As discussed in the last article, your practitioner will ask you about the following before performing other tests:
- Your general health, allergies and medical/ chronic issues if any.
- He will also ask you about your family’s medical history as he has to check if anybody from your family is suffering from any kind of hereditary condition.
- Your periods- For how long they last and if they are regular or not.
- When the first day of your last period was in order to determine your due date.
- Any weird symptoms or problems you’ve noticed since your last menstrual period.
- Other problems including sexually transmitted infections.
- Details about your last pregnancies.
After that, you’ll undergo a quite a number of other tests. Some of these tests will be a routine for every pregnant woman, and some are performed only when necessary. The most common tests at your first prenatal visit will include the following:
- Physical Examination: First, your practitioner will examine your body and after that, he will get into the process of other tests. He will ask you about your general and medical history.
- A Pelvic Exam: A pelvic exam will be carried out if necessary. It will also include a Pap smear.
- Urine test: This one is one of the essential tests. Your urine is checked for protein, sugar, white blood cells, blood and bacteria.
- Blood Tests: He will carry bloodwork which will be used to
- determine blood type.
- check for anemia.
- screen for antibody levels and immunity to certain diseases including rubella and chickenpox and
- check for vitamin D deficiency.
- Rhesus Factor: If you are rhesus negative and your partner is positive, then your child could inherit either. If the baby is positive and its blood mixes with the mother’s negative blood during birth. This could cause problems. To avoid this, a rhesus immunoglobin shot will be given to prevent rhesus sensitization, which can occur during the delivery as the mother’s blood comes into contact with the baby’s.
- STD tests: Your practitioner may screen for sexually transmitted infections like hepatitis B, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV.
- A blood sugar test: You may get this test if you had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy or if you’re at higher risk for gestational diabetes in case someone from your family is having a history of it.That’s all moms!! These are the major tests you will undergo during your first prenatal appointment. However, a few more tests could be there, but you need not to worry about anything, your pregnancy is going to be fantastic.
All the best, mums!!
