#  What to Expect at Your First Prenatal Visit 

 

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## Welcome to Prenatal Care

Your first prenatal care visit is important to check on your and your baby’s overall health. This visit is designed to make a plan to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible during your pregnancy.

Your first visit will be with a [healthcare provider](/bump-beyond/during-pregnancy/medical-care/prenatal-providers), who may be a midwife, obstetrician, family medicine doctor, or nurse practitioner.

## What Your Provider Will Do

You can expect your provider to:

- Ask questions about your health history
- Ask about your emotions and mental wellbeing
- Check your weight, blood pressure, heart, lungs, thyroid, and breasts
- Check your uterus (where your baby is growing) and cervix (opening of your uterus)
- Figure out your baby’s due date
- Recommend necessary tests

### Tests That May Be Done

- Pap test to check the health of your cervix
- Test for infections in your vagina
- Blood test to check for [anemia](/bump-beyond/during-pregnancy/nutrition-exercise/preventing-anemia) (low iron), your blood type, and signs of infection
- Urine test to check for infection
- Test for tuberculosis (an infection in your lungs)
- HIV counseling. You'll also be offered the choice to take an HIV test.

#### Prenatal Genetic Testing

You may also choose to do a [genetic test](/bump-beyond/during-pregnancy/medical-care/making-decisions-about-genetic-screening "Bump and Beyond: Decision Making about Genetic Screening | Boston Medical Center") to learn about your baby’s health and to know their sex.

## Your Pregnancy Care Plan

Together with your care team, you’ll create a plan to support a healthy pregnancy. This plan may include:

- Choosing your healthcare provider for your next visits
- Ordering extra tests or medicines if needed
- Scheduling an [ultrasound](/bump-beyond/during-pregnancy/medical-care/ultrasounds) to see the baby
- Making appointments with a [genetic counselor](https://www.bmc.org/bump-beyond/during-pregnancy/medical-care/decision-making-about-genetic-screening) or a [high-risk pregnancy doctor](/departments/obstetrics-and-gynecology/obstetrics/maternal-fetal-medicine) if needed

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