Seeing Doctor Before TTC?

Updated on September 30, 2010
L.T. asks from Keller, TX
11 answers

Hi, I have a 9 month old little boy and my husband and I are about to start trying for our second. Our son was a surprise so I didn't find an OB (we were new to the area) until I found out I was pregnant. I was dissatisfied with my OB and we also moved a little further north, so I found a new OB for when I get pregnant again, through a referral, but I haven't become a patient of his yet.

My question is, do I see the doctor before we start trying to conceive? I have never stopped taking prenatal vitamins since I was pregnant with my son, so I don't need a prescription for those before we start. When I had my 6 week post-partum checkup at the end of February, I had my yearly exam as well, so I am not due for one. Some of my friends have said just to wait until I am pregnant to call his office and become a new patient but I just wanted to make sure that was the right thing to do.

Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for your advice, everyone! I talked to someone who uses this doctor that I hope to switch to and was told it would take over 2 months to get in if I wasn't already pregnant, so I think I will just wait until I get pregnant to get an appointment. That was a great idea to interview him beforehand. I had a few other doctors recommended to me, so I do have some options.

Lilpiggietoes L, the OB I used with my son told me I needed to wait one year before giving birth again, not before conceiving again. I'm comfortable that my body has healed. I had a very easy pregnancy and birth and have felt back to normal for awhile now. Since my original doctor said only not to give birth before one year, I'm comfortable with getting pregnant now. Thanks for the suggestion, though!

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L.S.

answers from Tyler on

Honestly, you may want to start making appointments now if you are considering getting a feel for a doctor. With my first child, I used my existing OB even though I didn't like her (long office waits and other issues). There is no way to know if you are going to like the office and the personnel if you don't try them out first. ALSO, considering there are long waits, you may not even be to get the doctor you want once you are pregnant (some offices don't accept new patients regardless of whether you are already pregnant or not).

Good luck!
L.

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J.D.

answers from Amarillo on

The hard part about that is you can't know for sure if he is the right one and second he may not be taking new patients when you become pregnant.
I would call and find out if they are taking new patients and let them know your situation.
Maybe they will let you come in for a "consultation" type visit where you meet the dr. and make sure he receives your medical history from previous OB. If that is the case you get all the stacks of paper work over with before the first necessary appt.

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

No I wouldn't. You know what to expect if/when you do get pregnant. If you end up not being able to get in when you get pregnant, I'd find another doctor anyways.

B.A.

answers from Saginaw on

I don't think its necessary if you think you'll like this OB. You know what to do and your already taking prenatals.

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I saw the doc before I started TTC just to make sure I was healthy and my body was ready to carry another child. I wanted to know that I had a clean pap smear before trying, because I would have been devastated to get pregnant and then find out I had cysts or cervical cancer or something that could jeopardize the pregnancy in any way. Plus, since it is a new OB for you, it might be nice to see them once in advance and make sure it's a good fit before you're pregnant and stuck.

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

I always had regular yrly physicals my 1st I was prego months later but with my second I did do a preconception visit to make sure everything was OK my 3rd she happened but I knew all was OK due to the fact I was in & out of my ob's office for about a yr after my 2nd child.It is upto you,your baby is 9 months but just to throw this out there if you haven't heard this it isn't always good to have a baby right away for your body it has been through alot takes time to get things in order to wait it is good till baby is over a yr to become pregnant again.Now I have heard this so many times at my Ob's office pregnancy classes etc so if I missed understood please tell me.

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E.L.

answers from Dallas on

Unless you have specific concerns, I don't think a pre-conception appointment is necessary. Even once you get pregnant they usually don't want to see you in the office till about 10 weeks. So go have some fun with your husband, and good luck! :)

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A.D.

answers from Washington DC on

I'd go ahead and start TTC, continue on the prenatals, live a healthy lifestyle and then make the appt when you're prego. If you don't like him...you can always change during the pregnancy. If you don't think you'll TTC in the near future...then go ahead and make an appt to meet him. I don't know about where you live, but where we are, unless you are pregnant or have a problem, it takes months to get an appt.
good luck!

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S.R.

answers from McAllen on

I would meet him first.
I was totally dissatisfied with my first OB but when my husband and I started suspecting I was pregnant, I started calling OB offices.
I have called a couple doctor's offices and they give me a discounted rate or even a free consult (15 mins.) just to interview with him. If you like him, then you can become his patient and visit him once you're pregnant.

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

the other thing too is to call their office and make sure they are accepting new patients. you may want to do that now to be sure and then find a backup in case it doesnt work out.

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K.G.

answers from Dallas on

Since you never stopped taking those prenatals and had your annual back in February I'd say you're ok. ;)

But it definitely couldn't hurt to go meet the doc beforehand to make sure you click. I did the same thing but unfortunately miscarried so that when I first met my OB (actually both times) I was clouded with grief from the m/c's; I found out after the second m/c that she wasn't right for me. I wonder if I would have picked that up if I wasn't so consumed by emotion, KWIM? Good to go while you know you have presence of mind. (Hope that doesn't sound condescending!)

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