9 Questions You Must Ask At Your First Prenatal Visit

These 9 questions are based on 20 years of clinical experience managing prenatal patients from their first prenatal visit until delivery.

The questions are intended to be topics that will help educate and initiate a conversation with your prenatal care provider and are not all-inclusive.

There are many other very important questions you will have, based on your particular desires and expectations.

Asking these questions at the start of your prenatal care is very important.

You want to know if your prenatal care provider has any fundamental differences in beliefs or expectations about your prenatal care, labor, and delivery.

It will be comforting to know the answers to these questions as your pregnancy advances.

Keep in mind that you will be seeing your healthcare provider for prenatal and postpartum care.

This can easily span over 9 to 12 months.

• At your first prenatal visit, your medical history and physical exam will impact your medical care as your pregnancy advances.
• Be proactive and ask the questions you feel you must ask at your first prenatal visit. The first prenatal appointment is your opportunity to discuss any concerns you feel you might have later in your pregnancy.
• Write down the questions you want to ask at your first prenatal appointment. It is very common to forget questions because of the sheer volume of information at your first visit.
• The first prenatal visit is definitely the best time to ask questions.  You have not established a healthcare relationship with your provider. You will feel more comfortable talking about your concerns knowing you still have options should there be serious disagreements.

(Couple at a prenatal visit.)

9 Questions You Must Ask At Your First Prenatal Visit

1. Who will deliver my baby when I go into labor?

Every women’s health medical practice caring for prenatal patients has a labor and delivery schedule arranged months in advance.

This schedule indicates what medical group provider, will be managing labor patients in labor and delivery 24/7/365. This schedule is usually made 3 to 6 months in advance, to avoid any scheduling conflicts.

There are also medical practices that have doctors who only cover patients in labor and delivery. These physicians are called laborists.

This role was created to improve the continuity of care for patients in the hospital.

When you go into labor, you will be managed by the doctor covering labor and delivery based on the call schedule discussed above.

It is not physically possible nor safe for one doctor to cover labor and delivery 24 hours a day, every day. 

There are a few clinical situations where you would be more likely to be delivered by your doctor:

• If you are having an induction, your doctor may schedule it when on call at the hospital.
• Scheduled repeat cesarean section. (If you know at your first prenatal appointment that you are going to want a repeat cesarean section, discuss this at your first visit.)

2. If I require urgent care during my pregnancy, where will I be seen, and who will evaluate me if my provider is not available?

The answer to this question differs a great deal from one medical practice to another.

Before you choose a provider, you will want to find out how the medical practice cares for patients when the office is closed and what facilities (if any) are available when it comes to managing problems after office hours.

Questions that will help determine who will manage your care after hours are the following:

1. What is the size of the medical practice? How many doctors in the medical group?
2. Do the group of physicians in the medical practice manage labor and delivery at one hospital?
3. Is the practice part of a larger network of physicians who manage patients at more than one hospital?
4. Does the medical practice have an urgent-care facility to evaluate labor patients before sending patients to the hospital? A medical practice such as Kaiser Permanente has urgent care facilities to evaluate patients after office hours.
5. How many doctors in the medical practice manage labor patients in the hospital?

Once you know the answers to the questions above, you will have a far better idea of how you will be managed for non-scheduled medical visits.

Since you may be managed by another doctor in your medical group, it is a good idea to schedule a prenatal visit with each of the doctors in the practice that may cover your labor and delivery. This will ensure that you will have at least meet the doctor delivering your baby before the onset of labor.

3. Do the providers in your practice manage labor from home or is there always one provider present at the hospital?

There are very few medical practices that cover labor and delivery from home. This was not uncommon years ago.

However, now that most medical practices have three or more doctors, more patients are managed by one medical practice. This means there will be more patients in labor at any given time. 

Some medical practices and hospitals now employ laborists.

These doctors only cover patients in labor and delivery. 

4. How is anesthesia coverage managed at the hospital affiliated with your medical practice?

• It is important to know how the anesthesia department covers patients in labor at the facility where you plan to deliver.
• This is important to know even if you are not planning on using pain medication during labor.
• Should you need urgent intervention during your labor, anesthesia will be necessary
• Anesthesiologists are employed by the hospital. The way the anesthesia staff cover labor and delivery will vary depending on the hospital where you plan to deliver.
• A level one hospital will have a different coverage arrangement compared to a tertiary care hospital that has 24/7  in-house anesthesia coverage at all times. Tertiary care hospitals are most often teaching hospitals and trauma centers. Most often they have to have a full complement of medical staff in the hospital at all times.
• This means from medical students to residents to attending physicians to fellows, these hospitals have a full obstetric anesthesia staff as illustrated in our article on  20 hospital questions.

5. At my prenatal visit, can I book more than one appointment at a time so I can see my personal prenatal care provider?

Many women want to schedule more than one prenatal visit at a time to get an appointment time that fits into their work schedule and is with their personal provider.

Though many offices will book appointments far out, some will not.

Take the time to ask this question if you feel this will impact your daily routine.

Especially since there are many routine prenatal visits during your pregnancy.

6. How do you manage patients with an overdue pregnancy?

Doctors and patients often have a difference in opinion about how to manage a pregnancy that goes past the due date.

First, it is important to mention the terms that are used to describe this situation.

Most people will use the terms  “overdue pregnancy” or a “pregnancy that has gone past the due date”.

In the medical field, the term used to describe a past-due pregnancy depends on how many days over the due date.

Making this distinction is important because it will determine what management is necessary:

Late-term pregnancy: 41 – 41 6/7 weeks

Post-term pregnancy: 42 weeks and beyond

There are basically two approaches to the management of pregnancies that do not deliver by 41 weeks:

1. Induction:

Inducing labor is based on a number of clinical criteria.

This intervention can be done electively to prevent complications associated with a late-term or post-term pregnancy.

Inducing labor is also done immediately (non-electively) if delivery is necessary because of a pregnancy complication or abnormal fetal testing during expectant management (#2)

2. Expectant management:

Expectant management involves the clinical observation and monitoring of a late-term pregnancy until the onset of spontaneous labor.

Monitoring includes antenatal testing (fetal testing) to monitor fetal well-being. (The problem with this approach is that antenatal testing is not 100% reliable when it comes to assessing fetal well-being.) 

In either situation, the decision to proceed with the induction of labor is done if there are concerns about infant morbidity and mortality or maternal concerns of morbidity and mortality.

Assuming a pregnancy is uncomplicated there is no disagreement about allowing a pregnancy to go one week past its due date or to 41 weeks gestation.

In fact, the majority of pregnancies will deliver within one week before or after the scheduled due date.

At 41 completed weeks of pregnancy is when decisions about delivery are made.

Balancing the risk of induction versus the risk of fetal morbidity or mortality. 

• It has been well established that the function of the placenta starts to deteriorate during the weeks following delivery. A term used to describe this process is uteroplacental insufficiency. When this happens there can be decreased blood flow and oxygen delivery to the fetus.

Induction of labor will be decided upon by your provider based on a number of factors and options that are within the standard of medical care:

1. Inducibility of cervix: A cervix that is inducible based on a cervical exam can lead to more successful induction of labor.
2. Maternal health conditions: high blood pressure (toxemia, etc.)
3. Completed weeks of pregnancy
4. Fetal testing findings
5. Provider’s preferred management approach (assuming there are options).

Management decisions cannot be generalized as there are a number of factors (above) that need to be considered to determine the best treatment option.

*Complying with the accepted standards of medical care is the one factor that must be part of any plan of management.

7. What is the level nursery at the hospital affiliated with your practice?

Knowing the level of nursery at the hospital where you plan to deliver is extremely important.

The care can range from a Level I (Well Baby Nursery) to a Level II (Special Care Nursery) to a Level III or Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

The NICU was first established in the 1960s by the American Academy of Pediatrics to manage babies with critical medical problems requiring prolonged life support.

The level of nursery essentially correlates with the level of the hospital. Hospitals range from primary to secondary to tertiary care facilities.

Typically, tertiary care hospitals are teaching hospitals and are equipped to handle trauma and advanced medical care.

If you have a medical illness or a pregnancy-related complication that could affect the health of your baby, it is important to know what level of neonatal care is available at the hospital where you deliver.

8. How do the providers in your practice feel about pain control during labor and delivery?

Many women choose a doctor for their pregnancy based on a mutual understanding and agreement on pain management during labor.

The choices for pain control during labor cover a broad spectrum:

1. Strongly desiring to go through natural childbirth without the use of medication during labor.
2. Want an epidural for pain management as soon as it can be administered? When an epidural can be administered is based on criteria that have been defined and comply with the standards of medical care.
3. For women who are not sure if they will want IV pain medication or an epidural, the decision can be managed during labor. It is not a problem to change your mind about pain management, as long as there is adequate time to administer alternative therapies. You do not want to delay your decision too long.  Epidurals take time to administer, so it is important to decide well before you are fully dilated and imminently going to deliver.

When deciding on pain control during labor, it is very important to plan ahead as best you can.

Most importantly, be prepared to accept the possibility that your pain management during labor might deviate from your birth plan.

The two most common reasons are a personal desire for pain control and the need for regional anesthesia (spinal or epidural) if a cesarean section is necessary.

Some of the clinical guidelines that have to be met before epidural placement include:

1. Confirmation that you are in labor, best defined as contractions with cervical change.
2. Cervical dilatation … which you will want to discuss with your provider. Some medical practitioners and medical facilities are fine with giving an epidural as long as you are in labor, even if you are in early (latent) labor. Other doctors may want to wait until cervical dilatation has reached 3 cm.
3. No history of medical conditions that could interfere with the safe placement of an epidural catheter. Two such conditions include bleeding disorders or a history of certain severe back injuries.

The doctors in a medical group share hospital coverage to manage patients in labor.

Try to arrange prenatal visits with the other doctors so you can ask questions and know that they are in agreement with your labor plan.

Solo practitioners who managed everything during your prenatal care and delivery (with rare exceptions) no longer exist.

This is a result of the advances that have been made in the management of pregnancy, the costly overhead to run a practice, and the number of patients that have been determined to be safe for one practitioner to care for.

This is why it is crucial to know the questions you must ask at the first prenatal visit.

So you will want to discuss your philosophy and wishes about pain control.

Be sure to ask questions. There is a lot of misinformation that circulates online.

(Woman with an epidural self-administering a dose of pain medication.)

While you certainly don’t need to have any type of birth plan thought out at your first prenatal visit, it isn’t a bad idea to at least consider how you see your future labor and delivery experience unfolding.

You can check out our post on developing a stress-free birth plan for some questions you might want to consider about the birth process.

9. What childbirth preparation classes do you recommend to your patients?

*Due to COVID-19, many childbirth classes are offered online.

You will definitely want to ask about childbirth education options at your first prenatal visit.

Many couples have specific requests when it comes to their pregnancy and birth plan.

It is not unusual for expectant parents and their prenatal care providers to disagree on management options.

This is often the result of a difference in philosophies or expectations about the childbirth experience.  What is most important is that the management that is agreed upon is within the standards of medical care.

This question is addressed in detail in our post Are Childbirth Classes Necessary? 

The childbirth class you take will depend on your desires, expectations, and philosophy about labor and delivery.

If you are undecided about what childbirth class to take, ask about classes at your prenatal visit. Your provider will have information about classes located near you. 

Finding a class that is in alignment with your beliefs about pregnancy will give you the opportunity to address the questions you must ask at your first prenatal visit.

Other pregnancy-related articles you may find helpful are the following:

• 5 Must-Know Tips For Scheduling Prenatal Visits
• 10 Tips To Fight Fatigue During Pregnancy
• Maternity Hospital Tour: 20 Important Questions You Should Ask

Knowledge is Power, and knowing the answers to the questions discussed above can help you feel more in control and less anxious about the management of your prenatal care during your pregnancy.

Being well-informed and knowing what to expect is a large part of what labor preparation classes are about. Many types of prenatal classes are available.

To know what classes are available in your area ask your provider.

Due to Covid-19, almost all childbirth classes are online.

Though online courses are now out of necessity, it is important to note that there were excellent interactive online courses even before the pandemic.

FAQ’s

1. What are the questions to ask at your first prenatal appointment?

The following list is simply a list of the questions from this article and is only a few of the many questions you may have for your health care provider.

Write the questions down as you will surely have questions specific to your medical history.

• Who will deliver my baby when I go into labor?
• If I require urgent care, where will I be seen, and who will evaluate me if my provider is not available?
• Do the providers in your practice manage labor from home or is there always one provider present at the hospital?
• How is anesthesia coverage managed at the hospital affiliated with your medical practice?
• At my prenatal visit, can I book more than one appointment at a time so I can see my personal prenatal care provider?
• How do you manage patients with an overdue pregnancy?
• What is the level nursery at the hospital affiliated with your practice?
• How do the providers in your practice feel about pain control during labor and delivery?
• What childbirth preparation classes do you recommend to your patients?

2. What blood tests are done at my first prenatal appointment?

The initial panel of blood work, done at your first prenatal has been evolving over many years.

Testing will continue to evolve, as tests are identified that can help to screen for medical and developmental concerns during pregnancy.

As of this moment, a typical blood work screen at your initial prenatal visit will include the following:

1. Blood Type and Rh Factor (ABO blood group and if Rh + or -). Even if you know your blood type you will still be checked for a number of medical reasons.
2. Hepatitis B Screening
3. Rubella Screening
4. VDRL (Syphyllis screening)
5. Thyroid Screening (This is a newer addition to the bloodwork panel because of the impact undiagnosed under or over thyroid activity can affect fetal development.
6. HIV screening if consented to.
7. Genetic testing depends on a risk profile such as an inherited condition or ethnic-related genetic disorder.
8. Blood count
9. Metabolic panel
10. Urine test for routine urinalysis

3. What should I do first once I find out I’m pregnant?

• Start a prenatal vitamin with folic acid and DHEA (start prior to pregnancy if you are planning a pregnancy.
• Find a health care provider and arrange your first prenatal visit when you will be 6 to 8 weeks.  Arrange an appointment at any tune if you experience pain or bleeding or any other health concerns or symptoms.
• Gather detailed information about your family and extended family history to bring to your first prenatal visit.
• If you have diabetes, talk to your health provider and make sure to have your A1C tested. Blood sugar control early in pregnancy is important to prevent birth defects. Seeing a medical provider early applies to many medical conditions. Don’t wait until 6 or 8 weeks if your condition or medications you are taking might be a concern.

4. What are some of the more common medical problems that occur during pregnancy?

It is not possible to list all the medical problems that could occur during your pregnancy.

But there are some problems or complications that are relatively common.

The following is a list of the more common pregnancy-related problems:

• High blood pressure/Toxemia
• Gestational Diabetes
• Preterm Labor
• Vaginal Bleeding due to Placenta Previa

5. How much weight should I gain while pregnant?

When you go for your first prenatal visit, your doctor or midwife will ask about your health history and how your pregnancy is going.

They will also talk to you about what to expect during your pregnancy.

One of the things they will discuss is weight gain.

Most pregnant women should gain between 25 and 35 pounds during their pregnancy.

How much weight you should gain depends on how much you weighed before you got pregnant, how many babies you are having, and your health and activity level.

If you are underweight when you get pregnant, you may need to gain a little more than 35 pounds.

If you are overweight when you get pregnant, you may need to gain less than 25 pounds.

Your doctor or midwife will want to know how much weight you have gained so far during your pregnancy.

They will also want to know if you have been gaining weight at a healthy rate.

If not, they may give you advice on how to start gaining weight at a healthy rate.

There are a few things you can do to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy weight gain:

•  Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
•  Get regular exercise.
• Avoid excessive amounts of caffeine
• Avoid alcohol
• Talk to your doctor or midwife if you have any questions or concerns about weight gain during pregnancy.

Final Thoughts

Make sure you address any questions or concerns you have about COVID-19. The information about coronavirus testing and how it is managed during pregnancy is constantly being updated as data becomes available from the CDC.