Throughout your pregnancy you will have to visit your doctor several times for routine checkups. The only reason behind these checkups is to ensure that your baby is safe and growing as expected. Pregnancy tests begin right from the time you discover that you are pregnant through a home testing kit. Once you know you are pregnant, you should go to the doctor for a blood test. This is your first prenatal test. This will confirm your pregnancy. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
Once it is certain that you are pregnant you will have to visit the doctor several times in the forty weeks of pregnancy. Having to go to the doctor every now and then can be daunting because you don’t know what is going to happen. That is understood, of course, but you don’t have to worry about it. These are just routine tests. You can make things easier for yourself by actually learning about the prenatal visits so that you know what to expect during each week. Here is detailed information for you:
During your first prenatal visit your doctor will conduct a physical exam to ensure that you are completely fine. After that he will check your medical history to eliminate any genetic disorder risks. During your first visit itself you will have an approximate due date.
Alongside, he will take your blood sample for tests to find out if you have any serious infections such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea. During your twelfth or thirteenth week of gestation, he may go for an ultrasound. He will also check your unborn baby’s heartbeat.
If there are any risks, your doctor will recommend a specialist. For example, you may be aged over 35 or you may have a chronic illness. In the subsequent visits your doctor will check your weight, blood pressure, and glucose levels to keep a track on them. They should not always be normal, of course.
You will start visiting your doctor once in three weeks during this time. In the beginning you will go through the AFP or alpha-fetoprotein screen. The doctor might recommend prenatal classes, too. At the same time he might deem it necessary to go for a cervical cerclage to check if your cervix is incompetent. If you need any surgery, this is the best time to go for it. Some people, for example, may need a gall bladder surgery.
Now your visits will become more frequent. You will visit your doctor once in two weeks. During the 26th week of gestation, he will check for gestational diabetes through a glucola test. During the 28th week, he will check for a group B strep infection. He will also check signs of preterm labor. During the 32nd week, he will check the position of your baby to find out if she is in the right position or is in breech position.
After 36 weeks, your appointments will become weekly or even more frequent in case yours is a high-risk pregnancy. In the coming weeks you will go for cervical checks. Ideally you will have your baby anytime now. If you don’t, you will be under surveillance. Your doctor will not wait beyond the 42nd week. If your baby doesn’t come out until then, he will go for a C-section.
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