Preparing a Your First OB/GYN Appointment

(Note to male readers: I have been very frank in this article about personal and private woman matters. Therefore, if you decide to read on, realize some of the content may cause you to blush.) Here are some questions I wanted to know before my first ob/gyn appointment & my answers (after experiencing pregnancy and pregnancy appointments more than once):

Will they take a pregnancy test?

If you took a home pregnancy test, the chances are the doctor WILL not perform a pregnancy test. There will be no urine sampling or drawing blood. This is different than our parents era. So your mom's answer to this question is not likely to be correct. When I asked for a pregnancy test, my doctor asked if I had taken at least one home pregnancy test. I said yes & she replied, "Did it come up positive?" I said, "Yes." She said, "Then you don't need to take a pregnancy test here. Only in rare circumstances do we give pregnancy tests."

This may be slightly different with military hospitals. I believe my friend told me she had to have a blood test because she lives on a military base.

Will the doctor explain what pregnancy is like?

You may be intrepid about your future pregnancy experience. However, the chances are the doctor WILL NOT share with you what your pregnancy will be like or what you may experience in the future. The doctor will not likely even share with you what labor is like. If you ask your doctor directly, the chances are he or she will probably answer, "Each pregnancy is different." If you want a direct answer to this question, you are more likely to receive it from a home birth midwife, not a doctor. By the way, midwives who are employed by the hospital are not likely to respond to this question either.

At the end of this article, I will attempt to answer this question myself. Read on.

When will I be able to see my baby?

You will not be given an ultrasound until sometime between 23-27 weeks. Your doctor will let you know when the best time for an ultrasound is. Do not expect an ultrasound during your first appointment. I did receive an ultrasound during my first appointment but ONLY because they could not find the baby's heartbeat.

Will my husband and other family members be allowed to come to the ultrasound?

Typically, yes. You will need to ask your doctors policy concerning this.

Will the ultrasound be taped (VHS or DVD)?

This varies from hospital to hospital. To know the answer, just ask.

Will I receive photos of the ultrasound?

Typically the hospital WILL print out a little photo momento or two to show friends and family members.

What do they do during the first appointment?

Typically a pap smear, listen to the babies heartbeat and answer your questions. You may also have a glucose test and an informative introductory appointment. The introductory appointment (lots of papers & information) is performed by a nurse. The pap smear is done by your doctor. I was told by a doctor that pregnancy pap smears are really unnecessary and having a pap smear while one is pregnant creates a lot more false positives (because cells are rapidly changing while a woman is pregnant). Be aware that a pregnancy pap smear may simply be an additional way for the hospital/doctor to earn money. Before having a pap smear, make sure your ob/gyn knows when your last pap smear was performed. If it was within the last year, a pap smear is unnecessary. Also, if you had one already within the past year, the pap smear may be unnecessary. My insurance policy would not cover a pap smear if more than one is performed within a year (I believe this a typical policy...however, check with your insurance company). Another problem you can run into is the insurance NOT covering a pap smear because it is considered a health/wellness test NOT pregnancy related. This can be especially a problem if your ob/gyn is out of network. The insurance policy may not cover any health/wellness labs performed out of network EVEN if they are part of a pre-natal appointment. Pap smears (whether the dr performs one & whether insurance will cover it) are a good idea to look into BEFORE the appointment.

You may also need some labs done (blood drawn during the first or second appointment). Be prepared to be pricked.

How long should I allow for the first prenatal appointment?

Not including wait time (in the dr's office), you should allow 1.5 - 2 hours for your FIRST prenatal appointment (every pregnancy). This is the bare minimum time you will need.

Will the doctor discuss medication I am allowed to take during pregnancy?

Typically, yes. If not, be sure to ask your doctor for a list of medications you are allowed to take. Sinus medication and benadryl are NOT allowed during pregnancy & typically if you can go without taking a medication it is ALWAYS healthier for the baby. Do you need non-drug alternatives for relief? Check out my other articles for ideas?

Will the doctor discuss procedures during labor?

Not likely.

Are there classes I can take?

Many hospitals offer childbirth classes (and classes for new fathers, classes for new siblings, infant massage & more). Ask about the class offerings. Also, you may ask your doctor if anyone in the area offers lamaze or bradley classes. (Bradley classes are wonderful. Be aware that Bradley classes teach that YOU are the consumer in the hospital. This is NOT exactly true. Your doctor's insurance policy controls the services he/she can or will offer you. Liability is a typical doctors primary concern and the doctors may do whatever is in their power to encourage submission to how they believe you should labor including staying attached to monitors, staying in bed (standing up and walking around is better for labor progress), drug intake (It is better to go without drugs, however many doctors will strongly encourage drugs such as pitocin and epidurals.) and so forth.)

I would encourage any woman who is pregnant to watch the DVD, "The Business of Being Born".

Will the doctor allow me to labor naturally?

Most OB/GYN's will claim to allow labor to happen naturally (and they believe they do). However, when questioned, they will admit to using pitocin for most births, encouraging a woman to be strapped to an IV, not allowing food or water in the hospital room (it is better to eat and drink for a successful natural birth), in some cases...encouraging a woman to be strapped to the bed...(it is better to move about freely for natural labor, gravity helps a labor progress) and other things which inhibit natural birth.

If you want a true natural birth without drugs (only natural pain relief), I recommend you have a home birth. See my articles about home births.

Is pregnancy/labor scary?

The scariest part of being pregnant the first time is the morning sickness. It feels like it will never end. However, it does. Everything else about a healthy normal pregnancy is not scary.

Yes, labor is scary. However, I believe the scariest part of labor is going to and being in a hospital. My first pregnancy I labored in a hospital room and the very presence of the machines was scary to me. My choices of what I could and could not do were also limited in the hospital.

At home, I was less intimidated. I was allowed to listen to my body. I was able to cuddle in my own bed with my own sheets, blankets and pajama. Being at home calmed me and reduced my pain. The pain itself was still frightening (my first experience resulted in a C-section & therefore my second natural labor was much like a normal first labor would be), however after my child was born I rejoiced in knowing I had the ability to overcome the excruciating pain.

I look forward to future labors and pregnancies with joy!

Will I love my child upon first sight?

Maybe, maybe not. Most women fall in love in the first day or two. However, some women take longer to fall in love with their baby. I believe it takes more time to bond after a c-section than it does after a normal delivery. Don't fret if bonding happens slowly. You WILL bond.

What is pregnancy like?

You will experience morning sickness (basically this is like several months of having the stomach flu). You may lose some weight initially and then you will gain weight. You will see your baby on the ultrasound and get lots of compliments for your cute pregnant body. You will get to wear cute new clothes (invest in some maternity clothes & a cute haircut, it is worth it.). Sex may be more fun during some parts of pregnancy. Near the end of pregnancy you will have trouble putting on shoes, getting off of a couch, getting off of a bed and sex may lose its sizzle. Swimming is lots of fun during pregnancy. Ask your doctor for permission. However, typically a doctor will give their ok as long as your bag has not broken (no breaks or leaks in your bag of amniotic fluid.) You will experience labor which is typically the length of a typical workday (more or less time depending on the woman) and the time seems to speed by. During labor, one hour may feel like 15 minutes. You will get a cutest, most adorable, most beautiful baby you ever did lay eyes on in the end. Trust me! Your baby is cuter than any other (to you and your husband). Why? Well, he/she will look a lot like you and your genetic pool. Therefore, there is an additional attraction. God designed it like this.

NOTE: This article is sharing of my own personal experience. Always seek a doctor for medical advice.