I'm pregnant but my doctor won't see me before 9 weeks. Why not? Is it OK to wait?

I'm pregnant but my doctor won't see me before 9 weeks. Why not? Is it OK to wait?

Mara Gordon

November 11, 2025 / 4:00 am

Q: I just found out I'm pregnant. According to my period tracking app, I'm about five weeks along. But I can't get a first prenatal appointment until I'm nine weeks in. I'm super stressed out. Why can't I see a doctor sooner? And is it really OK to wait that long?

First of all, congratulations!

And don't worry. It's normal to want to see a doctor right away when you see those two side-by-side lines on a positive pregnancy test. But it's also pretty typical to have trouble getting an appointment to confirm you're pregnant.

A physician friend of mine also recently went through this. Even with insider connections at her hospital, she couldn't see a doctor for anot