First Time Pregnant? Know What questions to ask your doctor and when to ask them.
Congratulations! You’re pregnant with your first child. I’ll bet you’re feeling elated, scared and nervous, all at the same time. Feeling elated over your first pregnancy is a wonderful emotion. Feeling scared and nervous can make you a wreck. But one word can quickly squelch those fears: knowledge.
Knowledge about what to expect, what to do and what not to do can take away those feelings of fear and ease you into this time in your life that should be enjoyed. “I believe that women who are informed and aware of what to expect are more confident and less worried about how their experiences will play out,” says Jeannette LeBlanc, a doula at Birthrite Doula Services in Phoenix, Ariz. “Less stress generally equals less pain and a more positive experience.”
It’s OK to Ask
When Amy Fisher of Minneapolis, Minn., became pregnant with her first child, she attended her first prenatal appointment armed with questions. “I prepared for the meeting by bringing a list of questions I hoped to use to determine what sort of birth experience I was likely to have,” she says. “However, during the meeting I started worrying that I wouldn’t have the nerve to ask the 50 questions I’d brought with me.”
Fisher made it through most of her questions, which helped her make decisions about her health care and the type of medical provider that she wanted. “The caregiver a mother chooses to assist her throughout her pregnancy probably makes a bigger difference than anything else does in how her delivery will go,” she says.
Asking your health care provider questions that are important to you can help ease your pregnancy fears, but you need to know which questions to ask – and when to ask them – to understand the do’s and don’ts of a first-time pregnancy. Each trimester comes with a variety of tests, possible complications and guidelines. Knowing this information up front can make the entire nine months more enjoyable.
Pregnancy Questions According to Trimester
First Trimester Pregnancy FAQ Questions
Standard tests are usually performed during the first trimester and often during the first visit. These tests check for a variety of conditions. “HIV testing has recently become included in the standard testing panel as has population-based genetic testing for such conditions as cystic fibrosis and tay-sachs disease,” says Dr. Pope. “Additional testing may be performed at the discretion of the provider for women at risk for specific conditions.”
Ask questions pertaining to the types of tests conducted and thoroughly understand the outcome of each test performed.
The first prenatal visit is also an ideal opportunity to discuss the mutual responsibilities of both the expecting mother and the provider, says Dr. Pope. Ask your provider for a planned schedule of appointments, discuss his or her approach toward pregnancy monitoring of the mother and fetus and request printed materials on recommendations for weight gain, nutritional requirements and suggested limitations.
Miscarriage is a major concern for many women during the first trimester. Discuss the warning signs and symptoms of a miscarriage with your doctor during your first visit.
Second Trimester Pregnancy FAQ Questions
More standard tests are performed during the second trimester, including a test for gestational diabetes. “Testing for gestational diabetes is routinely performed between 24 and 28 weeks,” says Dr. Pope. “This may be done earlier in patients with a previous history of gestational diabetes or in whom clinical suspicion is high.” If gestational diabetes is a cause for concern, thoroughly discuss dietary restrictions with your provider.
The alpha-fetoprotein screening (AFP) test is made available between 16 and 18 weeks gestation. Since this test is optional, it’s important to understand the risks of declining the AFP test. Request informational brochures on the AFP test in order to make an informed decision.
If you plan to have a doula assist with labor and delivery, now is the time to locate one. LeBlanc usually meets with her clients for the first time in the second or third trimester. “I give them a list of questions in conjunction with helping them develop a birth plan,” she says. “These questions can help determine if there are areas where the parents’ preferences are not in line with their care provider’s normal practices.”
If your second trimester falls during autumn or early winter, ask your provider about an influenza immunization, as many will recommend this shot for pregnant women.
Third Trimester Pregnancy FAQ Questions
During the final trimester, many women have questions pertaining to labor and delivery. “Education regarding labor signs and symptoms is reviewed as is the importance of fetal movement activity,” says Dr. Pope. Discuss the warning signs of labor, the possibility of preterm labor, symptoms that should alert you to contact your doctor and if you’re at risk for a Cesarean delivery.
Additional testing is sometimes performed during this trimester. “A new recommendation is that all pregnant woman be screened for group B beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GBS) colonization with a gentle swab of the lower vagina/rectum between 35 and 37 weeks,” says Dr. Pope. “And testing for sexually transmitted diseases should be repeated in the third trimester in patients considered at high risk for acquiring these infections.”
If you wrote a birth plan, review it with your health care provider and make sure your wishes are in alignment with their standard practices.
Ensuring Your and Your Baby’s Health
According to Dr. Pope, there are several important features that together help achieve this objective:
- Patient education and open communication
- Early, accurate dating of gestational age
- Identification of patients with medical problems placing them at risk for potential complications
- Anticipation and prevention of these complications before they occur
Working in concert with your health care provider to follow specific guidelines and thoroughly understanding your inherent risks is a wise choice for a healthy baby.
Good Luck
By Suzy Feine
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