By the end of it I was like "anyone else wanna peek while I'm here!"

I'm lookin forward to wed now! :yes:

[Tan-mumof3]

With my first hospital appointment i saw the midwife first who checked weight & urine, then did a medical backround (how many pg's, any family history of illnesses etc), she checked all the forms that you have to fill out then i had to wait again to see the ob.
The day i had my appointment they only had 2 ob's on (cos 2 were sick and 2 were called off to an emergency c-section) so i had to wait for ages.
The ob checked bp & bubs heart beat and felt for uterus position & also looked at blood test results and medical history again.
Partners are more than welcome and i would say allow anywhere from 1-3 hours.
Goodluck on wednesday .

[neostudded]

This is off topic, but at mine i got my first bounty bag and a heap of free stuff...the bounty bag had a full sized cabury chocolate in it i gave it to mum, because i know she loves chocolate...

They booked my 20 ultrasound for me to..my doctor was nice and let me get off the blood test until 26 weeks :fingerscrossed: thank-god!!

I hope your first check-up goes smoothly for you both:D i found mine so exciting!!

[MammyMammy]

when will I GET MY BOUNTY BAG?

I had a tour at my hospital and have seen my private ob twice now...and no bounty bag (and I know whats in it so i am desperate for a show bag of goodies!!!)

boohoo i want my bounty bag!

[carli]

u got chocolate in your bounty bag... i got bum cream and out of date peppermints for indigestion... which hospital did you go to???

[AngelGirl]

u got chocolate in your bounty bag... i got bum cream and out of date peppermints for integestion... which hospital did you go to???

Same here......I was scrambling through the bag to find chocolate but all I got was bum cream, indigestion tablets and a bottle of Pine'O'Clean. boo hoo!:laughing:

[mum33]

i went without my partner but i heard something about them not wanting them there because they ask you about DV when you are there and dodnt want your partner influencing your answer. does anyone know if this is true or not? they did ask me about DV and if DP was violent against me etc...

[carli]

I wasnt asked about domestic violence when i went. and i also seemed to be the only woman that went alone, everyone else seemed to have their partner or mum with them. i guess being a nurse i understand that pregnancy is natural and know what most of the tests are etc so they dont scare me as much, not meaning to sound concieted or anything, its just a lot of people are scared of blood tests for example, and i take blood 4 times a day. Though it did feel strange being the only one there alone, lots of people were looking at me, and it felt like they were judging me... sorry everyone, my partner was just at work!!!

P.S. I want chocolate in my next one...

[hayles07]

I haven't been for my first visit yet - Still waiting.. I've also got no idea what to expect... So I'd be interested to hear how your visit went Kimee..

But I will definately be taking my partner with me! :thumbsup:

[trendy1]

Hi All,

I have had 2 appointments with my ob now and at the 1st one I got my bounty bag which did have chocolate in it - the magazine was from August last year so whether the new ones don't have the chocolate in anymore I am not sure - it was yummy though!!

At my appointments they went through my history, any problems or questions and did a run through on what to expect for the next 9 months and to fill me in on what needs to be done. My DH hasn't been to an appointment with me yet, he will come to a couple probably but they are fairly casual visits so when he isn't working he will come.

I haven't been asked any questions about DH though or abuse or anything like that!! I just get the general health questions.

All the best for your appointments coming up and let us know how you all went.

[Kimee]

Hi all!

Just came back from my antenatal appointment and it was fantastic! Ok here's what happened...

Today I saw a hospital midwife and I'd barely got through the door and was presented with a bounty bag and other freebies but no chocolate :( Inside there was a dvd, nappy samples, sudocream, antacid and lots and lots of advertising pamphlets and other hospital info.

DH came with me btw and they had no problem with that! I asked the midwife and she said "Of course he can, he's the other half of the team!" so I was happy! I was weighed, my height measured and I got asked heaps of questions. They asked if I wanted to breastfeed and if I wanted just midwife or shared GP care.

Just before we left we listened to bubs heartbeat (she wasn't going to because she said she may have trouble hearing it at this stage but DH cleverly added that my placenta is posterior and baby is in the front so it should be earier to hear hehehe smart cookie!) As soon as she popped the thing on my belly you could hear the galloping heart straight away it was awesome!

I then had to get bloods taken, which I hate, but I was on such a high from hearing that little heart that I could have had blood tests taken all day and wouldn't care!

I have to go back next Tuesday morning to see a hospital dr. I also booked an antenatal class for DH and I to go to in July it runs for a whole day on a Sat. I hope this has enlightened others who are yet to attend their 1st appointment and that you enjoy yours as much as I did!

[carli]

yeah on my first one, they actually did a quick u/s, so i got pics of my bub at 12 weeks. as for magazine, i got a current m&b, but was a "free issue" so didnt have some articles in it and was crappy paper, but still a great read. I just had my second appt on tuesday, i didnt know what to expect, but we just talked (midwife and i) about blood results, and getting anti D injections. No blood tests, no urine tests :D I had my blood pressure taken and they tried to measure my fundal height which she couldnt do so ended up listening to the heartbeat! YAY. wasnt as fast as i was expecting. anyway... got my major u/s on 10/4, can wait, video recording it and sending it to all the relos then got my next appt the next day. and i dont need bloods then either! Not again til 26 weeks according to my midwife.

Anyway, enough chit chat... im going back to ebay... its the best place

Carli

Carli - 23
Rick - 22
Bub - 25/8/07

[imisschampagne]

Chocolate??? Bum cream?? I didnt get any of that in my showbag just heaps of panphets a couple of mags and a sample nappy which DH suggested we have a test run on the dog:laughing:
I just couldnt subject the poor baby to the humiliation!!! :shame: Plus it didnt come with a tail hole:D