Here’s what to ask your doctor at your first prenatal visit

You just found out that your family’s expanding. Here are 8 questions to ask your provider about your pregnancy.

You just took a pregnancy test, and it’s positive. You and your partner have a baby on the way. (Congrats, by the way.) Your mind is probably flooded with questions. Can you still drink coffee? Is your regular gym routine OK? When is it important to start taking prenatal vitamins?

“At the first appointment, a thorough history is taken, and a physical exam is performed,” says Felice Gersh, M.D. She’s an integrative obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) physician and the medical director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine in Irvine, California. That exam could include a blood test, urine test and pelvic exam. It could also include a pap smear and tests for sexually transmitted infections and vaginal infections.

Before you book your exam, it’s a good idea to check when the right time is to start your prenatal exams and who can do them for you. After you figure out that information, you can ask your provider questions about diet, exercise and more. Below, find 2 important questions to have answered before your visit — plus, 8 more questions to ask during your first prenatal appointment.

Have questions how maternal care may be covered by your health plan? Call a licensed insurance agent at (800) 827-9990 to talk about plans, or browse your options online today.

How can I find out which pregnancy doctors are near me?

Your first order of business is figuring out which type of provider you’d like to see for prenatal care. These could include:

• Obstetrician (aka an OB or ob-gyn). This is a doctor who specializes in women’s health and pregnancy.
• Family practice doctor. This could be your everyday doctor or primary care physician (PCP).
• Certified nurse-midwife. This type of provider may have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in midwifery and is certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. They can provide “care for women during pregnancy, labor and delivery” — and most work with an ob-gyn.

But where can you find them? If you have health insurance, it’s a good idea to consult your insurance company’s website or place a call to them directly. Typically, an insurance company’s website has an area where you can search for in-network providers. It’s worth noting that if you choose an out-of-network provider, it may cost more out of pocket.

When is the right time to visit my doctor after a positive pregnancy test?

It’s recommended that you schedule your first prenatal visit as soon “as you think you’re pregnant.” This visit usually occurs between 6 and 10 weeks after conception.

Now that you have those important questions answered, here are 8 more to ask during your first prenatal visit:

1. When can I find out my due date?

This is one of the most important questions to get an answer to, because it can help you and your ob-gyn plan the next 9 months of follow-up visits. These will include key appointments for finding out the sex of the baby (if you want to know) and testing for genetic issues. It’s also important for tracking the baby’s growth throughout your pregnancy.

2. What might put my pregnancy at risk of complications?

You’ll want to ask your ob-gyn about any risks that may be involved in your pregnancy at the first visit, so that you and your provider can be proactive about them, says Dr. Gersh. Factors that could make a pregnancy high risk include having:

• Autoimmune disease
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Obesity
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a problem with hormones that happens during the reproductive years
• Thyroid disease

You may also be at higher risk of complications if you’re a teenager or older than 35 and it’s your first pregnancy. Having any of these risk factors may require you to have additional prenatal appointments during your pregnancy.

3. What do I need to know about prenatal vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins are important for the growth of your baby, and they can help decrease the risk of birth defects. Ask your ob-gyn about which specific prenatal vitamins you’ll want to choose, as well as the dosages you’ll need.

4. What foods can I (and can’t I) eat during my pregnancy?

Everything you eat and drink during your pregnancy will impact your baby. And some of what might be a part of your normal, day-to-day diet may not be safe for your baby.

It’s also important to remember that you’re eating for 2 now. In other words, your body needs more calories. During your pregnancy, you’ll want to consume, on average, an extra 300 to 450 calories per day.

“Pregnancy is a critical time for both the mother and developing fetus,” Dr. Gersh says. “Proper diet is critical for the health of both individuals.”

To add on the calories, Dr. Gersh says that many women tend toward ultra-processed foods like fast food, potato chips, and the like, which can be bad for your health. Instead, she recommends sticking with whole foods, such as:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Whole grains

“Additional protein and calcium are needed during pregnancy, and getting adequate protein from healthy plant and animal sources is critical, along with consuming lots of calcium-containing greens,” says Dr. Gersh. Those could include kale, bok choy and Swiss chard, among others.

When it comes to foods that were in your prepregnancy diet, it’s good to ask about those at this visit as well. Dr. Gersh says that she often gets asked questions about the safety of consuming coffee, dairy, honey, fish, and sugar during pregnancy — all of which she encourages pregnant women to ask their PCP about. Here are a few of her tips:

• OK: 1 cup of coffee a day
• Avoid: Raw fish and those that are high in mercury, such as tuna and swordfish
• Avoid: Raw or pasteurized cheese
• Minimize: Honey and sugary foods

It’s important to have health insurance when you’re pregnant. Call a licensed insurance agent at (800) 827-9990 to talk about plans, or browse your options online today.

5. What should I know about my regular gym routine?

While exercise is vital during pregnancy, it’s also important to know how to exercise safely, says Dr. Gersh. When you’re pregnant, there’s a higher amount of the hormone progesterone in your body, which means your ligaments can become more relaxed. And that can increase your risk of getting injured while exercising.

Your posture and balance may also change as the uterus grows, notes Dr. Gersh. Pregnancy can also put a strain on your cardiovascular system, so it’s a good idea to do mainly walking and get guidance from a fitness specialist trained in pregnancy exercise physiology about what you can or cannot do, weights-wise. Of course, you should also talk to your PCP about which activities you can do safely.

6. Is it safe to travel while pregnant?

Now that you’re pregnant, your travel plans this year may have to change. “The timing of travel is important,” says Dr. Gersh. It all depends on when you’re deciding to travel, because it might put you at “higher risks of specific complications,” she adds. These could include:

• The altitude of your destination, which can lead to birth-weight issues, dehydration and preeclampsia, a condition that can cause severe headaches, nausea and vomiting, among other issues
• Food poisoning risk
• Infection risk

You’ll also want to check your health insurance benefits in case you need emergency care while you are away. Some plans may cover you while you’re traveling domestically but may not cover you while you’re traveling abroad. It’s a good idea to consult your insurance company before you leave.

It’s also a good idea to let your ob-gyn and PCP know if you’re planning on traveling. They can help inform you of further travel-related risks.

7. When will I feel my baby move?

It’s natural to wonder when you’ll start feeling your baby move for the first time. “For a first-time mom, movement is usually perceived around 20 weeks,” says Dr. Gersh. If you’ve already had a baby? Look for movement 2 to 3 weeks earlier, she adds.

8. Do I need to start making birthing plans?

According to Dr. Gersh, it’s never too early to start discussing your birthing plan options with your ob-gyn. Coming up with a plan that you feel comfortable with can help ease anxiety around giving birth. This could include whether:

• You’re planning to have a vaginal birth or Cesarean section (C-section)
• You’re planning to use pain relief methods during childbirth
• You’re planning on having someone other than a provider cut the umbilical cord

This is also a situation where you’ll want to check your health insurance benefits. A good place to start is by calling a licensed insurance agent at (800) 827-9990 to talk about plans, or browsing your options online today.

Disclaimer:
For informational purposes only. This information is not compiled by HealthMarkets Insurance Agency and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice.