What to Expect at Your First Prenatal Visit
The first advice I can offer is to relax! Believe me, you'll be having lots of these visits and this visit will be more administrative than anything else. Many healthcare providers encourage the presence of both parents at the first visit. This gives your provider the opportunity to meet and congratulate the both of you. The main focus of the visit is going to be checking you out and seeing what your current health needs are. It is better to head off any potential problems from the get-go. Your provider will ask you to provide any and all health information on yourself as well as your immediate family. If there have been any health issues of concern even in your immediate family your provider will want to know in the event that these conditions could be hereditary and so on.
You'll also be asked about your gynecological and obstetrical history and any problems you may have experienced such as irregular or uncomfortable menstrual cycles or abnormal pap smears in the past. Be sure to include information about any previous pregnancies you may have had and any complications.
Your general health will also be assessed and discussed as well. Your doctor will address current health issues you may have such as hypertension, obesity , diabetes etc. He will also question you about your life-style, things like do you smoke? Do you drink? He will inquire about your work life, are you on your feet a lot? Are you required to lift heavy items at your workplace? This battery of questioning may seem absurd but it is the best way for your doctor to get the big picture where you and your unborn child are concerned. Remember that though the line of questioning may be tiresome, answer the questions as honestly and completely as you can. Your doctor will use this information to help put you and your baby on the right track to a healthy pregnancy.
This is also your opportunity to ask your doctor as many questions as possible. If you have concerns about any element of your physical or mental health be sure to bring these to your doctor's attention.
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