Pregnancy
Congratulations on your positive pregnancy test! You'll want to call your doctor
or midwife right away and let them know you got a positive test. Depending on the practice your first prenatal appointment will be scheduled sometime during the first trimester (between 8 and 10 weeks is average for someone who conceived on their own and has no previous losses or other problems). If you've been seeing an RE, your first appointment will be much sooner and you'll be monitored more closely. You may receive a dating ultrasound, but this is not common practice for all doctors.
What to expect at prenatal appointments (this may vary from doctor to doctor but these are the common things to expect):
-At every appointment you'll be asked to pee in a cup to have the protein level in your urine checked, you'll also be weighed and have your blood pressure checked.
-From about 12 weeks on the doctor will check for baby's hearbeat using doppler. Don't be worried if you can't hear it right away. Depending on your uterus shape and the placenta placement you might not be able to hear the heartbeat via doppler until around 13 or 14 weeks.
-Once you start to get a little bump the doctor will measure your belly to make sure it's growing on schedule. Belly measurements can vary by a week or 2 and your doctor will let you know if he/she is considered and may send you for an ultrasound to check the baby's size.
-Typically you'll have appointments every 4 weeks until around 30 weeks. Then you might start to have appointments every 2 weeks. Starting at 36 weeks most OBs will start to see you weekly.
-If you choose to have a NT scan, that will be done at 12 weeks.
-The anatomy scan is typically done between 18 and 22 weeks and you'll be able to find out the sex of the baby at this time (if you want to)!
-The glucose tolerance test (GTT) is done around 28 weeks. You'll be asked to drink a very sugary drink (glucola), then you wait at the lab for an hour and have your blood drawn to check your blood glucose level. This test determines whether or not you have gestational diabetes. If you fail the 1 hour test you'll be asked to take a 3 hour test, which you'll need to fast for. You'll have your blood drawn to start the test, then drink the glucola, then have blood drawn every hour until the 3 hours has passed. Many women who fail the 1 hour test go on to pass the 3 hour, so don't freak out if you fail the 1 hour!
-At 36 weeks your doctor will test you for group B strep (GBS). It's nothing to worry about. If you do have GBS you'll be given IV antibiotics during labor so that you don't pass it on to the baby.
-Also at 36 weeks you may be asked if you want an internal check. You can refuse, but some women like to know what's going on. An internal will tell you if you're dilated, effaced, and what station the baby is at. Internals can be uncomfortable and some women have a little bit of spotting/cramping afterwards. You'll be offered an internal at every appointment going forward. (36 weeks is common practice, some doctors don't start them until later and midwives may not do internals at all until you're in labor.)
This is just basic information regarding pregnancy. It's impossible to cover everything that may happen over the next 9 months! If you have any questions please ask them on GP Moms, we're more than happy to help! Relax and enjoy the ride!
Here are some websites that you may find helpful:
or midwife right away and let them know you got a positive test. Depending on the practice your first prenatal appointment will be scheduled sometime during the first trimester (between 8 and 10 weeks is average for someone who conceived on their own and has no previous losses or other problems). If you've been seeing an RE, your first appointment will be much sooner and you'll be monitored more closely. You may receive a dating ultrasound, but this is not common practice for all doctors.
What to expect at prenatal appointments (this may vary from doctor to doctor but these are the common things to expect):
-At every appointment you'll be asked to pee in a cup to have the protein level in your urine checked, you'll also be weighed and have your blood pressure checked.
-From about 12 weeks on the doctor will check for baby's hearbeat using doppler. Don't be worried if you can't hear it right away. Depending on your uterus shape and the placenta placement you might not be able to hear the heartbeat via doppler until around 13 or 14 weeks.
-Once you start to get a little bump the doctor will measure your belly to make sure it's growing on schedule. Belly measurements can vary by a week or 2 and your doctor will let you know if he/she is considered and may send you for an ultrasound to check the baby's size.
-Typically you'll have appointments every 4 weeks until around 30 weeks. Then you might start to have appointments every 2 weeks. Starting at 36 weeks most OBs will start to see you weekly.
-If you choose to have a NT scan, that will be done at 12 weeks.
-The anatomy scan is typically done between 18 and 22 weeks and you'll be able to find out the sex of the baby at this time (if you want to)!
-The glucose tolerance test (GTT) is done around 28 weeks. You'll be asked to drink a very sugary drink (glucola), then you wait at the lab for an hour and have your blood drawn to check your blood glucose level. This test determines whether or not you have gestational diabetes. If you fail the 1 hour test you'll be asked to take a 3 hour test, which you'll need to fast for. You'll have your blood drawn to start the test, then drink the glucola, then have blood drawn every hour until the 3 hours has passed. Many women who fail the 1 hour test go on to pass the 3 hour, so don't freak out if you fail the 1 hour!
-At 36 weeks your doctor will test you for group B strep (GBS). It's nothing to worry about. If you do have GBS you'll be given IV antibiotics during labor so that you don't pass it on to the baby.
-Also at 36 weeks you may be asked if you want an internal check. You can refuse, but some women like to know what's going on. An internal will tell you if you're dilated, effaced, and what station the baby is at. Internals can be uncomfortable and some women have a little bit of spotting/cramping afterwards. You'll be offered an internal at every appointment going forward. (36 weeks is common practice, some doctors don't start them until later and midwives may not do internals at all until you're in labor.)
This is just basic information regarding pregnancy. It's impossible to cover everything that may happen over the next 9 months! If you have any questions please ask them on GP Moms, we're more than happy to help! Relax and enjoy the ride!
Here are some websites that you may find helpful:
Learn all about natural childbirth with Bradleybirth.com.
Get some great tips on staying healthy during your pregnancy with Fitpregnancy.com.
Learn all about pregnancy and babies at TheBump.com. Also, connect with other mommies and mommies-to-be on the message boards.
Look through all the baby names at Nymbler.com.
See more names at Babynames.com.
KellyMom has all sorts of breastfeeding information.
Be sure your baby registry is complete with Lucieslist.
Similar to TheBump, learn about pregnancy and babies and connect with others on the message boards.