Image via Wikipedia
Pregnancy can be one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life but it can also be a time filled with anxiety. Regular prenatal visits can alleviate unfounded fears by educating new mothers. But many women hate hospitals and doctors and may hesitate to keep their monthly appointments. If you fall into this category, perhaps knowing what to expect can give you that extra boost of courage to do what is necessary for you and your baby.
Women love being informed about their pregnancy and can find information a variety of ways. For example, you can use a pregnancy calendar that allows you to track the development of your child month by month, week by week or even day by day. Resources like this one can help supplement but cannot take the place of being personally seen by a physician and having the opportunity to ask the questions that really interest you.
When you see the doctor, you can expect the following
- Blood tests: These verify pregnancy, screen for possible conditions such as anemia and other diseases.
- Pelvic exam: Most women are not overly fond of this, but there is a practical reason for it. A manual exam is conducted with 2 fingers inside the vagina and one hand on the abdomen. This is done to check the size of the uterus and pelvis in order to determine if there are any abnormalities.
- Urine sample: Urine is screened for high sugar levels (signs of diabetes), infections or disease. Knowing what to expect can make prenatal visits far less intimidating and help you ask the right questions at the right time.
