WomanSavers.com Forum / ASK DR. WOMANSAVER / how often should I be going to a doctor now that I am having a baby??

I am pleased to announce that I am 9 weeks pregnant at this point but I have a question about how often I should be going to the doctor.

At 7 weeks, after many home test, I went to the gynocoligist. (it was listed on her online profile that she was an OBGYN) I had a papsmear and blood work done

at 8 weeks I wen to an OBGYN. I brought them the results of both the papsmear and the blood work from the other Doctor and offered to sign a release, but they said they would need to do further testing for blood work than was done at the first doctor so they did and also gave me an ultrasound. (and "up and in" if you know what I mean)

After insurance, the first visit at the OBGYN was $80 and they said that was for the ultrasound and the Doctor‘s visit. Then they gave me an appointment for 10 weeks (2 weeks from their first visit) and said it‘s for another pap smear.

I called to ask them how much money I should take out for the next visit and the said $79.80. They also threw in that this would not cover any aditional lab work or exams preformed. It‘s just for the visit.

My question is, if there‘s no reason to think I am high risk, should I be going to the Doctor every 2 weeks?

I know I am a little more sensitive when it comes to invasive exams because of my personal past and that I might be hyper vigilant about this, but I think I am getting scammed. It just seems that now that I have insurance that all of the doctors I got to want more visits and more unnecessary testing or repeat testing. I don‘t make a lot working where I do and I‘d like to keep my own insurance, but... I think I did better on a sliding scale.

And what if my insurace company won‘t cover everything that this doctor wants me to do? Will I be charged personally and how long will it take to find out?

I used to have perfect credit. Everything I paid for I either paid on time, faster than I needed to or upfront. Now just because of medical bills, I couldn‘t rent a bike!

I am finally in a place where I want to look at buying a home and I have more reason to than ever, but... it just worries me that I won‘t be able to do anything. I‘ve already had to stop working other jobs like catering and weekend waitressing when the knee injury happened. Now when my preexisting coverage finally kicks in I am not going to be able to have the surgery because I‘ll be pregnant. The knee surgery was the only reason I got the insurance to begin with.

I am not sure of you know about the billing side of this, but please let me know what you think about the every 2 week doctor‘s visits are about. 

I have been pregnant 3 times, and have 3 healthy children.

For every pregnancy..... I went to the doctor once every 4 weeks....had an ultrasound at around 4 months.....and in the 9th month, had a visit once a week until I delivered.

Sounds like what is happening with you is abnormal in my opinion....

If you have no health issues and aren‘t high risk, I say go once a month.....take the vitamins.....get an ultrasound (only if necessary, or you want to know the sex).....and then follow orders closer to your delivery date.

Good Luck!!