Your First Pregnancy Exam
If you have missed your period by at least 2 weeks, and you think you might be pregnant, a visit the doctor’s office for a thorough physical examination is a must at this stage. Make sure you have recalled the date of your last period before going so that they can determine your baby’s expected due date. Think back and try to recall the very first day of your last period by remembering what you were doing on that particular day, if you don’t keep a record of it on your calendar.
While at the doctor’s office for the first time, you can expect for them to record your weight, height and blood pressure. Your breasts, neck, abdomen, thyroid gland, and other body parts will also be examined, so be prepared for that. A stethoscope will be used to listen to your heart and lungs, and they will even examine your eyes with their ophthalmoscope for any abnormalities that might be present. Of course, your pelvic area will be examined so that the doctor can record the size and location of your uterus, along with making sure your pelvis is capable of having a baby pass through it. They will also send samples of your cervical wall to the lab for cancer testing, to make sure you are completely healthy for having a baby. Also take into consideration that doctors are now including a rectal exam with the first prenatal visit, it usually is over with before you know what happened, so don’t worry about this part of it.
The nurses will draw blood from your arm to send off to the lab to check for any sexually transmitted diseases that you may have, along with lots of other tests that can be used to determine whether you have been subjected to certain diseases, like rubella, the German measles.
Some doctors may require that you have an ultrasound to get a better idea of what your expected due date will be, if there are any questions. This is routine and should not worry you in the least if your doctor schedules one right away.
Women who think they are pregnant and have missed their period by two weeks should make an appointment to see their general practitioner in order to get a preliminary test, and they will advise you of a good OBGYN physician who will be able to help you all the way through to your baby’s delivery.
For a great list of things to ask your doctor about on your first pregnancy exam, visit http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/doctor/preg1.shtml.
Filed under: Pregnancy Tests & Symptoms
