• Your first prenatal visit may be one of the
longest. During your initial prenatal checkup, you
can expect your doctor to Confirm your pregnancy with
a urine test, blood test and/or physical examination
• Take a general medical history or review the
findings from your preconception checkup. You will
be asked about your periods and recent birth control
methods
• Estimate your due date by considering factors
as the types of pregnancy symptoms you are experiencing
and when they first occurred, the date of your last
normal menstrual period, the results of ovulation
predictor tests you used or any temperature charts
you kept, and changes to the cervix and uterus
• Take an obstetrical history (assuming you
have had other pregnancies)
• Conduct a general physical exam (heart, lungs,
breasts, abdomen and so on). Breasts are examined
to check for lumps
• Conduct a pelvic exam (a visual examination
of your vagina, and cervix as well as a bimanual exam
of your pelvic organs)
• Do a blood test to determine blood group and
to check for anemia, hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, and
antibodies to rubella as well as certain genetic disorders
(e.g. sickle-cell anemia) if your history warrants
it
• Take a vaginal culture to check for the presence
of infection, if warranted
• Do a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer
or potential pre-cancer
• Check your urine for infection, sugar and
protein
• Weigh you to establish a baseline weight
• Take your blood pressure
• Provide you with advice on nutrition and lifestyle
issues
• Answer any questions you may have
• Talk to your about how you are feeling about
being pregnant
• You can expect to see your doctor on a monthly
basis until you reach week 28 of your pregnancy, at
which point you will start to come in for checkups
every 2-3 weeks. Once you reach week 36, you will
generally be seen on a weekly basis.
