Visiting an Obstetrician for Your First Prenatal Checkup
The instant you find out that you are pregnant, the first thing you do is fix an appointment with your gynecologist.
It comes as a surprise to most women when they are asked to visit the obstetrician/gynecologist only on the eighth week of your pregnancy.
This first prenatal visit will help your gynecologist obtain information about you with regards to your health.
It gives your doctor all the information they require about your history.
It is also a known fact that many insurance providers do not include prenatal appointments of a part of the cover.
Though your gestational weeks are calculated from the first day of the last menstrual cycle, you would have conceived the baby only 5 to 6 weeks ago and so at this stage there isn't a lot that can be done for the baby.
It is vital that you are open with your gynecologist and let them know about any health issues you face.
If by chance you are considered at risk, you need to communicate this with your gynecologist on your first visit itself.
You should also ensure choosing an obstetrician who are experts and specialize in rare conditions like these.
High risk factors include miscarriages in the past, ectopic pregnancies, having a history of high order multiples etc.
Your first prenatal visit involves filling out information on paper about your health, family history and also insurance information.
Providing complete information is advisable as you only benefit with it.
Your first visit would require you to provide your blood samples to check the type of blood, infection and any kind of disorders.
Since most of these conditions might cause harm to the baby, it is mandatory that you provide complete information.
In order to check your protein and glucose content you would be required to provide a urine sample on your first visit.
Other tests that would be conducted are the Pap smear as well as a pelvic examination if it was not conducted in the recent past.
This is the time that the due date will be calculated as well.
The prenatal examination seems to be more concentrated on the mother and not the baby as it is vital to secure your baby's home and child proof it for the baby to stay happy and healthy in the coming months.
The prenatal checkup is exactly when your obstetrician will let you know certain protocols to follow if need arises.
He could be giving you contact information to be able to reach the gynecologist in-between visits.
He will also tell you about future appointments and when they can be expected.
You will also be briefed on milestones such as hearing the heartbeat.
The gynecologist needs to be visited once a month till the 28th week of pregnancy.
After the 28th week you need to visit the gynecologist twice a month until the 36th week.
Going forward you would need to meet your gynecologist every week until you deliver the baby.
Before discharge your doctor would be briefing you on prescriptions and will also give you information about expectations during healing.
Lastly, you would also be required to meet with your gynecologist six weeks after delivery.
It comes as a surprise to most women when they are asked to visit the obstetrician/gynecologist only on the eighth week of your pregnancy.
This first prenatal visit will help your gynecologist obtain information about you with regards to your health.
It gives your doctor all the information they require about your history.
It is also a known fact that many insurance providers do not include prenatal appointments of a part of the cover.
Though your gestational weeks are calculated from the first day of the last menstrual cycle, you would have conceived the baby only 5 to 6 weeks ago and so at this stage there isn't a lot that can be done for the baby.
It is vital that you are open with your gynecologist and let them know about any health issues you face.
If by chance you are considered at risk, you need to communicate this with your gynecologist on your first visit itself.
You should also ensure choosing an obstetrician who are experts and specialize in rare conditions like these.
High risk factors include miscarriages in the past, ectopic pregnancies, having a history of high order multiples etc.
Your first prenatal visit involves filling out information on paper about your health, family history and also insurance information.
Providing complete information is advisable as you only benefit with it.
Your first visit would require you to provide your blood samples to check the type of blood, infection and any kind of disorders.
Since most of these conditions might cause harm to the baby, it is mandatory that you provide complete information.
In order to check your protein and glucose content you would be required to provide a urine sample on your first visit.
Other tests that would be conducted are the Pap smear as well as a pelvic examination if it was not conducted in the recent past.
This is the time that the due date will be calculated as well.
The prenatal examination seems to be more concentrated on the mother and not the baby as it is vital to secure your baby's home and child proof it for the baby to stay happy and healthy in the coming months.
The prenatal checkup is exactly when your obstetrician will let you know certain protocols to follow if need arises.
He could be giving you contact information to be able to reach the gynecologist in-between visits.
He will also tell you about future appointments and when they can be expected.
You will also be briefed on milestones such as hearing the heartbeat.
The gynecologist needs to be visited once a month till the 28th week of pregnancy.
After the 28th week you need to visit the gynecologist twice a month until the 36th week.
Going forward you would need to meet your gynecologist every week until you deliver the baby.
Before discharge your doctor would be briefing you on prescriptions and will also give you information about expectations during healing.
Lastly, you would also be required to meet with your gynecologist six weeks after delivery.
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