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| Northwestern Obstetrician |
Pregnancy is an exciting time for the parents. Or
should we say both exciting and nerve-racking? As long as you follow a healthy
lifestyle and adhere to your prenatal visit schedule as advised by your
Northwestern Obstetrician, you need not worry.
How often do I need to go for prenatal visits?
If you are a healthy mother, your care provider will
give you the regular prenatal schedule that includes a monthly visit up to 28
weeks of pregnancy, then every 2 weeks from weeks 28 to 36, and then weekly
from week 36 until birth.
When should you first go to the obstetrician?
As soon as you learn of your pregnancy, you should
book an appointment. It is important to check the placement and the growth of
the fetus. While you may refer to your pregnancy in terms of trimesters,
doctors go by weeks. The first trimester includes 17 weeks, the second 18-30
weeks and finally the third 31-42 weeks.
What happens during the first visit?
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| Northwestern Obstetrician |
Generally the first visit should happen after 7 or 8
weeks of pregnancy. The only reason to go earlier if is you have had a previous
difficult pregnancy, a medical condition, or if you experience worrying
symptoms such as bleeding, stomach pain or severe nausea. As your first visit
may well be one of the longest visits you will have, you need to give it plenty
of time. First time mothers will especially be anxious for information and have
multiple questions.
Here are some of the things that will happen during
the first visit:
- Dealing with any questions and concerns
- Taking blood pressure, height and weight measurements
- Calculating the due date based on your menstrual cycle and ultrasound testing
- Inquiring about your general health and family history, and also your lifestyle
- Carrying out blood tests to check for blood type and Rhesus (RH) factor, blood count and also tests for Hepatitis B, HIV, Rubella and Syphilis.
- Doing a physical exam including pelvic exam
- Doing the Pap test to determine risk of cervical cancer
- Performing genetic testing to check for risks of Down’s Syndrome and other problems.
To Learn More About Northwestern Obstetrician, Please Visit Northwestern Women’s Health AssociatesS.C.
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