When do see a doctor for pregnancy

Your next appointment will be with your hospital of choice: You will receive details of this appointment by post. It will usually happen somewhere between weeks. In this appointment they will check your medical history, test your urine and usually do a dating scan , to confirm your due date. Generally, you will have around eight to 10 antenatal appointments: These will usually be monthly until 32 weeks, fortnightly from 32 weeks and roughly weekly visits in the last month.

Listen : everymum the Podcast. Share this article to connect with everymum on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and Pinterest. They will be able to confirm your pregnancy and estimate when your baby is due the 'due date'. Many women visit their GP first then get a referral to a hospital, obstetrician , birth centre or private midwife.

While such referrals aren't always essential, they can provide useful information for the person or centre caring for you during your pregnancy , and will encourage the sharing of information from that person or centre back to your GP. Antenatal care refers to the care you will receive during your pregnancy. At your first antenatal appointment , you can talk to your GP about your options for antenatal care and the birth. For example, you may be able to choose to have your baby in a public hospital, private hospital , birth centre or at home.

Your choice will affect whether your regular check-ups and scans during your pregnancy are done by your GP or by a midwife or obstetrician. Your GP will check your overall health and ask you about your medical history. They will want to know about any health issues that could affect you or your baby. They will probably offer you the first of many routine tests done in pregnancy. Some of these might be covered, or partially covered, by Medicare. It's a good idea to ask your GP about costs.

Your doctor can also help you make lifestyle changes that are good for your baby. Stopping smoking or drinking alcohol , for example, will help keep you and your baby healthy. Some GPs can be involved in antenatal care in a 'shared care arrangement' which is more common in rural areas. You could have some of your antenatal appointments at your doctor's clinic and some at a public hospital, or with your obstetrician.

Some GPs have done extra training in obstetrics and are known as GP obstetricians — they can provide antenatal care and be there for the birth. GPs are not usually involved in the antenatal care of your pregnancy if you are going to a birth centre or are planning a home birth, although they will still be involved in other aspects of your health.

It's a good idea to see your GP at around 6 weeks after the birth. They will check your physical and emotional wellbeing and also your baby's health. At this age, your baby is due for vaccinations. Published August 20, Question: I just found out I was pregnant. You asked, we answered: Is spotting normal in your first trimester of pregnancy? Is it normal to experience brown spotting often in your first trimester?

You asked, we answered: How can I combat a negative self-image during pregnancy? Sign up to receive tips for living well: By signing up, you are consenting to receive electronic messages from Nebraska Medicine. First name. Your health care provider will typically offer a variety of prenatal genetic screening tests, which may include ultrasound or blood tests to screen for certain fetal genetic abnormalities, such as Down syndrome.

Your health care provider might discuss the importance of nutrition and prenatal vitamins. Ask about exercise, sex, dental care, vaccinations and travel during pregnancy, as well as other lifestyle issues. You might also talk about your work environment and the use of medications during pregnancy. If you smoke, ask your health care provider for suggestions to help you quit.

You might notice changes in your body early in your pregnancy. Your breasts might be tender and swollen. Nausea with or without vomiting morning sickness is also common.

Talk to your health care provider if your morning sickness is severe. Your next prenatal visits — often scheduled about every four weeks during the first trimester — might be shorter than the first.

Near the end of the first trimester — by about 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy — you might be able to hear your baby's heartbeat with a small device that bounces sound waves off your baby's heart Doppler. Your prenatal appointments are an ideal time to discuss questions or concerns. Also find out how to reach your health care provider between appointments.

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