During your first visit, you will probably have:

• Blood tests to check for:
  • Blood type
  • Rh factor
  • Anemia
  • Syphilis
  • Rubella
  • Hepatitis B

• Urine tests to give information about:
  • Levels of sugar and protein
  • Possible infections

• A Pap test to check for:
  • Changes of the cervix that could lead to cancer

Your doctor may want to perform other tests too, based on your history, family background, and race. Your doctor might also ask you if you want to be tested for HIV, AIDS, or other sexually transmitted diseases.

The Physical Exam
During the physical exam, your doctor will measure your height, weight, and blood pressure. She will also check your:

• Ears, eyes, nose, throat, and teeth
• Thyroid and lymph nodes
• Heart, lungs, breasts, back, and abdomen
• Arms, legs, and skin

Your doctor will then do a pelvic exam to check your cervix, vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus. This examination will enable your obstetrical care provider to evaluate the size of your uterus in relation to the date of your last period to be sure the pregnancy is progressing as it should.

The Due Date
Also during this first visit, the doctor will try and predict your due date. This is also referred to as the estimated date of delivery, or EDD, or the estimated date of confinement, or EDC.

An average pregnancy is 280 days, or 40 weeks, from the first day of the last menstrual period. However, a normal pregnancy can last between 37 weeks and 42 weeks. Only about 5 percent of babies are born on their exact due date. Most women give birth within two weeks of the predicted date.

The due date helps your doctor measure the growth of the fetus and the progress of your pregnancy. It also helps set the timing for some tests that are most accurate when they are done at certain times in pregnancy.

Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.

Content courtesy of American Baby.