What to expect from a prenatal appointment with an OB

Once you find out that your efforts to get pregnant paid off and you are expecting a baby, making a prenatal appointment is likely to be among the first things that you will do. Indeed, your home pregnancy test was only the first in a long series of tests that tend to follow. If you have chosen an OB, an obstetrician, for your prenatal care, what can you expect? What will your OB need from you during your first prenatal appointment? What medical procedures do they normally recommend?

Many people have no idea what pregnancy involves, when it comes to medical procedures. Here is a quick guide to make your first and subsequent prenatal appointments less daunting. At your first appointment, if you are new to your OB's office, you will have to go over your medical history, your family's medical history and that of your partner. This is not really anything new if you have ever been to a doctor's office. Your OB will also ask you about your last menstrual period, when you conceived, and how long it took you to conceive. He or she will calculate your due date on the basis of your last menstrual period. Then, your OB will recommend you take blood tests and a urine test. These will give your doctor information about your blood type, your iron levels, whether you have Hepatitis B or syphilis, and whether you are immune to Rubella. The last one is necessary because rubella could pose a big threat to your unborn baby.

You will also be asked to undergo a HIV test, which is voluntary. The urine sample will provide your doctor with information about anything worrying in your urine, and will also test for a urinary tract infection. Your OB will also ask questions about your genetic history, and if they think you are in the high-risk category for any reason, further tests may be carried out. A first OB prenatal appointment can be a bit intimidating, can can easily seem like a medical conveyor belt. If you are not sure whether you want the tests your OB is recommending, tell them they you want to think about it and do your research first. Also, be sure to ask any questions you might have. One other important thing to remember is that you can switch care over to another doctor at any time you want. Trusting your OB is important, and if you do not feel comfortable with the doctor you chose, there are plenty of other fish in the sea!