After taking your health history, the doctor will examine you, including a pap smear and pelvic exam. The doctor may also take urine to perform a urinalysis or cervical cultures to check for certain sexually transmitted infections. Next, you’ll have blood drawn to check your blood type and Rh factor, to see if you’ve had certain infections, and to make sure that you are immune to rubella and varicella (the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles). Many professional organizations now recommend routine testing for HIV/AIDS, so check with your doctor to see if she is running that test as well.
Ten Questions to Ask
I’m sure that you’ll have lots of questions by this point, but here are some others that you may not have thought of:
- What foods should I avoid?
- Is exercise okay?
- What type of exercise?
- What symptoms require a call to the office?
- What genetic screening should I have done?
- Can I travel? Are there restrictions?
- If applicable, what about toxins that I am exposed to at work or home?
- How much weight should I gain?
- What over the counter medication can I take, and which should I avoid?
- Should I get a flu shot?
It can be helpful to write your questions and concerns down to bring with you. That way, you don’t forget anything important once you’re sitting in the office!
Thank-you for reading this post. Please feel free to let us know what you think in the comment section below.
References:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The National Women’s Health Information Center. (2010). Health pregnancy: prenatal care and tests Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/prenatal-care-tests.cfm#
Your first prenatal visit. (2010, February). Retrieved from http://www.babycenter.com/0_your-first-prenatal-visit_9344.bc?page=1