Congrats! You’ve just taken a pregnancy test and it’s positive! Now what?!
One of the first things you should do after finding out you’re pregnant is schedule your first doctor’s appointment. While this can be a scary and often overwhelming thought, your first doctor’s appointment is crucial to ensuring you get to ask any questions you have and make sure the baby is healthy and growing. Here are a few things you can do to prepare for your first appointment and what to expect when you get there!
Take care of you!
If you haven’t already, start taking prenatal vitamins. These vitamins are crucial during pregnancy, so start taking them as soon as you find out the good news! A few other things you can do to start preparing is stop drinking alcohol and start avoiding foods like raw meat and deli meats. Make sure you’re getting a well-balanced meal on a regular basis and drinking plenty of water. This will come in handy later down the road!
Document your medical history
Your doctor will need to know your medical history, so start making notes about things like allergies, medications, past health conditions and surgeries, etc. You should also be prepared to share the start date of your last period to help them determine how far along you are as accurately as possible. Your doctor will also ask you about your family’s medical history, so start asking around if there are things you aren’t sure about. Coming prepared with this information in hand will save so much time at your appointment.
Prepare a list of questions
Even if this isn’t your first rodeo, you’re still likely to have questions for your doctor, and that’s perfectly okay! Don’t be afraid to ask any questions that you have. Your doctor is there to guide you and calm your fears throughout the pregnancy, and they will be happy to answer any and all questions that you have. Start jotting down any questions that you think about so you can ask them at your first appointment.
What to expect
Your first prenatal appointment, likely between 6 and 8 weeks of pregnancy, is your first check-up with your little one. Aside from getting confirmation of your pregnancy and official due date (yay!), you’ll also undergo a series of other minor procedures. These can include a urine test, bloodwork, STD test, pap smear, and any other tests that the doctor recommends based on your medical history. But don’t worry, most of these only happen at your very first appointment, and it’s so worth it when you get to see your little peanut on your first ultrasound!
While it may seem like a lot, the first prenatal doctor’s appointment is truly such a special one! It will help calm your fears, allow you to get your questions answered, and will set you up for success for the rest of your pregnancy. So if you’ve just taken a pregnancy test and popped a positive, grab the phone and call your doctor. Your journey is just beginning!