Taking Better Care Of My Health

Posted on: 17 August 2016

You're headed out to your first gynecologist appointment. That is, the first that you'll go to while pregnant. With a first pregnancy comes a seemingly never-ending parade of questions. Even though you might already know the usual suspects (such as, "When is my due date?" or, "How far along do I have to be before I can find out if it's a boy or a girl?"), some questions are a little less commonly known. What questions do you need to ask during your first OB appointment? Check out which pregnancy questions aren't always thought of but are equally as important as the more major ones.

Who will deliver the baby?

Some women go to a medical practice that rotates doctors among patients. This may mean that you'll have one of two or more OBs delivering your baby (depending on when you go into labor and who is on call). Asking about the process that the practice uses in pairing doctors with patients is key to understanding what will happen on your delivery day.

Will a medical student help?

Are you delivering at a teaching hospital? If so, there's a possibility that a medical student will deliver your baby (or at least, assists the OB). Don't worry here – even if a student is learning through your delivery, the licensed doctor will be there the entire time.

What will the appointment schedule look like?

The doctor will want to see you regularly. Getting a big picture of what that looks like can help you to plan time off from work. Along with that, knowing how many times (and when) you'll need to see the doctor can help you to plan vacations, business trips or any time away from home.

What about exercise and physical activity?

Not every question that you ask has to do with the doctor or the office's procedures. Some have to do strictly with you. You're in a fragile state now, right? Not really. Even though you won't be able to continue your pre-pregnancy exercise routine through all nine months, it's likely that your doctor will still recommend staying active. The amount of activity that you get and what you do to get your daily workout in depends on your specific situation. That's what makes asking the medical professional so important. Just because your neighbor wasn't allowed to jog doesn't necessarily mean that you can't. Start early on and stay healthy by talking to the OB about what you should, and shouldn't, so.

The first gynecologist trip is a time of major discovery. You're just starting to learn about pregnancy and have questions galore. Keep in mind, even the seemingly smallest question is still important during this very special time.

For more information, contact Rawtani Meera MD or a similar medical professional.