What happens during the first prenatal vist?
Tuesday, February 19th, 2008First Prenatal Visit:
Usually the first visit is the busiest in which you and your partners health history is taken, blood is drawn for the prenatal panel, urine is collected (to check for infection or other problems), estimated due date is calculated, your weight/blood pressure is checked and sometimes the heart tones are detected via a doppler. During this visit you may also have a full physical and pap smear. This is a good chance to ask your care provider important questions concerning your care, and bring up any concerns you may have.
Health History
A health history is taken on you and your partner to determine special needs you may have during your pregnancy and to prevent complications. Your care provider will want to know about your past pregnancies, bad habits, work environment, health, surgeries, etc. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring a copy of your health record with you to this appointment!
Prenatal Panel
The blood drawn during this appointment is called your “prenatal panel.” This is used to detect infection, collect basic information (such as your blood type), and to determine a ‘baseline’ to compare against future results should a complication arise that this information will help benefit. The following tests are usually performed (and you do have the option to refuse them):
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): This blood test determines how efficiently your blood can carry oxygen, whether you are anemic, have an infection, allergies or the possibility of leukemia. The CBC measures the volume of red and white blood cells and platelets in the blood, and compares them to statistically normal range values. If tests show a problem, your care provider will then treat accordingly.
- Hepatitis B Virus Screen: This test determines if you carry the Hepatitis B virus. If you do, there is a chance that your baby may become infected. If you test positive, special care will be taken after your baby is born.
- HIV: This test determines if you have HIV. There is a risk that the virus may be passed on to your baby. If you test positive, there are several ways in which your care provider can try to prevent the spread of HIV to your baby.
- Rh Titer: This test is done to determine if you have antibodies to rhesis factor. First your blood will be tested to determine if you are rhesis positive or rhesis negative. If you are Rh- (rhesis negative) your blood will then be tested to determine if antibodies are present in your blood, which will attack your baby seeing it as an ‘intruder’ of sorts. If you are Rh- and have not produced antibodies, you can be given the ‘Rh immunoglobulin injection’ around 28 weeks of pregnancy to prevent your body from producing antibodies, should your blood mix with baby’s. If you have already produced antibodies (and are said to be ‘sensitized’) additional screening and care will be given depending upon your needs and status. Typically, if this is your first pregnancy and you haven’t yet had any invasive tests (like an amniocentesis) nor any trauma that could cause your baby’s blood to mix with your own, there generally will not be an issue.
- Rubella Titer Screen: This test determines if you have rubella, or German Measles, antibodies present in your blood. While this virus causes few problems in adults, it can cause serious problems with your fetus.
- Syphilis Screen: This test is done to determine if you are infected with the sexually transmitted disease called syphilis. If left untreated, it can cause serious congenital malformations during pregnancy. Syphilis is usually easily treated with antibiotics once it has been discovered.
- Additional tests may be performed if deemed necessary. Ask your care provider for a list of tests that will be performed according to your specific needs and background.
Urine Specimen
Estimated Due Date
Your due date will be calculated forty weeks from the date of your last menstrual period. This date is just an estimate, and it is perfectly normal to go into labor up to two weeks before or after your estimated due date.
Weight Check
Weight gain is healthy and to be expected during pregnancy. Your initial weight will be noted, you will be asked for your pre-pregnancy weight, and then your weight will be checked at each additional appointment to ensure proper weight gain. You should not diet during pregnancy.
Blood Pressure Check
Your blood pressure will be checked at each appointment to ensure it is not too high.
Doppler
Heart tones can be heard early in pregnancy using a Doppler. This works by reflecting small, high frequency sound waves from fetal heart. These signals are picked up by the Fetal Doppler and processed then amplified so that they are audible.
Physical
A complete physical may be performed to check your health and assess the progression of your pregnancy.
Pap smear:
This is a test performed to check for any abnormal cells in the cervical area. These cells are tested to determine dysplastic, precancerous or cancerous cells. Pap smears do return a decent number of false-positive tests, so if your test comes back positive, additional testing will be performed.
First Prenatal Visit:
Usually the first visit is the busiest in which you and your partners health history is taken, blood is drawn for the prenatal panel, urine is collected (to check for infection or other problems), estimated due date is calculated, your weight/blood pressure is checked and sometimes the heart tones are detected via a doppler. During this visit you may also have a full physical and pap smear. This is a good chance to ask your care provider important questions concerning your care, and bring up any concerns you may have.
Health History
A health history is taken on you and your partner to determine special needs you may have during your pregnancy and to prevent complications. Your care provider will want to know about your past pregnancies, bad habits, work environment, health, surgeries, etc. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring a copy of your health record with you to this appointment!
Prenatal Panel
The blood drawn during this appointment is called your “prenatal panel.” This is used to detect infection, collect basic information (such as your blood type), and to determine a ‘baseline’ to compare against future results should a complication arise that this information will help benefit. The following tests are usually performed (and you do have the option to refuse them):
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): This blood test determines how efficiently your blood can carry oxygen, whether you are anemic, have an infection, allergies or the possibility of leukemia. The CBC measures the volume of red and white blood cells and platelets in the blood, and compares them to statistically normal range values. If tests show a problem, your care provider will then treat accordingly.
- Hepatitis B Virus Screen: This test determines if you carry the Hepatitis B virus. If you do, there is a chance that your baby may become infected. If you test positive, special care will be taken after your baby is born.
- HIV: This test determines if you have HIV. There is a risk that the virus may be passed on to your baby. If you test positive, there are several ways in which your care provider can try to prevent the spread of HIV to your baby.
- Rh Titer: This test is done to determine if you have antibodies to rhesis factor. First your blood will be tested to determine if you are rhesis positive or rhesis negative. If you are Rh- (rhesis negative) your blood will then be tested to determine if antibodies are present in your blood, which will attack your baby seeing it as an ‘intruder’ of sorts. If you are Rh- and have not produced antibodies, you can be given the ‘Rh immunoglobulin injection’ around 28 weeks of pregnancy to prevent your body from producing antibodies. If you have already produced antibodies (and are said to be ‘sensitized’) additional screening and care will be given depending upon your needs and status. Typically, if this is your first pregnancy and you haven’t yet had any invasive tests (like an amniocentesis) nor any trauma that could cause your baby’s blood to mix with your own, there generally will not be an issue.
- Rubella Titer Screen: This test determines if you have rubella, or German Measles, antibodies present in your blood. While this virus causes few problems in adults, it can cause serious problems with your fetus.
- Syphilis Screen: This test is done to determine if you are infected with the sexually transmitted disease called syphilis. If left untreated, it can cause serious congenital malformations during pregnancy. Syphilis is usually easily treated with antibiotics once it has been discovered.
- Additional tests may be performed if deemed necessary. Ask your care provider for a list of tests that will be performed according to your specific needs and background.
Urine Specimen
Estimated Due Date
Your due date will be calculated forty weeks from the date of your last menstrual period. This date is just an estimate, and it is perfectly normal to go into labor up to two weeks before or after your estimated due date.
Weight Check
Weight gain is healthy and to be expected during pregnancy. Your initial weight will be noted, you will be asked for your pre-pregnancy weight, and then your weight will be checked at each additional appointment to ensure proper weight gain. You should not diet during pregnancy.
Blood Pressure Check
Your blood pressure will be checked at each appointment to ensure it is not too high.
Doppler
Heart tones can be heard early in pregnancy using a Doppler. This works by reflecting small, high frequency sound waves from fetal heart. These signals are picked up by the Fetal Doppler and processed then amplified so that they are audible.
Physical
A complete physical may be performed to check your health and assess the progression of your pregnancy.
Pap smear:
This is a test performed to check for any abnormal cells in the cervical area. These cells are tested to determine dysplastic, precancerous or cancerous cells. Pap smears do return a decent number of false-positive tests, so if your test comes back positive, additional testing will be performed.