When do you seek out a peri/maternal fetal doc?

I'm 16 weeks along and have an appointment with my OB next Tuesday. I'm just wondering- does everyone seek out a peri/maternal fetal doc or will an OB routinely refer on to one if it's needed?

 

I sought out a perinatologist even before I knew I was having twins b/c I had a complicated pregnancy with my ds. I think it would depend on your OB's experience with multiple births and high risk pregnancies. One major issue I had with my previous OB (whom I still LOOOOVE) is that he delivers at a small hospital with no NICU. Knowing that it was a good possibility that I would delivery early again, I wanted to be a the same hospital as my babies.

 

I only saw a peri when I went into PTL at 24 weeks, up until then there wasn't a need as my OB was very competent with Twin pregnancies.

 

I started seeing one right from the beginning, my OB recommended it. I was not high risk at all besides having twins. But the peri was able to do a growth u/s at every visit and the insurance would pay for it. They would not pay for that many u/s with a regular OB. I really liked going to both and especailly getting all the u/s. :good: My first appt. with my peri was at 10 weeks.

 

I'm almost 16 weeks and I have been seeing my OB but a few weeks ago I had my OB refer me to a peri/maternal doc. I see the peri in a little over a week for the first time. The hospital where I delivered my first two children does not have a NICU and it is small so that was of my main reasons to get a referral to a hospital with a peri. I wouldn't want to take the chance of delivering at the small hospital and not be able to be with babies if they needed extra care. I also have history of PTL with my first two pregnancies so I'm assuming I might deliver before 37 weeks. I just wonder if the peri I will be seeing will want me to continue to see her and my OB.

 

I've seen my OB, a multiples specialist, biweekly since Week 7. He referred me to a perinatologist for the NT scans at Week 11.5 and structural ultrasounds at Week 20. I plan to check in with the peri a few more times through the duration of the pregnancy (am 23 weeks now). Probably overkill, but I like both the OB and the peri.