We get it. Coming to a place you’ve never been before when you’re dealing with a challenging or unexpected pregnancy situation is NOT easy. But if you have decided to make a pregnancy appointment at Heartline, please be proud of yourself. Just taking that step shows you are prioritizing your well-being and ensuring you are fully informed as you consider what’s next.
So what can you expect from your pregnancy appointment at Heartline? Whether you are coming for a pregnancy test, an ultrasound scan, or one of our pregnancy education classes, this post is an attempt to remove any fear of the “unknown” and help you feel confident when you arrive for your appointment.
BEFORE YOUR PREGNANCY APPOINTMENT
The Scheduling Process
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- WAYS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
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- Although Heartline welcomes walk-ins and will gladly accommodate them when the schedule allows, the best way to guarantee timely service is to make an appointment.
- There are a few different ways to make your pregnancy appointment at Heartline:
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- Call us at 574-267-5110
- Text us at 574-635-1272
- Message us through our website chat widget
- If you call us after hours, you will be able to schedule a tentative appointment through the on-call line. This appointment slot will be confirmed by Heartline when we open.
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- WAYS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
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- WHEN YOU ARE MAKING YOUR APPOINTMENT
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- To get you on the schedule, we will ask a few questions so we make sure we’re setting up the right type of appointment. Here are some of the pieces of information you should have ready:
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- Full name
- Date of birth
- Contact phone number
- Start date of last menstrual period
- Whether periods are regular or irregular
- Any symptoms you are currently experiencing
- Whether you have gotten any positive pregnancy test results at home
- What day/time would work for you to schedule your appointment
- If scheduling for an ultrasound, you will also need a pregnancy verification, which Heartline provides during the Pregnancy Test appointment.
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- To get you on the schedule, we will ask a few questions so we make sure we’re setting up the right type of appointment. Here are some of the pieces of information you should have ready:
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- WHEN YOU ARE MAKING YOUR APPOINTMENT
Appointment Reminder Texts
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- Heartline will send you an appointment reminder text the day before your pregnancy appointment.
- When you receive your reminder text, it is important to CONFIRM your appointment so that we know you are coming. If you aren’t able to make it to your pregnancy appointment after all, please let us know so that we can offer your appointment slot to another client who needs it.
How to Prepare
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- Before your appointment, double check your confirmation texts to make sure you have the right day and time.
- Plan to arrive a few minutes early, especially if this is your first appointment at Heartline. There will be some paperwork for you to fill out when you arrive.
- Be sure to bring your photo ID, if you have one. If you do not have a photo ID, we will take your photo when you arrive to provide identification for your file.
- If you are coming for a pregnancy test or ultrasound appointment, please make sure you have a full bladder.
- If you forget this piece, don’t worry. Our receptionist will ask when you arrive, and will offer water to help move things along while you wait if needed.
AT YOUR PREGNANCY APPOINTMENT
Arrival
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- When you arrive for your pregnancy appointment, you can park by the West Entrance and enter through the West Entrance doors (this is the set of doors farthest from the entry to the parking lot).
- After coming through the West Entrance doors, you will see the Heartline entrance to your right – it is marked with Heartline signage.
- For security purposes, the Heartline entrance is locked. All you need to do is ring the doorbell to the left of the door, and the receptionist will buzz you in.
Check-In
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- Once you’re in the waiting area, the receptionist will welcome you to Heartline and confirm your appointment information. She will then provide you with some paperwork to fill out before your appointment. Everything you share is confidential, and will only be used to help Heartline staff best serve you.
- When you have completed the paperwork, the receptionist will take it back to the staff member who will be meeting with you during your pregnancy appointment. That staff member will then come out and invite you back into one of Heartline’s client rooms (or the clinic room if you are here for an ultrasound).
During Your Appointment
Each type of pregnancy appointment looks a little different.
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- PREGNANCY TEST APPOINTMENT
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- The first half hour of the pregnancy test appointment is spent with your “client advocate.” This is a Heartline staff member who will gather information about your reproductive history, family context, and available support. This information helps the client advocate and the nurse know how to best support you. It also helps them identify additional local resources that could be a good fit for your needs. For example, if you share a struggle with depression or anxiety, they can share information about free or reduced-cost services available through local mental health providers.
- The second half hour of the pregnancy test appointment is spent with our Registered Nurse (RN). She will conduct the pregnancy test, and if it is positive, she will estimate dating. This will give you an estimated due date. The nurse will also offer prenatal vitamins, and can provide a list of local OB physicians if needed. Her goal is to set you up for a healthy pregnancy, and answer any questions you may have.
- If you’re wondering whether you should schedule a pregnancy test appointment, check out this blog post for some helpful info.
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- PREGNANCY TEST APPOINTMENT
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- ULTRASOUND APPOINTMENT
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- The ultrasound appointment is a separate appointment from the Pregnancy Test appointment, and is scheduled for when you will be 7-8 weeks along in your pregnancy.
- A typical ultrasound appointment lasts about 45 minutes.
- You are welcome to bring one guest with you to see the ultrasound.
- During the ultrasound scan, the nurse will measure your baby’s heartbeat and take some measurements to confirm accurate dating. She will also make sure you and your guest get a chance to see your baby clearly on the large in-room TV.
- All ultrasound images are sent to our medical director, Dr. Tonya Duguid, for review. She checks them over to make sure everything looks healthy, and if she sees anything of concern, we will contact you and get you in touch with an OB doctor for follow-up.
- To learn more about what to expect during your ultrasound visit, check out this blog post on the topic.
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- ULTRASOUND APPOINTMENT
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- PREGNANCY EDUCATION APPOINTMENT
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- Heartline’s pregnancy education program, also called Earn While You Learn (EWYL), involves weekly 1-hour visits with your client advocate. During these sessions, there will be a chance to talk through anything (joyful or challenging) going on in your life. There is also usually a topic of focus, selected based on your needs and interests.
- The education portion usually involves a 15-20 minute video sharing information on the chosen topic. This is followed by a discussion with your client advocate and a chance to ask any questions that came up during the video. You can find out more about Heartline’s EWYL program here.
- For each completed pregnancy education appointment, you will earn two coupons to Heartline’s BABE Boutique. BABE coupons can be redeemed for things like diapers, wipes, or even car seats. You can check out more information about our BABE program here.
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- PREGNANCY EDUCATION APPOINTMENT
AFTER YOUR PREGNANCY APPOINTMENT
Scheduling a Follow-Up Appointment
After each pregnancy appointment, there will be an opportunity to schedule a follow-up appointment once you return to the front reception desk.
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- After your pregnancy test appointment, you will usually schedule a follow up ultrasound appointment.
- After your ultrasound appointment, you may wish to schedule a trial pregnancy education appointment.
- After your pregnancy education appointment, you will be able to schedule the next week’s appointment.
Appointments are scheduled based on availability, but we do our best to accommodate your schedule.
Missed Your Appointment?
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- If you are not able to make it to your pregnancy appointment after all, we ask that you call or text ahead of time to let us know. If you do not notify us that you are unable to keep your appointment, it will be counted as a “no show”. If clients accumulate 3 “no shows,” they will not be able to schedule appointments for 90 days.
- If you miss your appointment, we will follow up with you to see if you’d like to reschedule. Usually, the rescheduled appointment can still be within the same week.
Anonymous Satisfaction Survey
After your ultrasound appointment, you will have the opportunity to fill out a short satisfaction survey. This is optional, but is very helpful to us as we work to serve clients better. Please share your feedback!
OTHER HEARTLINE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO YOU
STI Testing Vouchers
Heartline offers vouchers to cover the cost of a standard STI testing panel at MedStat (across the street from our building). There are limited vouchers available, and preference is given to those who are actively experiencing symptoms and do not have insurance coverage. You can schedule an STI intake appointment the same way you do a pregnancy appointment. STI testing vouchers are available to both men and women.
Pregnancy Loss Support Group
Heartline’s Pregnancy Loss Support Group is a peer support group facilitated by a Heartline volunteer who is a professional counselor and fellow loss mama. Whether your loss was experienced decades ago or last week, early in the pregnancy or late, you are welcome to join. The group meets every first and third Monday, 5:30-6:30pm in the upper level conference room of the Health Services Pavilion (the same building as Heartline). For more information and frequently asked questions, visit the group webpage here.
B.A.B.E. Boutique
Heartline’s B.A.B.E. Boutique, or BABE Store, is a community-wide resource designed to support health and wellness among area families. By earning BABE coupons through doctors and dentist visits, library programs, Heartline offerings, and more, clients can redeem baby essentials from diapers and wipes to cribs and car seats. For more information about the BABE store, visit the webpage here.
Fatherhood Coaching
Yes, Heartline offers support for dads too! Our fatherhood coaching programs offers soon-to-be dads or current dads with a child aged 4 and younger an opportunity to learn all things fatherhood in a relaxing, judgement-free setting. Weekly appointments are tailored to each dad’s needs and interests, and dads earn 2 BABE coupons for each session completed. Find out more about our fatherhood coaching program here.
Prayer & Spiritual Support
Heartline serves clients of all lifestyles and faith backgrounds, but as a faith-based ministry, we do offer prayer and spiritual support to those who are open to it. If you would like us to pray for you – whether during your appointment, or as a group during our weekly staff meeting – all you have to do is ask.
If you have further questions about your pregnancy appointment at Heartline, we are happy to answer them! Please just text us at 574-635-1272. We can’t wait to hear from you!
