1st Hospital Appointment

little ol me

I have my first hospital visit next Friday at OLOL Drogheda. It's my first pregnancy (I'm 17 weeks) so I have no idea what to expect: will they do an examination and/or scan? should I bring my OH? Will there be a lot of hanging around waiting to be seen?

Oh and I'm going public in case that affects any of the answers

thanks!

spupazza

Hi,
I'm going tomorrow to my first appointment of my first pregnancy at the Rotunda. I'm 19 weeks exactly today.
reading at the Rotunda's web site, it is written that they'll do a ultrasound scan, blood and urine test and medical analysis for you.
i'm going public too. They say that i should wait max 2 hours between the visit and the waiting time. I hope so, because I'm going to be there at 8.00 a.m., and because I live in Swords, I'm going to get up at 6.00 a.m. and get the bus at 06.50 a.m. So I don't want hang there for long time.
I'll let you know tomorrow how will be my visit.
bye!;)

January

spupazza,

In the Rotunda they'll do the urine and blood pressure first, then they will take you into a room for your medical history, send you off for your ultrasound (they say you should have a full bladder for this) and then take blood tests. ##

spupazza

Hi adrieanne__x, thanks for the answer.
How long do you think lasts the visit? And how long do you think I'll wait to do it?

January

Well I was there for... an hour and a half I think... but I was one of the first people to arrive at the hospital... I got there around 11.30 and my appointment was at 12.00...

spupazza

Hi adrieanne__x, thanks again.
Just another question: you wrote that first I'll do a blood and urine pressure. How works the urine pressure? Should I pee? In that case, I won't have then a full bladder for the scan.
Could you explain me please?:o

P.S. How is going your new life with your little girl?

templetonpeck

for my first appt they gave me the urine jar to fill whilst waiting, and by the time the scan came around my bladder was almost full again They went through my medical history, did the scan, I didn't have an ultrasound, just the regular scan and then they sent me for blood tests.

I'm going for my second apt on the 5th Jan, which is when they'll do the ultrasound. Do you mind OP if I interrupt by asking what happens at the second app and if I should expect any internal examinations yet? :D

Quackles

templetonpeck wrote: »

for my first appt they gave me the urine jar to fill whilst waiting, and by the time the scan came around my bladder was almost full again They went through my medical history, did the scan, I didn't have an ultrasound, just the regular scan and then they sent me for blood tests.

I'm going for my second apt on the 5th Jan, which is when they'll do the ultrasound. Do you mind OP if I interrupt by asking what happens at the second app and if I should expect any internal examinations yet? :D

Doctors differ, but I doubt you'll have an internal exam - they're not given early in case of kick starting something, unless there's a need for it. I haven't had one yet, and I'm nearly 38 weeks.. I was 41 weeks last time before I had one, and yes, I started having contractions the next day

little ol me

thanks for all the replies, everyone. Now I know what to expect.

....But what's the difference between an ultrasound and a regular scan?

Oh and interrupt away Templetonpeck, the more we know about all these visits the better

templetonpeck

Quackles wrote: »

Doctors differ, but I doubt you'll have an internal exam - they're not given early in case of kick starting something, unless there's a need for it. I haven't had one yet, and I'm nearly 38 weeks.. I was 41 weeks last time before I had one, and yes, I started having contractions the next day

Aw that's a relief thanks for that Quackles. I'm well aware I'll have to get over this childish shyness whether I like it or not, doesn't mean I'm in any hurry though lol

templetonpeck

little ol me wrote: »

thanks for all the replies, everyone. Now I know what to expect.

....But what's the difference between an ultrasound and a regular scan?

Oh and interrupt away Templetonpeck, the more we know about all these visits the better

lol I'll be able to tell you that on Monday I'm not sure myself but for the the regular scan they seem to be able to just flip on this little portable scanning machine, for the ultrasound I have to book a specific appointment in a whole other part of the hospital, so I guess it's more high tech machinery, able to pick up any defects etc?

CathyMoran

I think that they are the same thing, it is just that the other scanner is smaller and stronger. Was supposed to be going for that scan tomorrow but they never rang back, will see on the day...

Quackles

Technically, a scan is an ultrasound, they're one and the same. I'd imagine templetonpeck means she had a brief scan, and the next one is the anomaly scan where they take measurements and check all sorts of organs etc to make sure baby is developing correctly - normally done at around 20 weeks.

embee

little ol me wrote: »

thanks for all the replies, everyone. Now I know what to expect.

....But what's the difference between an ultrasound and a regular scan?

Oh and interrupt away Templetonpeck, the more we know about all these visits the better

There are two "scans" that you'll have.

They can do a doppler scan (which is just a device which they use to check the heartbeat, it is usually equipped with a device that will playback the sound of the babysheartbeat), and the ultrasound is the one where you'll see the baby onscreen.

You get the Doppler at each appointment, an ultrasound is a scan you may only have once during the duration of your pregnancy.

January

Templetonpeck... are you going to the Coombe? I was going to go to the Coombe and they were going to scan me at both 12 and 20 weeks... this was public... the 12 week scan was just to check dates...

I got an internal at my 20 week check... well... the doctor speculumed me...

spupazza

Thank you everyone for the reply, now it is more clear for me what I'm going to expect tomorrow.
Anyway, tomorrow I'll let you know about the visit.
Night!:D

templetonpeck

adrieanne__x wrote: »

Templetonpeck... are you going to the Coombe? I was going to go to the Coombe and they were going to scan me at both 12 and 20 weeks... this was public... the 12 week scan was just to check dates...

I got an internal at my 20 week check... well... the doctor speculumed me...

No, Holles Street Adrieanne. I had the normal scan at 12 weeks and am going to the ultrasound on monday at 20 weeks. And omg I just googled speculumed :eek: pmsl I'll prepare myself for all sorts, then I won't be surprised

Yeah, that's what I assumed was the difference between the two scans Quackles. Fingers crossed nothing bad comes up

January

I had to get it done a couple of times throughout the pregnancy because of bleeding and stuff! It's all good!

Grawns

I've been probed:eek: 3 times due to spotting ( all in rotunda emergency room) but it wouldn't be done at all normally. 1st was the worst. After that it didn't bother me.

January

Grawns, have you seen the Rotunda's new emergency rooms yet?? They're lovely... real private... each room has it's own sliding door on it and everything, was there when I was in labour!

spupazza

So, this morning I was at the hospital at 7.20 a.m., and my appointment was at 8.00 a.m.
Soon I called to give my details, then they gave me a folder and I went upstairs for the ultrasound scan, which is a normal scan, where you can see the baby clearly. Before the scan, the doctor told me to urinate because I was very full. So I filled the bottle and, after the scan, I went downstairs to get blood pressure, weight and height and my medical history. after that, blood test and at the end I've seen the doctor.
On Monday I will start the physioterapy antenatal class.
It was a very healthy girl!:D

January

They told you the sex??! Lucky!!

I never went to my antenatal classes... I didn't need them in the end... I looked up everything online...

spupazza

Hi adrieanne, I read a lot of information on line, but I'm curious to see how these classes work.

At the Rotunda They were very kind and professional.
yes, they told me, the midwife was very polite and young.

And at 10.00 a.m. I was at the bus stop!

January

I wish they told me... the lady scanning me was actually very rude oh well!

They are very kind in the Rotunda, the staff in the ward were brilliant when I gave birth!

Grawns

adrieanne__x wrote: »

Grawns, have you seen the Rotunda's new emergency rooms yet?? They're lovely... real private... each room has it's own sliding door on it and everything, was there when I was in labour!

I know! Huge fabulous improvement but I missed the drama of the other ladies. Wailing and moaning etc.:) No really, I would bring a book as when they're doing the trace it's super boring.

Grawns

spupazza wrote: »

So, this morning I was at the hospital at 7.20 a.m., and my appointment was at 8.00 a.m.
Soon I called to give my details, then they gave me a folder and I went upstairs for the ultrasound scan, which is a normal scan, where you can see the baby clearly. Before the scan, the doctor told me to urinate because I was very full. So I filled the bottle and, after the scan, I went downstairs to get blood pressure, weight and height and my medical history. after that, blood test and at the end I've seen the doctor.
On Monday I will start the physioterapy antenatal class.
It was a very healthy girl!:D

Congratulations, let the baby shopping commence

spupazza

Grawns wrote: »

Congratulations, let the baby shopping commence

Thank you Grawns. Yes, I'll start this month even because the sales start in few days!

January

Grawns wrote: »

I know! Huge fabulous improvement but I missed the drama of the other ladies. Wailing and moaning etc.:) No really, I would bring a book as when they're doing the trace it's super boring.

I know! That's one tip for the mommies to be... I was hooked to the trace for two hours... so bring a book!!

little ol me

spupazza wrote: »

It was a very healthy girl!:D

Brilliant news, congrats!

spupazza

little ol me wrote: »

Brilliant news, congrats!

Thank you very muc little ol me.:D