In most cases, it’s best to seek prenatal care as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. However, this applies to all pregnant women, not just those who have experienced a miscarriage.
Timing for ObGyn Visits
Seeing your physician as soon as you’re pregnant lets your doctor establish an accurate due date and keep tabs on your pregnancy. Research shows that due dates established by ultrasound are more reliable in the first trimester than later in the pregnancy. If you have a history of miscarriage, your doctor may want to monitor your hCG levels or perform an early ultrasound. If you’re feeling anxious, that monitoring might help you feel more reassured, too. You should see your doctor as soon as possible if your last pregnancy was ectopic or your doctor told you to come in right away for some other reason. If you’re not feeling especially anxious, you don’t have an established relationship with a care practitioner, or there’s some other reason why you don’t want to go in right away, it’s typically not urgent to go on the same day or week you find out you’re pregnant. In the absence of bleeding or other miscarriage symptoms, it is most likely OK to wait a few weeks to begin prenatal care. Don’t wait too long, though. It’s important for your doctor to establish an accurate due date as early as possible. You should probably go in for your first checkup by the time you are seven or eight weeks pregnant. Your doctor will likely want to see you about once a month thereafter until you are in the third trimester.
What to Expect
The more prepared you are for your first appointment, the smoother it will go. If you’re feeling anxious, you might forget the information your doctor needs. Take time before your visit to prepare yourself and gather your medical history. During your first prenatal visit, your doctor will likely ask you the following:
Date of your last menstrual period Health problems and sexually transmitted infections Past pregnancies and miscarriages Past hospital stays Medicines you’re taking Any allergies you may have to foods or medications Your lifestyle Exercise Stress The safety of your environment Your family’s health history Your partner’s family health history
In addition to the tests mentioned above, at the first prenatal appointment, your doctor will probably check your weight, blood pressure, urine, blood, and do a physical and pelvic exam, including a Pap smear. You’ll probably also be given a prenatal vitamin with folic acid (600 micrograms) at this visit.
