What to Expect at Your First Prenatal Visit

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, 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 (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 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 to see the baby
• Making appointments with a genetic counselor or a high-risk pregnancy doctor if needed