Once you’re sure you’re pregnant, it’s time to set up an appointment with your gynaecologist. In the first trimester, prenatal visit tests consists of your medical history, blood tests, a physical exam and much more. That’s because prenatal care is part of a healthy pregnancy. You might choose to visit a family physician, obstetrician, midwife or even a group prenatal care, but here’s what you should expect over your first prenatal visits tests.
Prenatal Care:
1st trimester visits: Once you’re sure you’re pregnant, make an appointment for your first prenatal visit. Give yourself a lot of time for the visit, after all, you and your health care provider have much to talk about.
Medical History:
Your Health Care Provider Will Ask a Lot of Questions, Relevant to the Following:
- Your menstrual cycle
- Gynecological history
- History of past pregnancies
- Your personal medical history and that of your family
- Any medication you take, including over-the-counter medication, prescription medicines and supplements
- Use of tobacco, caffeine, drugs and/or alcohol
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Take care to mention issues like domestic abuse, drug use in the past and abortion. If you tell your health care provider everything that pertains to you and your coming baby, your doctor will be able to make an informed decision about you. If there’s something that you don’t like others to know, remember to mention it to your doctor privately.
Due Date:
Though not all women give birth on the date calculated by doctors, yet it helps to set a date of delivery. This date is also important because it lets your gynaecologist monitor the growth and development of your pregnancy. Thirdly, it helps to set some tests or procedures at the right time.
Your Health Care Provider Will Calculate Your Due Date in This Way: He will take the date your last period started, add a week to it and minus three months from there. Your date of delivery will be 40 weeks from the first day of your last period before your pregnancy. To help confirm the date, your health care provider will take the help of a foetal ultrasound.
Physical Exam:
Your health care provider will check your height and weight and based on this information, will also calculate your BMI. With the help of the BMI, your recommended weight gain for a healthy pregnancy will also be determined.
Your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate will also be taken for a complete physical exam. Your doctor will also check for any undiagnosed and unknown medical conditions.
Your doctor will also examine your vagina and your cervix. If there are any changes in your cervix and in your uterine size, it can confirm your stage of pregnancy. To check for cervical cancer, it will be essential to have a Pap test.
First Prenatal Visit Tests
Lab Tests:
Certain blood tests will be done at your first prenatal visit, such as:
What’s Your Blood Type? Apart from finding out your blood group, it is also important to know your Rh status. This refers to a hereditary trait regarding a particular protein seen on the surface of red blood cells. Your doctor will have to take special care of you if it is detected that you are Rh- and your partner is Rh+.
How Much Iron Does Your Blood Have? Our red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is rich in iron. These cells are important to us as they transport oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body, and it also carries carbon dioxide from different parts of the body to the lungs so that it can be breathed out of the body.
Are you Immune to Some Infections? Your immunity to some infections like chicken pox and rubella need to be checked.
Blood Tests for Common Infections:
It’s important for you to know how far you are exposed to certain infections. For these, your doctor will suggest you undergo some blood tests to find out infections like syphilis, hepatitis B, HIV, Gonorrhoea or chlamydia. A sample of your urine will be taken to test for infection.
Screening Tests for Foetal Defects:
To know just how healthy your baby is, it’s important to take prenatal tests. To detect foetal abnormalities, your doctor may ask you to undergo blood tests, screening tests and ultrasound.
Importance of Nutrition:
During this visit, your health care provider will tell you what to eat and the importance of healthy food and prenatal vitamins. This is also a good opportunity to discuss the importance of exercise and sex during a pregnancy. If you smoke, stop now.
Conclusion
If you are pregnant, get the most out of your first prenatal visit and follow your doctor’s instructions closely.
Medically Reviewed By
Maanasi specializes in health topics including diet and nutrition. A mother of an untiring seven year old, she enjoys nurturing her love affair with English. She is often found nestled with a book, plopped against a dozen pillows, smiling away at the brink of finishing yet another book of the many dozens, that adorn the shelves of her Mini Library!
