The first doctor’s visit for your pregnancy
May 30, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Women's Health
If you’ve not been seeing a doctor or healthcare professional before you became pregnant, you really should now. Prenatal care is vital for your health and the health of your baby.
If possible, be sure you have an appointment around your 6th week. At this time, your doctor (or midwife) can help you calculate when your baby is due and answer any questions you may have. Now is the time to talk about nutrition, vitamins, exercising, and any other concerns.
For the first visit, you can expect:
- a full physical exam
- measurement of blood pressure
- urine sample test
- referral for blood tests
The blood tests will most often check:
- complete blood count, which checks your iron and other blood components
- sexually transmitted diseases
- immunity to childhood diseases, such as chicken pox and German measles
- other illnesses if your doctor has any concerns
At this point, you will learn how often your doctor or midwife wants to see you and how you can reach a healthcare professional in case of emergency.
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