First Prenatal Visit - What to expect

[Mild Mango]

Hi Everyone!

So I just got my BFP on an at-home pregnancy test. This is my first pregnancy, so I have no clue what to do from here. I guess the first thing I should do is call my primary care doctor and schedule my first prenatal visit.

I was wondering what to expect during the first prenatal visit. Do they do a sonogram (or is that done during a later visit)? Should the DH go with me, or is it just going to be a bunch of blood tests and a pelvic exam? I want him to be as involved as possible during the pregnancy, and I don't want him to miss any important appointments, but I don't want him to have to take the day off work just to sit in the waiting room while I get a pelvic exam. Did your partners go with you to your first visit?

Thanks!

 

[randomrach]

Are you in the UK? If so I can give you an idea of what to expect...

First, book an appointment with your gp, they will ask when your last period was and if known will work out an expected due date, they may weigh you (mine does) and will give you a form to refer you to your local midwives, which you hand back to them and they sort everything for you, you just wait for an appointment in the post. This may differ from place to place but your doctors will make sure you know what to do.

First midwife appointment is just a load of questions relating to family history of medical problems, they ask your OHs aswell so you might want him there. Can't remember if they do it for the first one but I think they will do BP and possibly urine check aswell. As a general rule Sonograms are only done at 12 and 20 weeks and heartbeat checked at every appointment at 16 weeks+

Hope that helps, any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[Mild Mango]

Thanks @randomrach! I should have mentioned I'm in the U.S., however I don't imagine it would differ that much between the two countries.

 

[Nina83]

Congrats on your pregnancy
It's a bit different over here, usually women go for their first scan between 6-8 weeks.
My doctor/OB GYN has an Us in his office so it's right then and there.
You go to the midwife only afterwards, I'll be going around 10 weeks.
At the first appointment/scan I was checked, dated, measured, given blood tests and a referral to a NT scan (12 weeks) and an early anatomy scan (16 weeks).
I'll be seeing my doctor again at about 20 weeks, or if anything should come up or I just want to.
DH comes to every scan I have, but no need for him to come to the midwife, I'll just get weighed and told what to eat and what not to do.
For me it's important for him to be there holding my hand at every scan because 1) I don't want to get bad news by myself 2) This is just as much his baby as it is mine and I expect him to be there and see and hear what's going on.

 

[junbait]

I had a OB/GYN prior to getting pregnant. I went to her for my annual pelvic exams because my family practitioner did not have small enough speculums to do a pelvic exam without hurting me.

So, when I found out I was pregnant I called my OB/GYN directly (didn't go through my family practitioner). Receptionist scheduled me for my first visit at exactly 8 weeks from my lmp. At the visit they collected a lot of medical/family/social history for both me and DH. When I informed that I had experienced some spotting, doc did a scan first before anything else to reassure me that everything was progressing normally. She then asked more questions about what I plan on doing for feeding once the baby is born and stuff, and also gave me information on where to register for classes and to book a room at the birth center for when it's time. I will be working with my OB/GYN and not a midwife, especially because I'm comfortable with her and it's a birth center she is associated with and the hospital a block away if needed.

If you do not have an OB/GYN, then an appointment with your family doc should be fine. If you are in the low risk category, then your family doc can handle almost all your prenatal needs and probably refer you to an OB or a midwife if that is your preference.

But I'd expect the first appointment to be lots of data gathering on you and your partner, lots of blood (I remember giving almost 10 vials) taken, and the viability scan.

 

[Mild Mango]

I plan on going to my primary care doctor first because my insurance requires me to get a referral from my primary care doctor before seeing a specialist (I have an HMO). I don't really have a separate OBGYN. I always just went to my primary care doctor for all my papsmears and ladypart maintenance.

We'll see what she says. I'm in my early 30's and I've had auto-immune issues before, so it may end up being a high risk pregnancy. We'll see what she says.

But based on what all of you have said, it might make sense to bring him to the first appointment so that he can answer any family history questions about his side and so he can (hopefully) hear the heartbeat!

 

[junbait]

I plan on going to my primary care doctor first because my insurance requires me to get a referral from my primary care doctor before seeing a specialist (I have an HMO). I don't really have a separate OBGYN. I always just went to my primary care doctor for all my papsmears and ladypart maintenance.

We'll see what she says. I'm in my early 30's and I've had auto-immune issues before, so it may end up being a high risk pregnancy. We'll see what she says.

But based on what all of you have said, it might make sense to bring him to the first appointment so that he can answer any family history questions about his side and so he can (hopefully) hear the heartbeat!

I'd definitely suggest taking your partner to the first visit, to answer the questions as well as if there is a scan he can see the little bean. We did not get to hear the heartbeat, but the doc pointed out where it was beating quite strongly and the little limbs. Until seeing the scan, my DH did not believe I was pregnant (even though I had missed my period for a full 2 months).

 

[calibelle]

Thanks ladies!

I have my first appt tomorrow after and only knew that I would get a scan. I am so excited I could burst but also very scared because last time there was no heartbeat.

I didn't ask other half to come because I felt I should not have to, being stubborn and now he can't get the afternoon off.

 

[Mrs Dragonfly]

:wave: I had a read through for cuirousity since my first appointment is this coming Friday! All I know is there will probably be some blood draws, urine samples and a million questions so I'm taking DH because they warned me the information can get overwhelming and they need his info as well. But I do think they also do a pelvic the first visit too, I've had a pap in the last couple of months so I'm hoping to wiggle my way out of another

I had my first u/s yesterday at 6 weeks, I think the only reason it was so early though was because they worried over ectopic because I've been getting weird pains.

 

[salu_34]

I first went to a walk in to get my initial blood test done to 100% confirm the pregnancy. Then I got booked in for a dating ultrasound which happened at 7 weeks 5 days. A week after that I met with my new family doctor who did a pap and overall physical. Then I had to do a urine test and get some more blood work done. In all the stuff with my actual doctor took maybe 20 mins if that. OH didn't come with me for the prenatal as he'd have to wait in the waiting room. But he did and will be coming with me to all the ultrasound appts.