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Category: Prenatal Testing

Asked by mamasia

Q: HPT shows I am Pregnant. What's the next step? Anyone in Canada who knows what to do, advises plz.

So, HPT shows I am pregnant, I had a doc's appointment for blood test today but just got a call saying she won't be able to see me today but the nurse practitioner will be helping me with whatever I was going there for.

First pregnancy and haven't told anyone yet except for my husband, and seriously don't know what to do next. I believe I will get a blood test done today...not sure if thats what she will be doing.

What else should I be doing now? Do I have to ask for Ultrasound scan too.... I believe I am 5 weeks and some days pregnant when calculated from my first day of last period.

What should be the next steps???

This question was asked Feb. 22, 2016 2:43pm
Category: Prenatal Testing

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Answered by traumaqueen - Feb. 27, 2016 2:27am
I'm a critical care nurse seeing a Midwife. I couldn't quite put into words why a nurse would want to avoid doctors at all costs, but the midwife put it perfectly for me: Doctors treat diseases and pregnancy is not a disease.

I don't know what it's like in Canada, but in the US doctors, regardless of specialty, are trained to treat illness and OB is no different. They approach everything the same way, lots of medical intervention etc. I do NOT want that for my pregnancy. I'm not sick and don't need to be treated like I'm sick and I figure if hundreds of thousands of women before me could have babies with little to no medical intervention and get along just fine, then so can I. No, birthing back in the day wasn't pretty or sterile or even always safe, but obviously it still went okay the majority of the time or none of us would be here ;)

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Answered by dakotagurrl - Feb. 23, 2016 12:02am
For mine, the blood work was a BhCG, CBC, and the prenatal screening for diseases etc. and a urinalysis.
As for which to option to choose, that's a personal decision. I prefer to have a Dr that specializes in babies, to be the one caring for me. Don't get me wrong, I love my GP, she's amazing, but I wouldn't ask a GP to care for a cardiac issue, so I won't ask them to do obstetrics either. That's just me tho.
I'm not familiar with the OB's in T.O. but had an amazing one when I lived in Milton. Check the site ratemds or ratemymd, something like that, it lists all the diff drs/specialists based on actual patient's experiences. At the end of the day, go with what u want and what u are comfortable with. Don't let anyone, family or friends (no matter how many kids they've had) try to sway ur decision. This is ur birthing experience, ppl tend to get really pushy when it comes to other ppl's choices.
Glad ur appt went well! =))

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Answered by mamasia - Feb. 22, 2016 11:29pm
Ok. So I had my appointment with the Nurse Practitioner and she was on task I believe. We did pee test and it came back positive. Now, I got a referral for Dating Ultrasound to see what week I really am and going for blood test tomorrow. I don't think blood test is for HCG though, it is to rule out if I have diseases like Hep B, Rubella, Syphillis or HIV.

I was diagnosed with PCOS too, so she said she will speak to the doc and let me know if my pregnancy would be considered high risk or not. I guess Ultrasound will help them with it too. She also asked me if I have thought about an prenatal health care and gave me the options.
Opt 1)Midwifery
Opt 2) Family Doctor (basically same doc from the clinic and birthing at the hospital)
Opt 3) Ob/Gyn (I have to chose from a hospital)

Any idea or recommendation?

Right now I am inclined towards Opt 2.i think it will be easier to have a family doctor help deliver...will have good relation and understanding..what say?

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Answered by mamasia - Feb. 22, 2016 6:17pm
@lilsunshine22...Thank you very much for your advice. I am already taking a NewChapters Prenatal vitamin and drinking a lot of water for I was so so thirsty for few week. I quit smoking and drinking i think 3 yrs back when I thought I was coming to the childbearing age lol...will surely write to you if I need more info...Thanks again.

@dakotagurl... I am in Ontario too...Toronto to be more precise.Had booked an appointment for blood work today with my family doctor.Sadly my family doctor is on maternity leave and I was seeing a substitute doctor for the first time today,but got a call saying she won't be able to see me today but Nurse Practitioner can see me and help me with what I was going in for.lets see what she does and say.I think the clinic where I go to have their own OB... lets see what happens in today's appointment.I hope I get some feedback from the nurse too.Thank you very much for your reply...it kind of gives me an idea of what i should expect or should ask for :D

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Answered by dakotagurrl - Feb. 22, 2016 5:12pm
Which province? Im in Ontario, we see a GP first. He/she will give u the paperwork for ur blood work and urine sample. They also send off a referral for change of care to an OB of ur choice (do some research or just ask which they recommend). They also either book a dating scan for u or give u the paperwork for u to book ur own (mine has me book ny own). That scan falls around the 8wk mark and will give u an accurate due date. Ur first OB appt will be somewhere around 8-12wks, depending on availability. From there u get another scan around 12-13 wks (with more bloodwork), and a final scan (assuming all is well with the pregnancy) around 20 wks. He/she will explain all those to u closer to the time u need them done.
Congrats! =))

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Answered by lilsunshine22 - Feb. 22, 2016 4:40pm
For now there isn't much to do but wait until your appointment, besides start taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid in it once daily. Once you have your appointment, usually the physician will order a ultrasound if the due date is unsure. You are on the right track though. I know it's really hard waiting but that's about all you can do before your first appointment. Just take a prenatal vitamin, drink plenty of water and start eating healthy and cut out smoking/drinking if you do that. If you take any medications for anything, I would call and either check with your doctor or call the pharmacist to check and be sure its safe! Congratulations and good luck! Feel free to message me any time! Love meeting new people!! :)

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