There is never a time in your life that going to the doctor on a regular basis is more important than when you are expecting. As soon as you find out that you are pregnant it is advisable that you make an appointment with your doctor. Research has supported the fact that the sooner prenatal care is started the better it is for mum and baby.
What to expect at the doctor's appointments when you are expecting. The very first visit is going to be the visit that takes the longest and requires the most information from you. They are going to need to know the date of your last menstrual cycle, as well as your complete health history, health history of dad and family on both sides. This information is going to help the physician or the midwife tailor care to meet your needs as you progress through being pregnant.
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At each visit you will be weighed, your abdomen will be measured and you will also be asked to leave a urine specimen and have your blood pressure checked. You should also discuss any concerns or issues you have at each visit. Should you be concerned over things you are experiencing such as cravings, inability to sleep or have a bowel movement, this is the time to talk to your doctor. There are also multiple tests that you will have to undergo due to the fact that you are pregnant. Most of them are simply screening tests to rule out any potential health issues baby may have as well as making sure you are staying healthy.
During your first trimester you may have an ultrasound done to confirm the pregnancy, the expected due date and to make sure your uterus and placenta are healthy. It is also during the first trimester that you can have a non-invasive screening done to rule out Down syndrome. This is typically done with a blood test and an ultrasound.
A few tests to expect during the second trimester of pregnancy include the alpha fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, estrogen and Inhibin A. There is also the amniocentesis that can be performed if you are risk for giving birth to a baby with genetic problems. The risks and benefits associated with each test should be discussed with your doctor. It is important that when you are making the decision to have a test done that you understand what takes place during the test, what the test will tell you and any risk to baby that there may be for having the test. While an amniocentesis is an excellent test to rule out Down Syndrome as well as other genetic issues, it also carries a risk of miscarriage.
Later in the second trimester you will also need to get a gestational diabetes test done. This is an oral screening. You will go to the laboratory and drink a glucose drink and have to wait an hour to have your blood drawn. If you have Rh-negative blood then you may also need to have an antibody screening test done.
During the last trimester of you may have other testing such as an ultrasound, group B strep screening and hepatitis B. All pregnant women should be screened for HIV as well. Talk to your doctor about HIV screening because not all doctors perform this test without you requesting it.
Routine Check-Ups Make for a Healthy Pregnancy
For further information regarding pregnancy visit Emma's Diary.
CHARLOTTE
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