What happens during the first prenatal visit?
You just took a home pregnancy test and it's positive, congratulations you are pregnant! So, what’s next? You need to schedule an appointment with your OBGYN and start your prenatal visits. We will tell you more about the details of your first prenatal visit to be prepared for this new and exciting step.
When is the first prenatal visit?
The early signs of pregnancy usually appear at the end of the first month of pregnancy, therefore, most expecting mothers book this visit after taking the home pregnancy test sometime between the 6th and 8th week of pregnancy.
What happens during this visit?
- Confirmation of pregnancy
Even though you have a positive home pregnancy test, your doctor will order a blood test to confirm the pregnancy.
- A comprehensive physical checkup
In this checkup, your OBGYN will check your height and weight, and vital signs like blood pressure, oxygen, heart rate, and temperature. Sometimes a pelvic exam is done and a Pap smear test as well.
- Blood tests
Your healthcare provider will also order detailed blood tests and urine tests to check on your overall health. These tests will determine your blood type and whether it's different from your husband’s. In addition to tests to check your blood sugar, cholesterol, minerals, and a complete CBC.
- Medical history
Your doctor will ask you questions to map your medical history, your husband’s medical history, and your family’s medical history to determine whether there are any genetically transmitted diseases. You will also have to answer questions about your previous pregnancies, and whether you have a history of miscarriages or premature births. And if this is your first pregnancy your doctor will want to know if you underwent any fertility treatments.
- Getting an ultrasound
The ultrasound is the safest and best way to check for fetal well-being, and for the overall health of the pregnancy, it can also help determine how far the pregnancy is.
- Estimate the due date
After knowing the date of your last period, and performing the ultrasound test, your doctor will do a calculation to determine your approximate due date.
- General advice
In the first one of your prenatal visits your doctor will give you general recommendations and advice about what foods to eat or avoid what medications are safe and which are not. The allowed and forbidden physical activities, and about whether you can have intercourse or not.
- Prescribe supplements
Doctors during this visit will prescribe prenatal vitamins and supplements and direct you about the appropriate dose and timing.
- Hear your questions
Prepare a list of questions, write down every concern and question you have, ask your doctor everything, and record the answers to be more comfortable and reduce your anxiety about this new experience.
Also check out 10 Recent Discoveries in Prenatal Care
