Your First Prenatal Appointment: What To Expect and How To Prepare

You’ve taken the test (and taken a few more just to be really sure) and seen those telltale two lines. Now what? Well, first things first, you’ll want to call your doctor.

Whether you conceived the old-fashioned way or after a round (or a few rounds) of fertility treatments, that test that confirms your pregnancy answers one question, yet invites a whole slew of others. 

A prenatal appointment can give you so many answers about the health of your pregnancy and baby…and chart the course of the next 40-ish weeks.

So what can you expect at that first appointment? Well, a lot of information…maybe even an overwhelming amount. While you won’t have all the answers at the end of this appointment (for example, finding out your baby’s sex is still a long way off), you will walk away from it with information about your due date, what you should avoid through your pregnancy, and much more.

Of course, there’s a lot to take in at this appointment, so doing a bit of your own prep work could be a good idea. Here, Ob/Gyn Dorothy Bestoyong, DO breaks down what you can expect at your first prenatal appointment, as well as how you can prepare to ask all the right questions.

First things first: Finding an Ob/Gyn

If you regularly see an Ob/Gyn for your annual gynecology appointments, you’ve already taken care of the first step (that is, if you’re happy with this person’s care and would like to see them through your pregnancy).

If you don’t have an Ob, finding one is the first step. Find someone who is in network with your insurance, ask friends for word-of-mouth recommendations, and select a physician to care for you through your pregnancy.

Whether you have an Ob or find one upon finding out about your pregnancy, you should schedule an appointment shortly after you get that positive pregnancy test. Once you call for that appointment, you’ll likely receive some guidance on when you should schedule based on physician availability and your last menstrual period — which brings us to our next point.

Pregnancy timing might not be quite what you expect

Did you know that by the time your pregnancy test turns positive, you’re already around four weeks pregnant? Pregnancy dating is not based on the actual date of conception, but by your menstrual cycle.

With that in mind, you should have a sense of when you started your last menstrual period before you schedule that first appointment — chances are, the doctor’s office will schedule your visit based on that date. You’ll also likely be asked to provide that information during your actual appointment as well.

What to expect at your first prenatal appointment

While you may be looking forward to catching a glimpse of your baby, that first appointment may not actually involve an ultrasound. 

“Typically an initial appt does not include an ultrasound, usually just a urine pregnancy test. Of course all practices have varying protocols so check with your office how they do things,” says Dr. Bestoyong.

That first appointment is more about establishing some facts about your medical history. 

“The initial appointment consists of your doctor getting a thorough medical history: medical conditions you may have, surgeries, medication review, previous pregnancy history/complications, etc,” adds Dr. Bestoyong. “Depending on the scenario your doctor may obtain a quantitative Bhcg (pregnancy hormones) in addition to a urine pregnancy test.”

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to come prepared: Think about any significant health conditions or concerns, compile a list of procedures you’ve had, and think about any specific concerns you may want to bring to the doctor’s attention.

You’ll learn more about how your pregnancy may unfold, too

According to Dr. Bestoyong, you can expect to learn when you’ll have your first ultrasound (if it doesn’t happen at that first appointment), if you’ll need to take any additional tests or modify the testing schedule most people follow through pregnancy, any medication adjustments you may require, protocols of your doctor’s office/practice, how often your appointments will be, and more.

One thing to know before your first prenatal visit

Between the time you find out you’re pregnant and you have your first appointment, you may be on high alert — you may even be incredibly anxious about the health of your pregnancy. According to Dr. Bestoyong, one thing you need to be aware of are warning signs and symptoms of a miscarriage.

“Typically if you end up having heavy/severe bleeding/pain it is best to go to the ER so they can immediately evaluate you and order imaging and blood work as needed,” she says.

Speaking of miscarriage, you do have the power to advocate for yourself if you have any specific concerns or considerations. For example, if you have a history of miscarriage or a concern, talk to your doctor’s office scheduling team about potentially being seen earlier, which can give you peace of mind.

“I’s really important to be able to voice concerns especially to those who are scheduling you. That way, they are educated on [why] you need to be seen sooner,” says Dr. Bestoyong.

Come prepared with questions

You will likely have time to go over a general roadmap of your pregnancy with your doctor, who will lay out your due date, your pregnancy restrictions, and any major milestones along the way.

At that time, you’ll probably be given the opportunity to voice any of your concerns and bring up any questions you have. That first appointment can be overwhelming, and you may not be able to think of anything to ask in the moment — which is why it can be a great idea to prepare a list of questions ahead of time.

Dr. Bestoyong suggests aksing things like “how often will my appointments be?” and “what medications, foods, and activities should I avoid?”

At this point, you may want to think about any potentially risky activities or workouts you enjoy and see how your doctor feels about you continuing on with them while expecting. 

You’ll want to think ahead to your delivery

It feels like a long way off, but it’s worth having a conversation about how, when, and where you’ll give birth as well.

Ask your doctor whether you’ll rotate through other providers at the practice during your pregnancy, where you’ll give birth, and who will deliver your baby (because it may not be the Ob/Gyn you’re seeing at this first prenatal appointment).

Use this first appointment to establish a roadmap

The hard reality of pregnancy is this: You can’t anticipate exactly how it will unfold. You don’t know when exactly you’ll deliver. You can’t predict the symptoms you’ll experience. But you can set the foundation for your pregnancy at this first appointment, and if you work with your doctor to establish a framework of a plan, it will help you feel a bit more prepared for the experience to unfold.

This might mean gaining a sense of how often you’ll need to attend appointments, what you’ll need to stay away from for the safety of your pregnancy, and how you’ll eventually deliver. You can’t have all the answers, but you can gain some key information so you can better anticipate how it will all unfold.

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