If you are pregnant, one of the most important things you can do after getting that positive pregnancy test is to schedule a visit with your doctor. This meeting is an opportunity for both you and your doctor to ask questions about various aspects of your life. You will also get important information about being pregnant and various changes you may or may not need to make. It is also a great time for you to find out what to expect during your pregnancy. In this blog post, we have compiled a list of questions to ask doctor when pregnant first visit. By asking these questions, you can get the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy.
Your first prenatal visit is an exciting and important time, but also something you may be a bit nervous about. If this is your first pregnancy, you might not be sure exactly what to expect. It is normal to feel this way. This is just the first of the many prenatal appointments you will have during your pregnancy. Every question you have is an important question, so do not worry about asking too many. Just remember that your doctor is there to help and support you and your individual needs throughout your pregnancy. They will provide you with plenty of valuable information about what to expect during your pregnancy journey. They will also hopefully give you some peace of mind about any of your anxieties or worries about pregnancy.
Bringing along a partner or other supportive family member to the first appointment can be a good idea. This is the best way to help provide you with support and comfort, especially if you are a first-time mom or if you have experienced pregnancy loss. Check with your health care provider before your appointment to make sure a support person is allowed, as COVID has changed the rules for many places. Now, on to the list of questions you can ask your doctor!
Medical History Questions
At your first prenatal appointment, your OBGYN, mid-wife, or other healthcare provider will likely ask a lot of questions regarding your medical and health history. This can include important details about any previous pregnancies, family history, any medications you currently take, and information on any other medical conditions you may have. Certain medical conditions can make your pregnancy higher risk, so always make sure to not leave anything out when talking to your care team.
Questions to ask your doctor about your medical history include:
-Will any of my current health conditions need to be managed differently during pregnancy? Will they affect the pregnancy in any way?
-Do I need to take any special precautions during pregnancy due to my medical history?
-What is the chance of passing any medical conditions on to my child?
-Are there any genetic tests that you recommend I have during pregnancy?
-What is your recommendation on the best prenatal vitamin to take that contains enough folic acid?
-Do I need to create a birth plan? What should I include in it?
-Am I more at risk for gestational diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy?
Physical Exam Questions
During the first visit, your prenatal care provider may perform a pelvic exam with a pap smear. He or she will also check your weight, blood pressure, and urine. These urine tests and blood pressure checks will be done at every appointment. This is also a good time to ask questions about any changes you might be experiencing in your body. You can also ask about what changes to expect as your belly grows and the pregnancy progresses. If you a first time mom, you may have many questions as you have never been through a pregnancy before. Remember that all of your questions are valid!
Questions to ask your doctor regarding the physical exam include:
-What changes should I expect in my body during pregnancy?
-Is it normal to feel X symptom?
-What can I do to ease X symptom (i.e. morning sickness)?
-When will you be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat?
-What are the signs of labor?
-When should I be able to feel the baby move?
-Is there anything that would make this a high-risk pregnancy?
-What should I do if I experience any vaginal bleeding?
-Are there lactation consultants available in the office for after the baby is born?
-Will there be an induction done at the end of the third trimester if the baby does not come on his/her own?
Ultrasound/Blood Test Questions
An ultrasound may or may not be performed during the first appointment. Most doctors will do a first trimester dating ultrasound somewhere between 7-12 weeks of pregnancy. This ultrasound will give you an estimated due date. It also measures how big the baby is to see if the growth is on track with the first date of your last period. If you have irregular cycles, the due date may be a bit adjusted. You may or may not be able to see or hear the baby’s heartbeat, depending upon how far along you are.
The healthcare provider will also take blood in order to check your blood type and iron levels. They may also check for a few other things. During your pregnancy, you will have other blood tests performed that will check for the common chromosomal issues including Down Syndrome and neural tube defects. Genetic carrier screening is also available that can check for your carrier status of common things like cystic fibrosis. Many of the tests will be done during the first trimester or second trimester. The main ultrasound takes place during the second trimester and is known as the anatomy scan. This is where they check all of the baby’s organs, along with their size to make sure there are no abnormalities.
Questions you can ask your doctor regarding ultrasounds and blood screening test:
-How many ultrasounds will there be during the pregnancy and at what weeks will they be done?
-What is the purpose of an ultrasound? Why do I need one?
-What do you look for when you are doing an ultrasound? Are the sound waves safe for the baby?
-Will there be other genetic testing done along with the ultrasounds to help check for birth defects?
-Is the nuchal translucency test going to be done around 12 weeks?
-Do I have any need for a chorionic villus sampling or amniocentisis? (Dcotors sometimes recommend this test for some women based on age or other risk factors.)
-What will happen if I get a false positive on a test? Are these common and is further testing available?
-Will I be a high risk pregnancy if any of these basic screening tests come back positive?
Lifestyle Question
Your doctor will ask questions regarding your current lifestyle as well. These can include your smoking and drug history, alcohol history, and your eating and exercise history. This is the best time to ask questions about diet, physical activity levels, and any other important topics related to your overall lifestyle during pregnancy. Exercise is typically safe during pregnancy, especially if you were already exercising before you became pregnant. There are certain exercises you may not be able to do, so always check with your doctor to make sure it fits in with your health plans during your pregnancy. It may even be fun to find another friend or family member to exercise with to make it more fun.
As part of your lifestyle, it is also important to make sure you have a good support system in place. This can be your partner, family members, friends, or even other pregnant moms. These are the people you can rely on during the tough times in your pregnancy. The people that will be there when you need emotional or physical support.
Questions to ask regarding your lifestyle changes include:
-Do I have any restrictions on my current exercise regimen? Which kind of exercise is safe to do during pregnancy?
-Are there over the counter medications safe to take during pregnancy and which ones should I avoid?
-What foods besides deli meat and raw fish sushi should I avoid?
-Do I need to make any special changes or modifications to my current work environment?
-Will I have any travel restrictions during pregnancy?
-How much weight should I gain during pregnancy? What is considered a healthy weight gain per trimester?
-Do you have any other recommendations for new moms?
These are just a few pregnancy questions to ask your doctor at your first prenatal visit. You may feel overwhelmed after this visit and that is okay! It is full of a lot of new information about the changes you will go through and what to expect over the next several months. Take a deep breath and know that it will all be okay! Remember, this is an important appointment for you and your baby. Many newly pregnant women are going through this every day and you are now joining the ranks.
Whether you are in early pregnancy or at the end of your pregnancy, never be afraid to ask your questions. Do not hesitate to ask, no matter how big or small they may seem.It is okay to set high standards when choosing your doctor. After all, you want the best care for you and your baby. You want a doctor that will listen and help provide reassurance. Your doctor is there to help you through every step of your pregnancy journey and should be able to provide good options or answers!
Are there any specific questions you asked your doctor that are not included here? Or any others you wish you would have asked? I would love to hear about it in the comments!
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Such an important post! I feel like I would be so confused and overwhelmed at my first appointment so lists like this will be so helpful for new moms. Thanks for sharing!