Is it Your First Prenatal Visit To The Gynecologist? Here's What To Expect

The moment you get a positive pregnancy test result, your entire world begins to change. Suddenly you realize you are on the road to pregnancy with the first step being the booking of an appointment with a gynecologist in Chennai. If this is your first pregnancy, let’s understand what you could expect during your initial appointments. 

Medical History

Your medical history will play an important role in the outcome of your pregnancy. In fact, it might also provide insight into potential complications. You could be asked about your personal/familial medical profiles, previous pregnancies, miscarriages, etc. You may also be asked the following questions by a gynecologist in Chennai:

• What are the regular medications you are taking?
• Are you allergic to anything?
• Do you smoke or consume alcohol on a regular basis?
• Does your family have a predisposition to any genetic conditions?

Your lifestyle

Your doctor may inquire about your dietary habits and fitness. Your doctor may offer you advice about your diet or lifestyle. You may be asked to prepare yourself to follow different meal plans and healthy meal options in the days to come. These will be tailored to the needs of your baby and your body with respect to the different trimesters. 

The date of your last period. 

Providing the date of your last monthly period will let your gynecologist in Chennai work out your due date. You may be advised to get an ultrasound scan done for a more accurate idea of how far you are in your pregnancy journey. 

Physical exam

Your doctor will measure the progress of your pregnancy by collecting baseline information, such as the pre-pregnancy weight, current weight, blood pressure, and height. A complete physical check-up may not happen during the first prenatal visit because of time constraints. During the first few appointments, you may have to undergo a head-to-toe physical, where they’ll check all the major parts and organs of the body and carry out a Pap smear test to rule out the presence of any cancerous cells.  

Due Date

The most exciting part of a prenatal visit to a gynecologist in Chennai can often be the due date. Pregnancy usually lasts for about 40 weeks from the first day of your last period. However, every baby is different, and you could expect to deliver any time between your 37th and 42nd week. However, very few women actually give birth on the predicted due date. Therefore, it’s worth keeping the two weeks before and after pregnancy as high priority. An ultrasound will help predict the due date on the basis of the baby’s size.

Once the due date is established, most of the prenatal visits in the future will refer to this date while comparing the size and progress of the fetus.  

Remember to follow the advice offered to you during the sessions carefully. An experienced gynecologist in Chennai will know what’s best for you and your baby, and by following their advice, you can pave the way for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.