What
should I expect from my
first prenatal checkup?
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, 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. |
