5 Tips for Preparing for an Obstetrician Appointment

Pregnancy can be a wonderful time in your life. It can also be a time filled with questions and uncertainty. When you have a prenatal appointment with your obstetrician, the goal is to learn as much as possible about your pregnancy and the health of your baby. To help you get the most from your visit to Dr Stephen Cole - Specialist Obstetrician in Melbourne, here are some tips for preparing for an obstetrician appointment. Make a list of questions and concerns Prenatal visits are typically short and you may have only a few minutes with your doctor or midwife before you're off to see the nurse or another specialist. Write down everything you want to talk about so that you don't forget important issues during the visit. This can help ensure that all of your questions are answered and that you won't leave feeling worried or unsure about anything. Before you leave for your appointment, write down all the questions that are on your mind. If possible, try to prioritize them so that if there isn’t enough time, at least you can get answers to the most pressing ones. You may find it helpful to categorize them by topic or by general concern. Depending on how early in your pregnancy you see an obstetrician, it is very likely he or she will not answer many of these questions during this first visit. This is because much depends on the stage of your pregnancy and what tests have or have not been done. Keep these questions for future visits when there will be more information available. But getting them written down now will keep them from slipping your mind later when they need to be addressed. Understand how often you'll see your doctor during pregnancy. Most women see their obstetricians once a month during their first trimester and once every two weeks during their second trimester. At 28 weeks gestation, appointments are scheduled once a week until delivery occurs. If a pregnancy is considered high risk, more frequent visits may be required. Up-to-date on routine vaccines Certain routine vaccines like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) can't be administered while pregnant because they contain live viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that MMR vaccinations be given at least one month before trying to conceive. Bring someone along with you Having a family member or friend attend with you to an obstetrician appointment can be helpful in several ways. You'll have someone who can take notes while you're talking with the doctor, which will allow you to focus completely on what he/she is saying without worrying about remembering it all later on. Schedule the first appointment early Many women wait a few months before seeing a doctor about their pregnancy, but doing so can be detrimental to the health of both mother and baby. Even if you aren't ready to tell everyone about the pregnancy yet, schedule an appointment with an obstetrician as soon as possible. The earlier you start prenatal care, the better off your baby will be. Prepare for a physical exam Before entering the examination room, your obstetrician may ask you to change into a gown for the physical exam. If this is the case, wear comfortable clothes that are easy to put on and remove. Don't forget your underwear so you can get dressed again afterwards. Prepare Your Medical History When visiting the obstetrician for the first time, they will ask about your medical history and any health conditions that run in the family. It's helpful if you know this information ahead of time so they can prepare accordingly and recommend things like vitamins and dietary changes throughout pregnancy. You'll also need to provide information on any medications or supplements that you are currently takingrn