You’re Pregnant? Time to see your Obstetrician!

1. You’re Pregnant? Time to see your Obstetrician! Now that you’re pregnant, you have two to take care of and you need a specialist to help you do so. The doctor you need is an obstetrician; he or she takes care of you and your baby through the pregnancy, delivery and into the post-natal care phase. When Should you Make your First Appointment? Most obstetricians (and other pregnancy caregivers) schedule the first prenatal appointment for about the 8th or 9th week of pregnancy. However, if you have any medical conditions that could cause complications; are showing symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea; or if you’ve had problems with previous pregnancies, you should definitely go in earlier for a checkup. What to Expect at this Appointment If yours is an OB-GYN, he/she already has records of the regularity of your menstrual cycles, past illnesses and other gynecological issues, and your general medical history. If you’re seeing a new doctor, you will have to provide this information, details of any previous pregnancies, personal habits that could influence your pregnancy - drinking, smoking, etc., and the first date of your last menstrual cycle to determine your due date. Barring complications, your first appointment will be the longest and the remaining appointments will include ultrasounds, tests and other follow up procedures to monitor your health and that of the fetus. Questions to ask your Obstetrician Especially if this is your first pregnancy, there are gonna be a ton of questions you’ll want to ask your obstetrician, ranging from the simple and silly to the serious. Don’t be afraid to ask either. Some important questions you definitely want to address are: ● What should you expect over the course of pregnancy and delivery? What are the complications that could arise? ● Based on your family(s) medical history, which screening tests should you consider for the fetus? ● What are the different birth options? ● What is your doctor’s stand on pain relief during labour? Would using them have any side effects on you or your baby?

2. Choosing your Obstetrician Your health and that of your baby is in the hands of your obstetrician, so besides their qualifications, experience and recommendations, you have to feel comfortable with them and trust them completely. If you don’t, consider finding a new doctor. If you’re looking for an obstetrician in San Antonio, expectant mothers should definitely check out the Institute for Women’s Health.