First doctor's appointment when pregnant?

Babycentre was excellent for information!  I didn't get involved in the community there, myself; I erm.. heh.. I didn't find the idea comfortable; I'd rather talk babies and pregnancy with people who are friends or associates for other reasons who just happen to have babies or be pregnant, not babies or pregnancy being the basis of association (same reason I didn't go to antenatal classes - would've done my head in!).  But if that's your thing, the birth clubs are rather thriving little nests; I DID peek at the very least!

I was involved with iVillage. They have groups for each month that you're due & it converts to a Mum's club afterward. It's been great to go in and commiserate with other moms that are at the same developmental stage that we're at. Though most of my group (May 08) aren't active any longer it's still nice to go in and see if anyone has updated recently.

I really like the idea of meeting people in birth classes/forums.  You never know who you might come across and from what I hear, some people have been fortunate to find some close friends through these avenues.  I am taking a pregnancy exercise class and I hope to make some friends through it.  I found out last night two of the women live in my neighborhood too, so that's encouraging.  I have met some very close friends on UKY where the only basis of our association was being  an expat, so I think forums/communities/classes can be a good way to meet potential friends.

I met all of my good friends through parentcraft classes and babygroups, they saved my life in those early days!!!

...so I think forums/communities/classes can be a good way to meet potential friends.

I agree in general!  I was just skizzled out at the thought of association based on having gotten some nookielove on in a similar timeframe.  Most of my friends who I discussed childbirth with were friends from various fandoms (one online game in particular, and a book-based forum I used to frequent), so. *chuckles*  It like... it was easier for my brain to cope with having x in common first and knowing we already had that in common, and THEN being able to discuss y.

I was just skizzled out at the thought of association based on having gotten some nookielove on in a similar timeframe. 

Wow, that thought never even entered my mind...

Katylux most appointments do happen from 2nd trimester / second half of your pregnancy as nothing can really be done to save baby in the first trimester...  From about 20-25 weeks on you should be seen every 2-3 weeks (if not more often if per se baby is breech or something else concerns the midwives).

Under the hood exams don't really happen unless necessary.  ie) You have a bleed at anytime during pregnancy they'll do an exam and take swab samples, possibly doing an internal untrasound if a regular ultrasound (is needed and) can't determine where the bleed's coming from, for another medically necessary reason...or if you have any known cervical issues.  Also, if you're under OBs care they may do an internal when you're closer to your due date to see how your cervix is softening and you can expect to get a sweep (or 2) from your midwife or OBs when you're overdue.  Otherwise they try to just leave your pregnancy to progress as naturally as possible.

Chrissy - most bloodtests are optional and they should've explained this to you at your booking in appointment if not given you a booklet in your Bounty envelope that explains all the blood tests offered during pregnancy.  I believe the 16 week blood test is for Downs syndrome and possibly the HIV test as well if I'm remembering correctly.

Here's a basic timeline / guideline I found from the NHS for Antenatal care:  http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/pregnancycareplanner/pages/Antenatalcare.aspx and another for checks and screening:  http://www.nhs.uk/planners/pregnancycareplanner/pages/Checksandtests.aspx

I agree with Cadenza that Baby Centre's an invaluable source of information from inane little things to major problems explained in a pretty easy manner with links to more information if necessary.  There are 2 sites: US & UK so information is more country-specific and accurate to your pregnancy.  They both have forums you can chose to participate in, but not required to access the information.  Baby Centre also do really really good weekly emails for details on what's going on during your pregnancy and ideas for you to stay healthy and comfy.  After baby's born they still do good weekly / monthly development emails giving you ideas of activities to do to at home to stimulate baby and information on what's going on with baby's development.  They drop down to monthly if not less often once baby gets over a year old, but still nice to have a bit of outside advice for the kiddo.     On the Baby Centre (UK) forum they have a board with regular posters letting you know of any money saving tips:  http://community.babycentre.co.uk/groups/a285/money_saving_tips and they have an American ExPat Group: http://community.babycentre.co.uk/groups/a941885/american_expat_group.

http://www.askamum.co.uk/ is another pretty good forum, though I must admit I'm not a big participant, but good informative articles there as it's from Mother & Baby and Pregnancy & Birth magazines.  They also do pretty good weekly development emails regarding your pregnancy.

Wow, that thought never even entered my mind...

Yeah... my brain is a VERY weird place - I'm the first to admit to this. ><

I've had all my pregnancies and deliveries here in the states and let me just comfort you that while there may be minor differences you aren't getting any less or different care, in general, from what you are describing than what you would get here.

The midwife wouldn't see me until 8-10 weeks. As has been pointed out they don't re-do pregnancy tests most of the time (some might) and there's nothing they're going to be able to do really if you start to miscarry in the 1st trimester. Most 1st trimester miscarriages are due to problems which make the fetus not viable so there's not much to do. There are some patients who do get treatment during 1st trimester, say they have a bleeding disorder or ther things which may require early care/shots/etc.

You see the dr/midwife monthly. You get one scan around 20 weeks (normally -- unless you need a dating scan -- more accurate the earlier it is). Then you go to biweekly visits somewhere around 24 weeks or so (might differ based on practice). At 36 weeks you get Group B strep tested and they might check your cervix situation while they're in there (that was my 1st internal other than a pap they did at my 1st appt). Also at 36 weeks you start going to weekly visits until birth.

This is all my experience, and just like between trusts in the UK, it can differ between practices in the US but generally its the same process. Mostly appts take about 5 mins unless you have alot to talk about. They measure your belly with a measuring tape and about 12 weeks or so they start trying to listen to the heartbeat with a doppler. They do that at every appt from then on. They take a urine sample and blood pressure and weight. That's about it. Its been the same for me with OB's for my 1st two and a midwife for this one (all at Kaiser though). I've found that they'll do more if I ask (sometimes) but generally pregnancy is seen as a normal bodily process and not an illness and therefore doesn't need lots of intervention and extra fuss, just some monitoring and occasionally some help.

I didn't mention the genetic tests but obviously those are offered here. Can't remember just when but here also all tests are optional (maybe except for the syphilis test which i think the health department requires -- not 100% sure -- the results get reported to them i think).