At your first visit, your doctor will check your vital signs and take your medical history. They may perform certain examinations and tests, including blood and urine tests. They will also describe the importance of eating a balanced diet, exercising, and taking certain prenatal vitamins during pregnancy.
They can advise you whether they are safe to use during pregnancy. Your vital signs indicate the status of essential body functions, such as heartbeat, breathing rate, and blood pressure.
These signs will be closely monitored throughout pregnancy for any changes that could indicate underlying problems. While taking your vital signs, your doctor will ask you for the date of your last menstrual period. This will help them calculate your due date. Your doctor will also want to know about your menstrual history. Your doctor will also need to know about any previous pregnancies, including miscarriages and abortions.
Important details include:. Past reproductive experiences may help predict future pregnancy outcomes. They can also assist your doctor in developing a pregnancy or birth plan tailored to your particular circumstances. Your gynecologic history is particularly important. Your doctor needs to be aware of any current or past gynecological problems that could potentially lead to birth defects or complications in your baby.
Tell your doctor if you currently have or have ever had sexually transmitted infections, such as:. Your doctor should also know about any and all diseases that have affected you.
Many conditions can potentially lead to complications during pregnancy. These include:. They may also run certain tests to evaluate the severity of your condition. Once you and your doctor have thoroughly covered your medical history, they will ask about your family history and ethnic heritage, as well as that of the other parent.
This can help them evaluate your risk for certain genetic or inherited conditions. Ethnic heritage is important because some medical conditions occur more frequently among certain populations. A family history of diabetes puts you at an increased risk of developing the condition during pregnancy or at some other point in your life. If are at risk for diabetes, your doctor may want to perform a screening test sooner rather than later. Diabetes that occurs during pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes , and it can increase your risk for a large baby, the need for cesarean section, and delivery complications.
Generally, it can be heard at or after 10 weeks of pregnancy. Your ultrasound, where you can actually see your baby, may be scheduled for later in your first trimester. But, each clinic does it differently. So, feel free to ask about specific ultrasound timing and details when you call to schedule your initial visit.
You have many choices when it comes to who you should see for prenatal care. Depending on your health and preferences, you can pick an OB-GYN for your pregnancy , you can choose a certified nurse midwife for pregnancy care , or you may be able to see your primary care doctor.
If your pregnancy is uncomplicated, some clinics may encourage you to see as many different people as possible throughout your pregnancy, including OB-GYNs, certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners. At many clinics, you also have the option to see the same person for every visit. Will I need to change my habits regarding sex, exercise, nutrition? When will my next prenatal visit be scheduled? What type of testing do you recommend and when are they to be done? In case you want to do research the tests to decide if you want them or not.
Some questions to ask include: What are your thoughts about natural childbirth? What situations would warrant a Cesarean? What situations would warrant an episiotomy? How long past my expected due date will I be allowed to go before intervening?
What is your policy on labor induction? Want to Learn More? Office on Women's Health. Prenatal care and tests. What is noninvasive prenatal testing NIPT and what disorders can it screen for?
Screening for Perinatal Depression. Voyage Healthcare. Prenatal Care Overview. Gifford Health Care Preparing for Your Appointment. Associates in Women's Healthcare Preparing for Your First Prenatal Visit. Pregnancy nutrition: Foods to avoid during pregnancy. National Health Service UK Foods to avoid in pregnancy. Nutrition During Pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins: Why they matter, how to choose. Exercise During Pregnancy. Sex during pregnancy: What's OK, what's not.
Sex During Pregnancy. Travel During Pregnancy. Over-the-counter medicine, supplements and herbal products during pregnancy. Prenatal education and outreach. UCLA Health. Schedule of prenatal care. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: iStock. When should I schedule my first prenatal visit? When will my first OB appointment be?
What happens at the first prenatal visit? Is there anything I can do to prepare for my first pregnancy appointment? What questions should I ask at the first prenatal visit? Sources BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Featured video. Nuchal translucency test NT scan. Prenatal visits: What to expect and how to prepare. Your first trimester pregnancy checklist.
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