Pregnancy is uncharted territory for most women. It’s filled with excitement, a little fear, and a whole lot of uncertainty. Most providers see women and start prenatal care in the first trimester. Typically between 8-10 weeks of pregnancy. This allows you some time to meet with providers to find a good fit. Ask questions and expect answers that leave you feeling educated and supported. A first visit can take 1-2 hours, depending on the provider and wait time.
Here are the things every provider should discuss with you during your first prenatal appointment.
Your Medical history
Your health care provider might ask about:
- Menstrual cycles, gynecological history and any past pregnancies
- Your personal and family medical history
- Exposure to potentially toxic substances
- Medication use, including prescription and over-the-counter medications or supplements
- Your lifestyle, including your use of tobacco, alcohol and caffeine
- Travel to areas where malaria, tuberculosis, the Zika virus or other infectious diseases are common
Share information about sensitive issues, such as domestic abuse, abortion or past drug use, too. This will help your health care provider take the best care of you — and your baby. Past trauma can affect your pregnancy and birth experience, so being able to have an open dialogue with your birth team from the beginning is so important to feeling supported.
Determining your due date
Your due date is not a prediction of when you will deliver. It’s simply the date that you will be 40 weeks pregnant. Few women give birth on their due dates. Still, establishing your due date — or estimated date of delivery — is important. It allows your health care provider to monitor your baby’s growth and the progress of your pregnancy, as well as scheduling tests or procedures at the most appropriate times.
Physical exam
Your health care provider will typically check your blood pressure, measure your weight and height, and calculate your body mass index to determine the recommended weight gain you need for a healthy pregnancy.
Lab tests
At your first prenatal visit, blood tests might be done to:
- Check your blood type
- Measure your hemoglobin
- Check immunity to certain infections
- Detect exposure to other infections
- Screening tests for fetal abnormalities
Lifestyle
Your health care provider should be discussing the importance of nutrition and prenatal vitamins. Ask about exercise, sex, dental care, vaccinations and travel during pregnancy, as well as other lifestyle issues. You might also talk about your work environment and the use of medications during pregnancy. If you smoke, ask your health care provider for suggestions to help you quit. This is your pregnancy and this is where you begin to advocate for yourself and show your provider you are an active part of the decision making process. We promise, a good provider is going to LOVE this.
Normal discomforts of pregnancy
You will usually notice changes in your body early in your pregnancy. Your breasts might be tender and swollen. Nausea with or without vomiting (morning sickness) is also common. Talk to your health care provider if your morning (or all day) sickness is severe. Not being able to keep meals down, and losing weight is not considered normal but can typically be managed with medication.
Other first trimester visits
Your first trimester prenatal visits are scheduled every four weeks, and those visits might be shorter than the first. Near the end of the first trimester you might be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat with a doppler.
