If you’re a first-time mom feeling nervous about your first prenatal visit, that’s OK!
I remember being super nervous at my first appointment, especially since I couldn’t believe I was pregnant.
I wasn’t sure what to expect at my first prenatal visit, and so I didn’t know there where important questions to ask at first prenatal visit.
I thought I’d just ask whatever comes to mind. Fortunately, I had a great team of doctors who were very informative every step of the way so I didn’t have much questions to ask.
However, I only realized there were specific questions you should be asking once I spoke to some of my friends who were expecting. They had concerns they wished they had cleared up from the beginning.
So, I created a list of 13 great questions to ask at your first prenatal visit to clarify your expectations and determine if this is the right prenatal and birth team for you.
I understand that you may not be able to ask all 13 questions, so just read through them and pick the ones most important to you.
Table of Contents
Here at 13 Great Questions To Ask at First Prenatal Visit
1. Is Your Gynecologist Also An Obstetrician?
It’s important to understand the difference between a gynecologist and an obstetrician, especially if you’re planning to get pregnant. While some women may have a great relationship with their gynecologist, they may be unable to provide prenatal care.
A gynecologist is a health professional who specializes in women’s health and can help with a wide range of issues. On the other hand, an obstetrician is a specialist who deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and post-childbirth care.
If you’re planning to have a baby, it’s important to see an OB/GYN who can provide comprehensive care throughout your pregnancy journey. So make sure you know the differences between these specialists and choose the right one for your needs.
2. Will That Doctor Be The One To Deliver Your Baby?
It’s important to know the doctor who will be delivering your baby or at least to know that the doctor who will deliver your baby will be whoever is on-call at the time you are in labor.
You don’t want to be surprised during labor when someone else is delivering your baby. Therefore, it’s essential to clarify this from the beginning.
In my case, it was whichever physician was on call that day to deliver my baby. So, during my pregnancy, I had prenatal appointments with each physician on staff to get to know them all.
Knowing this from the first prenatal visit allowed me time to process if this was something I was okay with.
Post you may also like: What to Expect at First Prenatal Appointment 8 Weeks Pregnant.
3. Which Hospital Is Your OB Affiliated With?
It’s important to know which hospital your OB is affliated with so that you can familiarize yourself with the hospital and determine if it aligns with your birth plan. Take the time to research the hospital and see if it’s a good fit for you.
4. Do They Conduct Ultrasounds On-Site?
It would be more convenient if when you come to see your OB for a prenatal appointment, and your doctor wants to have an ultrasound done, it is done at the same location.
This way, you can discuss any concerns with your OB right away.
It saves you the time and effort of having to go to a different location for the ultrasound and then come back to the OB office for follow-up discussions on a different date.
5. How Often Are Ultrasounds Conducted?
This is a great question to ask at the first prenatal visit if you don’t want ultrasounds conducted too often or only when necessary because of radiation concerns.
6. Do They Conduct Lab Work On-Site?
7. How Often Will You Be Going In For A Prenatal Visit?
Attending all your prenatal appointments is very important!
Therefore, You want to know when to expect them. In the U.S., you will most likely go to a prenatal visit once a month in the beginning, and then at about 28 weeks pregnant to 36 weeks pregnant, you go every two weeks, and then it goes down to every week.
This is something to confirm with your doctor, especially if your work schedule is hectic or requires a lot of traveling.
8. Is There A Phone Number You Can Call After Office Hours With Concerns?
Pregnancy can be a source of stress for expecting mothers, particularly new ones.
It would be helpful to have a readily available phone number for your prenatal team, which can provide immediate assistance and guidance.
This would enable expecting mothers to address their concerns and take appropriate actions instead of unnecessarily worrying about something that may not be a cause for concern.
9. What Exercises Are Safe For You To Do?
10. What Is A Healthy Amount Of Weight For You To Gain During Pregnancy?
11. Does Your Birth Team Support Your Birth Plan?
If you have a birth plan in mind that you want to achieve, you need the right team that will help support you in achieving that goal as long as it’s safe to do so.
Therefore, there is no better time than in the first prenatal visit (or second prenatal visit) to express your wishes and see how your OB respond to your birth plan.
12. At What Point Will An Induction Be Considered? And Why?
It’s crucial to find out early on from your OB how far into your pregnancy they will allow you to go before considering induction.
It’s also essential to understand why an induction may be recommended to you. This is because inductions can result in more interventions during labor and may lead to possible C-sections.
Therefore, you want as much information as possible to avoid panicking on the big day!
13. At What Point Will A C-section Be Considered? And Why?
It’s important to understand why your OB may consider a C-section, just like with induction.
This will help you be prepared and avoid feeling stressed or disappointed if the need arises.
It’s also a good idea to check if the affiliated hospital or OB has a high rate of C-sections, as this could indicate a preference for this procedure.
Last Thoughts
You don’t have to overwhelm yourself by asking all these questions at once! Just ask the ones that are most important to you.
These questions are there to get you thinking about the important questions to ask at first prenatal visit so you are able to pick a birth team you like and that will support you the whole way through.
A caring and supportive birth team really does makes all the difference in your birth experience.
I hope you found this post helpful!
