Prenatal Appointments

Regular visits to an OB/GYN, midwife or family doctor trained in obstetrics ensure that everything is as expected and they can help spot any health issues early on, when complications are easier to treat.

Be sure each appointment is on your calendar and try not to skip a single one (they’re all important!)

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Typical prenatal appointment schedule

The number of visits you’ll have in a typical prenatal appointment schedule usually total about 10 to 15, depending on when you find out you're pregnant and the timing of your first checkup. In most complication-free pregnancies. The frequency of prenatal appointments increases in the third trimester because certain pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia are more likely to appear then. Issues with your baby's growth also tend to show up later in pregnancy, so your practitioner will also want to measure your weight, belly size and other factors more frequently in the last trimester.

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What happens during a prenatal care appointment?

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What tests will I receive at my prenatal appointments?​

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Gynecologist Appointment

 

There are a few things you should do to prepare for your visit to the gynecologist. Blood can make a difference in assessing your reproductive health, so make sure to schedule your gynecologist appointment for a day when you aren’t on your period. For the two days leading up to the visit, refrain from having sex, using a tampon, or using any vaginal lubricants or cleansers. This will help you get the most accurate results from your gynecologist. You should also come prepared knowing your medical history, sexual history, and recent menstrual history. If it’s hard for you to recall all of this information on the spot, spend some time writing it down beforehand. You should also ask your family about any diseases or medical disorders that run in the family, as these can impact your risk levels of developing certain conditions.

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The Appointment and after the visit 

Talking / External Exam

Speculum Exam

Bimanual Exam

Possible breast exam

After the Visit:

After your appointment, you might get a call from the doctor’s office with results from any of the tests run following your exam. It typically takes 1 day to 2 weeks to get results from an STI test, and 1-3 weeks to get results from a pap smear. Many offices won’t call you if test results are normal, so confirm whether this is the case before you leave your appointment. It also might be a good idea to schedule your next appointment before you leave the office. Pap smears and pelvic exams are recommended every three years for sexually active women over the age of 21, but it’s better to see your gynecologist yearly to check in.

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