Last updated on July 9th, 2024 at 02:01 pm
If you’re here, you must have recently found out you are pregnant! Congratulations! I am sure you have a million questions running through your head right now. One of the big first steps in pregnancy is meeting with your doctor for the first time.
One thing I found super helpful as a first-time mom was to come to that first appointment prepared with questions. I wrote down the questions that I wanted to make sure I had answered and jotted down notes as we went through them.
The following is a list of questions I think you should ask at your first prenatal appointment to help ease your mind through this fun and exciting time!
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Best Questions to Ask at Your First Prenatal Appointment
1. What symptoms can I expect this trimester?
First trimester can be super overwhelming. Every woman experiences it differently, so ask your doctor about symptoms you can expect to have and how to manage them.
2. What symptoms are normal and which ones should I be concerned about?
Going through pregnancy the first time, it can be difficult to know what is a normal symptom and what is more serious. Ask your doctor when you should be concerned and come in to get checked out outside of your regular appointments.
3. What do I do if I have questions/problems after office hours?
After discussing concerning symptoms, it is important to know what you should do if any of these symptoms occur. Check to see if they have different after-hours phone numbers or an on-call nurse you can speak to. Make sure to write this down!
4. What are potential risk factors?
During your first prenatal appointment, you will be going over a detailed personal and family medical history. After going over this, you will want to ask your doctor if you are showing any risk factors for complications.
Things like age, weight, and pre-existing medical conditions can all contribute to complications.
It is also important to find out if your doctor and hospital are able to handle high-risk pregnancies if this applies to you.
5. What exercises are safe for pregnancy?
Exercise is an important part of keeping your body healthy for pregnancy. You will want to ask what kinds of exercise your doctor recommends for you and what exercises to avoid.
It is also important to ask how often you should be exercising and avoid overdoing it.
6. What changes should I make to my diet?
In addition to talking about exercise, it is important to discuss nutrition during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about foods you should avoid while pregnant, as well as foods you should be eating more of.
7. What medications are safe for me to take during pregnancy?
This is so important to ask because at some point during your pregnancy you will likely need to take medications for a cold, allergies, or even just a headache. If there are daily medications or supplements you are already taking, discuss these with your doctor and make sure they are safe for pregnancy.
8. What prenatal vitamins should I be taking?
There are many different brands of prenatal vitamins out there. You doctor can recommend a few that would be good for you to take.
9. How much weight gain is healthy during my pregnancy?
It is important to know how much weight is healthy for your pregnancy. This amount can vary person to person depending on a variety of factors. Ask your doctor what to look for and monitor during your pregnancy.
10. Who will deliver my baby?
You might assume that your doctor will automatically be the person who will deliver your baby, and that may be the case!
Some doctors have an on-call rotation with other partners. You will want to know how your provider handles things and potentially meet the other doctors who could possibly deliver your baby. This will hopefully reduce your anxiety if something were to come up!
11. Can I travel while pregnant?
Are you already dreaming about a potential babymoon trip? Before booking, make sure it is safe to do so. Talk with your doctor about specifics of when in pregnancy it is ok to travel and where you are thinking of traveling to.
12. What prenatal classes do you recommend?
If you are interested in taking a prenatal class, check with your doctor’s office to see if they host one there. If not, they likely will have recommendations for local classes and meetings.
13. How often will I be coming in for a check-up?
For a lot of your pregnancy, you will be going in once a month and then more frequently as your due date approaches. You may have extra appointments in between for ultrasounds or blood work. Talk with your doctor to get a good idea of what to expect when it comes to office visits and appointments.
14. What screenings or tests will I need?
There are many different tests and screenings you can have done while you are pregnant. The most common one is genetic screening, but your provider can explain other screenings that may be indicated based on your medical history and risk factors.
It is important to know what tests you will need to have throughout your pregnancy early on so you can check with your insurance for coverage. That way, you know what you will be expected to pay, so there aren’t any big surprises!
And there you have it! Being a first-time mom can be overwhelming, but I hope having these questions prepared will make your first appointment go smoothly. Relax and you will do great!
Do you have any other questions you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments below.
