What to Expect from Prenatal Visits
The first step of your pregnancy: confirm!
After seeing the little positive sign on the pee stick, you should have your pregnancy confirmed. Call your primary care provider to request a pregnancy blood test.
Set up an appointment with your OB/GYN or Midwife.
See your OB/GYN or midwife as soon as possible. During this first appointment, your provider will want to know your medical history: if you’ve been pregnant before, types of sicknesses that run in your family, etc. Try to prepare ahead of time: request records be transferred from your primary care provider and/or write down relevant details to bring to your appointment.
Write down your questions and concerns.
Bring them with you and ask! Your healthcare team is there to help you, and they’ve been asked every question you can imagine. Before leaving, your doctor may even give you a bag full of goodies (and coupons!) all about being pregnant. Your doctor will likely have you set another appointment before leaving. There are some great books all about pregnancy, birth, and parenting, so check them out at your local library.
Make sure you get your prenatal vitamins.
Prenatal vitamins are very important during pregnancy. If for some reason you can’t take them, talk with your doctor. They may be able to prescribe a lower dosage or alternatives.
Your first ultrasound:
You’ll get your first ultrasound (US) around week 20. This is when you can learn your baby’s sex. However, some doctors like to play it safe and give you an ultrasound around 10-12 weeks to make sure baby is in the right position and all is well.
Gestational Diabetes:
You will have to drink an orange liquid quickly (in about five minutes). You’ll wait for one to three hours, then your blood will be drawn and you can go home. The test determines if you have or have a chance of getting gestational diabetes.
