Have you received a positive pregnancy test? Now is the time to schedule your very first prenatal appointment.
Your doctor will talk to you about your medical history and run a few tests during this time. Your doctor will run down the list of the many lifestyle changes you’ll need to make for the sake of your health and the baby’s.
It’s good to come prepared with any first prenatal visit questions that you may have. If you’re not sure what you want to ask yet, we’ve got a few talking points that not everyone thinks about. Check out this guide to learn more.
What To Expect From Your First Appointment
It can be easier to prep questions to ask at a first prenatal visit if you know what to expect.
There are a few basic procedures and tests to be aware of. The first visit is also when the Oncologist will chat with you about your pregnancy plan. You may even get the chance to hear your little one’s heartbeat.
Typical Procedures
When the doctor calls you back for your first visit, they will get your height and weight. They’ll also take your blood pressure and run a few blood tests.
Once that’s finished, the two of you will discuss your family’s medical history as well as your own.
HIV Testing
Anyone who is sexually active runs the risk of developing HIV. While your doctor may not force you to take a test, you have the option to opt for it yourself.
Fetal Heartbeat
There’s a small chance that new mothers can hear their baby’s heartbeat during their first dr checks. It depends on when the pregnancy is discovered.
If you haven’t reached the 12-14 week mark, you may have to wait until your second appointment to hear your little one’s heartbeat.
Prenatal Plan
The last thing that your doctor will discuss with you is your prenatal plan. This is where you’ll go over your diet, exercise, sexual activity, and travel.
You’ll also talk about how you want your pregnancy to go. For example, where do you want to have your baby?
You might be wondering, “can I skip prenatal appointments?” The answer is no. Part of making your prenatal plan will include scheduling further appointments.
What Lifestyle Changes Should I Make?
Once you become pregnant, you’ll have to make a lot of lifestyle changes for the health of you and your baby.
So, your first question should revolve around that. What sort of diet and sleep changes do you need to make?
Should you toss out your beauty products and medications, and what about your work schedule?
Diet
As soon as you realize you’re pregnant, you’ll have to stop consuming alcohol and caffeine. That much is obvious.
What might not be obvious are things such as certain types of fish, deli meats, and unpasteurized cheeses.
These foods are only the beginning. Your doctor will give you a list of what you need to avoid.
Sleep
Pregnancy is going to put your body through so much. That means you’re going to need a lot more rest than usual.
If you aren’t getting your 8 hours, consider changing up your sleep schedule. Start going to bed and getting up at consistent times.
Stop scrolling through your phone before you go to sleep. The blue light will disrupt your rhythm and prevent you from resting.
Remove any sleep distractions from your room and make sure the room isn’t too hot or too cold.
If none of this seems to help you sleep, visit your primary health physician to discuss your options.
Beauty Products
There are a lot of chemicals in hair dye and fingernail polish. Many pregnant women have the completely valid concern that these chemicals could harm their unborn baby.
Your doctor can give you a list of ingredients to avoid if you ask them for one. If you go in for frequent spa treatments, you can ask your doctor about that as well.
Medications
This question is pretty important. Certain medications can hurt an unborn fetus. This is true for both prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs.
That’s why it’s important to tell your doctor everything you’re taking. They’ll let you know if it’s safe or if you need to make any changes to your dosage.
In the case of medications that aren’t safe, your doctor will work with you to find alternatives.
Work
If you come into contact with any kind of chemicals while at work, ask your doctor if it could pose a risk to your baby.
You may have to talk to your boss about moving departments until your pregnancy is over.
Quit Smoking
If you’re currently smoking, now is the time for you to put them down for a while (or permanently). It won’t be easy to quit, but they can do serious harm to your baby.
If you need assistance, your doctor can help you build a support system and suggest products that will make quitting easier.
Learn to Manage Stress
Stress releases a chemical by the name of cortisol. While a little bit of it is natural and okay, too much cortisol can do a number on your body. It can also hurt your baby.
Talk to your oncologist about how you can manage your stress. They may suggest scheduling an appointment with a therapist.
You can also take up meditation, try deep breathing exercises, or enroll in a yoga class. It also helps to find a friend or loved one that you lean on.
What Things Am I At Risk For?
The human body is built with pregnancy in mind, but it can exacerbate the symptoms of certain health conditions. Some of these include:
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
- Diabetes
Again, talk to your oncologist about your medical history. Give them a list of the medications you’re taking.
If there are any medications you’re allergic to or if you have issues with anesthesia, that’s something they should know as well.
How Often Will My Appointments Be?
At your first appointment, your doctor will go ahead and schedule your future ones.
For the most part, the number of appointments you’ll have will depend on what your individual needs are. They’ll become more frequent the further along you get in your pregnancy.
Do I Need to Take Specific Vitamins?
Your baby needs certain nutrients in order to be healthy and thrive. Your doctor will give you a list of prenatal vitamins that you can take.
Most of these vitamins will include folic acid, vitamin D, iodine, DHA, iron, and calcium.
Folic Acid
Folic acid falls into the vitamin B family. It’s ideal for healthy development and growth.
Taking it during pregnancy can help prevent your baby from developing tube defects, heart defects, and cleft lip.
Look for a supplement that contains at least 600 mcg of folic acid. If you know that your baby is at risk of having tube defects, ask your doctor if it’s okay to up the amount to 4,000 mcg.
Calcium
Calcium is crucial for helping your baby grow healthy nerves, teeth, and muscles says this dentist in Keene TX. For the best results, you need to consume at least 1,000 milligrams of this mineral every day.
You can get calcium by taking a prenatal vitamin. It also helps to incorporate plenty of milk, cheese, yogurt, kale, broccoli, and certain types of orange juice into your diet.
If you don’t consume enough calcium while you’re pregnant, your body will make sure your baby still gets what it needs by taking it from your bones. This could cause you to develop osteoporosis later on in life.
Iron
Your body uses iron to create hemoglobin. This is the protein that transports oxygen from your lungs to everywhere else in the body.
While you’re pregnant, you’re going to need to consume double the amount that you were before because your baby needs it too. Without iron, it won’t be able to receive enough oxygen. Iron will also allow the baby to make blood of its own.
You’ll need about 27 milligrams of iron every day. The good news is that almost all prenatal vitamins contain enough.
You can also get it from beans, nuts, raisins, cereal, lean meats, seafood, poultry, bread, pasta, leafy greens, and dried fruit.
Vitamin D
Your body can’t absorb calcium on its own. It needs the help of vitamin D. Getting enough vitamin D means your baby will develop strong bones and teeth.
Vitamin D will also strengthen your immune system, allowing it to shield your baby from infection.
You’ll need about 600 IU of vitamin D each day. You can get it from taking a prenatal vitamin or by adding more fatty fish and milk to your diet.
Iodine
Iodine helps the body make the thyroid hormones needed to store the energy it gets from food. Your baby also needs it to grow its nervous system.
Most doctors will recommend that you get 220 micrograms of iodine every day. Unlike the other vitamins and minerals we’ve been over so far, iodine isn’t found in many prenatal vitamins.
That means you’ll have to get it from the foods you eat. Fish, enriched cereal and bread, milk, cheese, yogurt, and iodized salt are all good sources of iodine.
DHA
DHA is better known as omega-3 fatty acids. It’s crucial for the growth and development of your baby’s eyes and brain.
There are some prenatal vitamins that contain DHA, but not all of them do. You’re better off getting it from what you eat.
It’s recommended to eat about 12 pounds of low-mercury seafood every week. Some of the best options are herring, salmon, trout, tilapia, halibut, and catfish. You can also buy orange juice, milk, and eggs with DHA added in.
What Is Normal?
When you’re pregnant, any physical changes are due for concern, and some are not. That’s why you should find out what’s normal for certain stages of pregnancy.
Ask your doctor how you can contact them during times of emergency and learn what would warrant going to the ER.
What Types of Exercises Should I Be Doing?
You need to stay active throughout the course of your pregnancy. If you’re in good physical shape the day you give birth, it will make the recovery process much easier.
Exercise will also distribute feel-good chemicals throughout your body, which will leave you in a better state of wellness all around.
You should be safe to continue the exercise regimen you followed before you got pregnant, but your doctor can give you specific instructions to follow.
When Should I Start Making My Birth Plan?
It’s never too early to begin talking about your birth plan. The more you go over it, the smoother it will go.
Start with the birthing location. Some people prefer the hospital, and some would rather have their baby at home.
Who do you want to deliver your baby? Are you fine with any old doctor, or would you rather have the person you see for your prenatal appointments do it?
First Prenatal Visit Questions You Need to Ask
As soon as you realize you’re pregnant, you’ll need to schedule a prenatal appointment.
If you’re like most people, you may have a lot of first prenatal visit questions that you want to ask. Find out what foods you can eat and which ones you should stay away from.
Ask about when you should start making your birthing plan, and don’t forget to discuss prenatal vitamins.
For more tips that will help you through your pregnancy, visit the Health section of our blog.
