If you’re reading this, you’ve probably just found out you’re pregnant – congratulations! One of the most important things you should be doing right now is scheduling your first prenatal visit to a gynecologist.
Prenatal care is important to make sure that you and your baby are doing fine at every stage. But it’s not just medical care you’ll get during these visits. Your gynecologist will also be able to educate you (and your partner) on the birthing process and provide other valuable information, guidance, and support.
However, like your first pregnancy, your first prenatal visit is a brand-new experience. So, to guide you on what you should expect at this consultation, we put together some useful information about your first prenatal visit.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
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When should you first go?
Singapore-based obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Anne Tan says that if you have a regular menstrual cycle and you have missed your next expected period, you should use a home pregnancy test to check if you are indeed pregnant.
If you get a positive result and you do not experience any pains or bleeding, you can make an appointment for your first prenatal visit two weeks after your missed period.
The purpose
According to WebMD, the purpose of your first prenatal visit is to:
- Determine your due date
- Learn about your health history
- Explore the medical history of family members
- Determine if you have any pregnancy risk factors based on your age, health, and/or personal and family history.
What happens during a pelvic examination? Find out on the next page.
The first prenatal visit will probably be the longest consultation among all your visits to the gynecologist throughout your pregnancy
What you should expect at your first prenatal visit?
1. Blood tests
According to Dr. Dana Elliot Srither, a Singapore-based family physician, one of the first blood tests your gynecologist will conduct involves checking the amount of the pregnancy hormone, Human Choroid Gonadotrophin, in your blood.
While this will confirm how far along you are in your pregnancy, your doctor will also ensure the amount doubles every two to three days. This indicates that your pregnancy is going along normally.
Your gynecologist will also carry out the following tests on your blood, says Dr. Srither:
- Full blood cell count (FBC)
- Blood typing and screening for Rh antibodies
- Presence of syphilis, hepatitis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Previous exposure to some viral diseases, especially German measles (rubella)
- Others such as checking for thyroid disease, depending on your past medical history
A pap smear will help rule out the risk of cervical cancer and STDs
2. Pelvic exam
Dr. Srither explains that a pelvic exam is done at your first prenatal appointment to see how you are progressing and that all is normal.
Medical experts at WebMD explain that during this exam, you’ll have a pap smear done to screen for cervical cancer and to detect other STDs.
Your doctor may also conduct an internal exam (with two fingers inside your vagina and one hand on your stomach) to check for abnormalities of the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. During this examination, the doctor will also determine the size of your uterus and pelvis.
During the ultrasound, you should hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time.
3. Vaginal ultrasound
The vaginal ultrasound, according to Dr. Tan, should detect an intrauterine gestational sac with a yolk sac, and your baby (known at this stage, as the “fetal pole”) should be seen measuring just under 5 mm. By seven weeks gestation, the fetal pole would be around 10 mm and your baby’s heartbeat will be audible!
Dr. Tan explains that your gynecologist will also probably have a careful look around the gestational sac to check that all is good and that there are no fibroids, ovarian cysts, or other growths.
Besides the various tests mentioned above, your gynecologist will also check your blood pressure and temperature, and do a urine protein test.
What questions should you be asking your gynecologist at your first prenatal visit? Your checklist is on the next page.
Speak to your doctor about the two modes of delivery early in your pregnancy, don’t wait till your third trimester.
Ask plenty of questions!
If this is your first pregnancy, don’t hold back on asking your gynecologist all those questions you’re probably bursting to ask.
Dr. Gordon Lim, also a Singapore-based gynecologist, suggests asking questions about the following topics:
1. Suitable food
Find out about the kind of food you should be eating more of during your pregnancy as well as those you should be avoiding, e.g., processed food, and fizzy drinks. Your gynecologist will also advise you on how much weight you should be gaining through your pregnancy. Don’t forget to talk to your doctor about a suitable prenatal vitamin.
2. Work and travel
Talk to your doctor about the type of work you do. If it involves long hours or frequent travel, find out if this will have an impact on your pregnancy and if and when you should be scaling back.
3. Mode of delivery
Ask your doctor any questions you might have about natural birth and/or caesarian delivery. While the mode of delivery is your decision, your gynecologist can talk to you about the pros and cons of each method, which should help you decide.
Good luck on your pregnancy journey – it’s bound to be full of love, excitement, and amazement!
4. Emotions and Symptoms
If you have been getting unusual pregnancy-related cravings and are wondering whether they are normal, do ask your doctor about them. Keep in mind that pregnancy is not just a physical experience—it is equally an emotional experience. So if you have been experiencing mood swings or other emotions, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about them.
5. Sex
Women often experience an increase in libido during pregnancy, but their partners may be hesitant to engage sexually for various reasons. Talk to your gynecologist about sex during pregnancy—when it’s okay and if (and when) it’s not—it’s best that your partner is around for this, too!
6. Gynecologist’s availability
Find out if your doctor will actually be available on your expected due date (he or she might be traveling, for example). If not, ask who the replacement gynecologist will be and if you can meet him or her. Also, ask your gynecologist if you can contact him/her at any time and the best way of doing this.
Moms-to-be, your gynecologist is going to be your best friend for the next nine months. So make the most of your first prenatal visit and forge an amazing relationship that will see you through your pregnancy journey.
Tell us what your own first prenatal visit was like by leaving a comment below.
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore