Is it normal to be nervous before your first prenatal appt?

Question

tomorrow is my first doc appt (im 12 1/2 weeks) and im so nervous..I have other kids but dont remember what all they did at my first appt...what can i do to help myself relax and not be so nervous? and what should i expect from this first appt at 12 1/2 weeks? thank you

Answer 1

Honey, I was SO nervous at my first Ob appt. with my oldest daughter, I nearly JUMPED off the exam table.... BEFORE the exam was through, thank God he's used to crazy people like me. He just laughed it off and all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock! They will probably send you in for blood work take your blood pressure, weight,etcGive you your due date. At the gest. you are they may be able to hear the heartbeat. He/She will feel for the uterus to see if it's growing at the correct rate. My baby is 2, so it's starting to get a little fuzzy, on ALL that they do. Congrats and Good Luck!

Answer 2

Perfectly normal! I was nervous each time too. They'll check to make sure your cervix is closed, see where your fundus (I always think that's a funny word for top of the uterus!) lies, do the normal weight and all. Plus answer any questions and ask if you're taking prenatal vitamins. Good luck and many blessings on your new baby. : )

Answer 3

Yes it is normal, this is my first pregnancy and I have to go monday. At first I was anxious but now I am extremely nervous

Answer 4

Yes, I've just been through my third preg. and I was nervous too! They just check your blood pressure, weigh you, talk about your previous pregnancies and births and your family's health history. And they'll probably give you a referral for your first ultrasound. That's about it! Congratulations and good luck!!

Answer 5

yeah man it's normal, I was sooo nervous at my first appt,

Answer 6

i was so nervious that my blood pressure was up to 150/90, it is supposed to be around 130/70, it has gone down to 140/80 but, yes i think its prefectly normal to be nervious

Answer 7

Of course, it's ok to be nervous about anything you haven't done before

Answer 8

yes of coarse feel are from the nerviest system, relax.

Answer 9

When should I have my first prenatal visit?
As soon as you suspect you're pregnant, schedule an appointment with your doctor or midwife. (If you haven't chosen a healthcare practitioner yet, this is the time to find one!) Even if you've confirmed your pregnancy with a home test, it's wise to follow up with a professional physical examination so you can begin getting prenatal care.

Most practitioners won't schedule a visit until you're about eight weeks pregnant, unless you have a medical condition, have had problems with a pregnancy in the past, or are having problems now such as vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, or severe nausea and vomiting. Also, if you're taking any medications or think you may have been exposed to hazardous substances, ask to speak to the doctor or midwife as soon as possible.

Your first visit will probably be the longest one you have with your caregiver, unless you encounter problems along the way. For all your prenatal checkups, be prepared with questions regarding anything you might be wondering about. Here's what you can expect your doctor or midwife to do this time:

Take your health history
She'll want to know the day your last period started, so she can determine your due date; any symptoms or problems you've had since then; whether your menstrual cycles are regular and how long they usually last; and details about any gynecological problems (including sexually transmitted infections) you or your partner have now or had in the past. She'll also want details about any previous pregnancies.

She'll review the rest of your medical history, including chronic conditions and medications used to treat them, drug allergies, psychiatric problems, and any past surgeries or hospitalizations. She'll ask whether any of your relatives have had any chronic or serious diseases. Many health problems are at least partly hereditary, so knowing your family's medical history helps your healthcare practitioner watch for potential problems.

And she'll want to know about activities such as smoking, drinking, and drug use that could affect your pregnancy, and whether you are (or have been) a victim of abuse or have any other problems that affect your safety or emotional well-being.

Do a genetic and birth defect history
She'll ask if you, the baby's father, or anyone else in either family has a chromosomal or genetic disorder or developmental delays, or was born with a structural birth defect. She'll want to know about any medications and nutritional supplements you've taken since your last period, about any exposures to potential toxins (bring a list of possible "suspects," especially if you live or work near toxic materials), including alcohol and drugs, and whether you've recently had any rashes, or viruses or other infections.

If you're going to be 35 or older on your due date or you have other risk factors for genetic problems, your practitioner will talk to you about genetic counseling and genetic testing.

Explain your options for prenatal genetic testing
Your practitioner will offer you genetic screening tests that can give you some information about your baby's risk of having certain chromosomal problems and other birth defects. During your first trimester, you may be offered a nuchal translucency screening (done by ultrasound at 11 to 13 weeks) or a first-trimester combined screening (the nuchal translucency screening and a blood test). Or you may decide to wait and have a multiple marker screening, a blood test done between 15 and 20 weeks. Some practitioners offer "integrated screening," which is a combination of first- and second-trimester tests.

If you'll be 35 or older on your due date or are otherwise at high risk for having a baby with genetic problems, you'll be offered genetic diagnostic tests that can tell you for sure if your baby has Down syndrome or other problems. These include chorionic villus sampling, generally done at 11 to 12 weeks, and amniocentesis, usually done at 15 to 18 weeks.

Finally, depending on your ethnic background and medical history, you may have a blood test to see if your baby is at risk for sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, and certain other genetic disorders.

Check you out and run some tests
Your practitioner will give you a thorough physical, including a pelvic exam. She'll do a Pap smear (unless you've had one recently) to check for abnormal cells, including cervical cancer. She may also do a culture to check for chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Next, she'll order routine blood tests to identify your blood type and Rh status, and a blood count to check for anemia. She'll also have the lab test your blood for syphilis, hepatitis B, and immunity to German measles (rubella).

The U.S. Public Health Service and a host of other organizations now recommend that all pregnant women be tested for HIV at their first prenatal visit. If your practitioner doesn't offer you an HIV test, be sure to ask about it. Being treated for HIV during pregnancy can dramatically reduce your chances of passing the infection to your baby.

In addition to taking blood, your practitioner will ask for a urine sample to test for urinary tract infections and other conditions.

If you're at high risk for gestational diabetes, a glucose challenge test might be done at your first visit. In some cases, your practitioner will also do a skin test to see if you've been exposed to tuberculosis. And if you're not sure whether you've had chicken pox (or been vaccinated against the virus), she'll order a blood test to check for immunity.

Counsel you and let you know what's coming
Your caregiver should give you advice about eating well, foods to avoid, and what kind of weight gain to expect. She'll describe the common discomforts of early pregnancy and warn you about symptoms that require immediate attention.

Your emotional health is very important. If you're feeling depressed or overly anxious, your caregiver can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist.

She'll also talk to you about the dangers of smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs, and taking certain medications. If you need help quitting smoking or any other addiction, ask her for a referral to a program or counselor.

Finally, she'll go over some do's and don'ts of exercise, travel, and sex during pregnancy; discuss environmental and occupational hazards that can affect your baby; and explain how to avoid certain infections, such as toxoplasmosis. If it's flu season (or flu season is near), she should talk to you about getting a flu shot.

Answer 10

dont worry