You will meet the doctor and midwife that will lead you through your pregnancy time. They will want to know several things, like:
- The date of your last period, to determine your due date.
- Your obstetric history; have you been pregnant before, how did this go etc.
- Family history of desease, if necessary you will be doing some blood tests.
- Your lifestyle; smoking, drinking alcohol and caffeine can affect your baby.
Some tests will be taken, like:
- Blood tests: you will be checked for your rubella or German measles status, your iron levels, your blood group and your Rhesus status. The bloodsample can also be screened for your baby’s risk of Down’s syndrome and spina bifida. Your blood will be screened for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
- Urine check: by dipping a chemical strip in it that changes colour, they will know if you have any protein in your urine. This helps to tell if you are showing early signs of pre-eclampsia.
- Blood pressure check: this will be used as the average for future checks. Raised blood pressure can be an early warning sign of pre-eclampsia.
- Ultrasound scan: this early scan measures your baby’s size to confirm how many weeks’ pregnant you are and calculate your due date.
- Measuring your weight and height:if you start to put on a lot of weight, this could indicate gestational diabetes. She will check your Body Mass Index (BMI) to keep track.
From this day on you’ll have an appointment every 4 to 6 weeks. If you have any questions, do ask them! Make sure you have a phonenumber you can call at any time when you have concerns or questions.
