You should begin receiving prenatal care the moment you suspect you
are pregnant. All of your baby's vital organs will have already begun
forming by this time. The person you choose as your doctor will be the
one providing your prenatal care. He or she will chart your progress
during your pregnancy and will watch for any signs that indicate a
potential problem.
When you visit your doctor's office for your first prenatal examination
you will have a composed medical history taken and a physical
examination, done. If applicable, you will be told to stop smoking, to
stop the use of alcohol and drugs , and to improve your nutritional habits.
You may be advised on the benefits of exercise and counseled about sex, hygienic,
and any other relevant topics. Expect this first exam to take about an
hour, and feel free to bring up any areas of concern that do not
come up in the normal course of the exam.
The Physical Examination You Receive Will
Include:
A breast examination
A pelvic, or vaginal, examination to:
- confirm the pregnancy.
- take a pap smear.
- take a smear for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
- take a vaginal culture.
- estimate the size and shape of your pelvis.
A pelvic exam usually will not be done again until the last month of
pregnancy
Blood tests for:
- blood type and Rh factor
- complete blood count.
- rubella titer to determine if you are immune to German measles.
- syphilis and hepatitis B.
Some clinics and offices also provide other blood chemistry check for a
more complete analysis of the woman's health . Additional blood tests that may be offered after counseling include those for human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), toxoplasmosis, and Alpha-Aetoprotein. If your
racial or genetic background dictates, you may be tested for sickle cell
anemia, Tay-Sachs disease, or thalassemia.
Urine Tests For :
- a complete urinalysis.
- a culture to check for infection, if indicated.
After the first examination, you will probably be given checkups on a
monthly basis, Starting in the seventh calendar month, the checkups will
become biweekly. In the ninth calendar month, they will become weekly. All
these checkups will probably include:
Checking Your Weight
Checking Your Blood Pressure
Checking your urine for:
- protein, high levels of which may indicate pregnancy induced
hypertension.
- sugar, high levels or which may indicate diabetes.
- infection.
Checking your abdomen for:
- growth of the uterus to estimate the progress of the pregnancy.
- size and position of the fetus.
Some doctor encourage women to participate in their prenatal care by
checking their own weight and urine during their office visits.
Other screening tests that may be performed, beginning at 28 weeks, are:
Blood Tests Including:
- 1-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT):
About 1 hour after
drinking a liquid high in sugar, blood is drawn for a glucose level to check
for development of gestational diabetes. This test may be performed
earlier, at around 16 weeks, if there is a family history of diabetes,
previous large babies, or a history of gestational diabetes. If the test
result is high, a 3-hour glucose tolerance test is given to confirm the diagnosis.
- Antibody screening: In Rh-negative women, blood is drown to check for
antibodies , and within the next week, a shot of RhoGAM, an Rh-immune
globulin, is given intramuscularly.
Culture of the vaginal and rectal area to check for the presence of
group B streptococcal infection. In some practices, this test is not done
until 36 weeks and may also be done when the women is admitted
in labor.
Vaginal exam to check the status of the cervix and there position of
the baby. This may be done weekly, starting at 36 weeks.
