Congratulations On your Pregnancy! What an exciting fourth dimension!


A new pregnancy whether your offset babe or your third can be 1 of the most heady and overwhelming times of your life. You might feel like your mind is full of a seemingly infinite number of questions that yous may not understand or why your request them!

Take a few moments to soak it all in and write downwards some of those questions virtually your pregnancy that you want answered, because you'll want to take them with you at your first Antenatal visit with your Obstetrician or Midwife.

The first Antenatal visit usually happens anywhere between weeks 8 and 12 weeks but it's a skillful idea to let your provider know as before long as yous find out you're pregnant.
Here are some essential questions or things you may wish to hash out during your first Antenatal appointment

1. Why are my feelings about my pregnancy all over the place?

For and then many families the sheer excitement of finding out they are expecting is such welcome news! For some information technology tin be a very stressful fourth dimension particularly if the timing isn't exactly right or there are some current stresses, pregnancy can often exacerbate these challenges.

Pregnancy is an exciting time however the dreaded fluctuations in hormone levels tin can wreak havoc on your body and mind. Be kind to yourself, rest and relax where you lot tin. If y'all experience something isn't right you must let your Midwife or Doctor know.

It is of import to talk about how you experience with your Midwife. She is a confident, shoulder to lean on, impartial listener and advisor and has access to many services if you wish to be referred to for ongoing support.

2. I have a Complicated Health History, how will this Bear on my Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is more often than not known as a state of wellness, your pare glows and your hair and nails can grow at a faster rate than normal, but pregnancy can also put great stress on your body, exacerbating certain health conditions.

Some mutual atmospheric condition that affect pregnancy include diabetes, blood pressure issues, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, low, dorsum complaints, urinary tract problems to name a few.

Be certain to tell your Midwife near any electric current wellness problems as special medical adjustments may be necessary. Exercise also let them know about any previous surgeries or any allergies, or issues with anaesthesia. This information will be used to form an individualised and holistic care plan for your pregnancy.

iii. Who will Delivery my Babe? Would I be High or Depression Risk?

At your first visit, it's a good idea to run into the doctors and midwives in the exercise and to go a experience for their birth philosophy. The infirmary they deliver at, the number of providers in the grouping and the options you have for your birth are of import details you lot'll desire to know to aid you decide whether the group is a skilful fit for you.

If yous are good for you with no underlying health weather and the hospital yous choose equally a midwife led service or caseload model of care, exist sure to enquire nearly this option of pregnancy intendance.

A caseload or midwife led model of intendance means yous will usually be cared for past the same midwife or a small squad of midwives throughout your pregnancy and during labour. This is swell for building upwards a trusting human relationship with your midwife during your pregnancy and many women find their feet effectually pregnancy and birth is greatly reduced.

If yous are higher chance, accept underlying health issues, accept had previous problems during labour or birth or you would prefer to be cared for past an Obstetrician then please practice your homework and ask around for referrals from other mothers in your expanse to find an Obstetrician best suited to you and one that volition support your wishes for your birth.


If yous are to have a scheduled Caesarean department you tin can opt for a maternal assisted operation in certain hospitals.

4. How much Weight Should I Gain?


 This depends on your pre-pregnancy weight. Your Midwife or Doctor will calculate your BMI at your starting time antenatal engagement to help guide the give-and-take nigh healthy weight gain during pregnancy.

As a full general rule, women at a healthy weight (BMI 18.5 – 24.ix) tin ideally proceeds between 11.5 kg and 16 kg: i-1.5 kg in the showtime three months then 1.5-2 kg each calendar month until you give nativity.

Women who are underweight ideally tin can gain upto 18kg and women who are overweight or obese should gain eight – 10kg during their pregnancy.

five. Tin can I Continue to Exercise Now I am Pregnant?


 If you have a pre-pregnancy authorities that you enjoy doing, your Doctor or Midwife volition likely propose you to continue. If you practice not yet have an practice regimen, they will probably encourage you to offset one, preferably a low bear upon government!

Practise helps maintain appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, and some Australian  studies have shown that information technology may decrease your risk for gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia.

6. Should I Showtime Taking a Pre-Natal Vitamin?


 While information technology's all-time to start taking prenatal vitamins prior to formulation, it's never as well late to starting time. Ask your doctor whether there is a prenatal vitamin they recommend or whether they know of ane that's covered by your insurance.

pregnancy ultrasounds

seven. What Genetic Testing Should I take?


 There are many different options for genetic screening that your physician tin offer yous. These are based on how far along you are in your pregnancy and what risk factors yous have. One of the principal initial recommendations would be the Nuchal Translucency Scan.

A Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound is an ultrasound performed between xi.5 and xiii weeks 6 days gestation of pregnancy. Information technology is part of an assessment called 'Combined First Trimester Screening'.

Combined first trimester screening assesses the run a risk for your infant having certain chromosomal abnormalities (trisomy 13, 18 and 21). This testing combines the nuchal translucency ultrasound with specific blood tests. Nuchal translucency ultrasound lonely tin can also provide this risk assessment, but information technology is not as accurate as combined starting time trimester screening.



Combined get-go trimester screening is a not-invasive manner of assessing your gamble
By simply telling us if your risk is low or high. If y'all volition need farther screening your Doctor and Midwife volition arrange this for you.

viii. Who exercise I Call If I Accept Questions or Concerns?

Near hospitals have a birth unit phone number for you to contact if you have whatever questions or concerns withal if you are nether 20 weeks meaning or have a medical result such as shortness of breath rather than anything baby related you should present to emergency in the get-go instance.

Be certain to ask your midwife or Obstetrician at your first antenatal appointment for contact numbers for the antenatal clinic, birth unit, midwife and/or Obstetrician.

Your first antenatal appointment will wing by, yous will probably walk out of the engagement in a daze and and so when you become habitation have a hundred questions you wish you had asked at the appointment. Plus well-nigh antenatal appointments are scheduled to quite a tight time slot so there is not always time to ask everything you might want.

This is why it is a good idea to write a list of the questions you have and possibly even put them in order of importance to yous. That way if you lot do run out of time in your antenatal appointment y'all will have asked your near important questions first.

* This article is for information purposes only and is non intended to replace the intendance provided past your Medico or Midwife. If you accept concerns about your pregnancy please contact your health care provider asap.
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