What To Expect At Your First Prenatal OB/GYN Visit
Finding out you are pregnant is so exciting! Once that test comes back positive, you probably can't wait to start picking out names, choosing paint colors, and telling your loved ones you're expecting. But there is one more important thing you need to tackle soon: your first prenatal OB/GYN appointment. Some women are a bit apprehensive about this experience, but knowing what to expect can help immensely. Here's what you can expect.
1. A longer appointment.
As your pregnancy moves forward, your visits will often be short. There will be just one or two things your practitioner wants to check on. But this first appointment will be longer. Expect to spend about a half-hour to an hour in the exam room. Don't worry; your doctor won't likely be examining you this whole time, but they will spend a lot of time talking to you about good prenatal care and how you should be taking care of yourself during this important stage.
2. A basic checkup.
Your doctor will likely begin the exam by conducting a basic health checkup. They'll take your blood pressure, listen to your heart, note your height and weight, and feel your abdomen for any signs of abnormalities. They may also conduct an exam to check the size and position of your uterus. The results should help them pinpoint how far along you are and give you an estimate for a due date.
3. Blood tests.
Prepare to have a few vials of blood drawn at this appointment. There are a lot of things your OB/GYN will want to check for. First, they will confirm your pregnancy. (No matter how certain you are that you're pregnant, they need to have official test results confirming this.) They will also screen your blood for high glucose levels, which could indicate diabetes, and for blood type. This is just because there are some added complications that could occur if you have an Rh- blood type and your baby is Rh+. Don't worry — if this applies to you, which is pretty rare, your doctor will explain everything.
4. Health recommendations.
Once the exam and blood tests are complete, your doctor will chat with you about nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress relief, and other health measures that are important for pregnant women. You'll have ample time to ask any and all questions, so consider writing them down in the days leading up to your appointment so you don't forget them.
Now that you have a better idea of what to expect, you can walk into that appointment with confidence.
To learn more, contact an OB/GYN.
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