Pregnancy Tips: I Am Pregnant, When Should I See A Doctor?

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Lai Fon Min
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist | A Company for Women, Medical Centre | reprinted with permission from "Great Expectations" by Today's Parents magazine


WE JUST FOUND OUT A FEW DAYS AGO I AM PREGNANT AND I BELIEVE I’M 4-6 WEEKS ALONG. HOW SOON DO WE SEE A DOCTOR TO CONFIRM THE PREGNANCY AND THEN WHEN SHOULD WE BOOK IN AN OBSTETRICIAN?

It is a good idea to see your obstetrician as soon as you know you are pregnant if you have had previous difficulty in conceiving or currently have bleeding in pregnancy.

Otherwise, a good time would be between six to eight weeks of pregnancy when an ultrasound scan can be done. The earlier you make your appointment, the earlier your pregnancy can be dated and your due date calculated.

Be prepared for lots of questions as your obstetrician needs to establish an accurate picture of your health, your husband’s health and both of your families’ medical history. Here are some of the things he may ask you:

Date of last period – knowing the date of your last monthly period, or LMP, allows your doctor to calculate your due date. You will also be offered a dating ultrasound scan to confirm that the pregnancy is in the correct place to get a more accurate idea of how far along the pregnancy you are and to see if you are expecting more than one baby.

Previous miscarriages, abortions and births – this information is important and could have a bearing on how well you cope with pregnancy this time around. It has an impact on how your obstetrician manages your labor.

Family history of disease/genetic conditions screening is now available for known genetic conditions, such as ß-thalassemia major, so if you have a family history, your obstetrician can explain and organise tests.

A family history of allergies, heart disease or certain other major medical conditions could all have a bearing on your pregnancy, so go prepared with any relevant information about you and your husband’s medical history.

Your lifestyle – your obstetrician will ask a few questions about how much alcohol you drink and whether you smoke. As both can affect your baby’s health, your obstetrician will offer advice on how to quit smoking in addition to advice on diet and other aspects of daily life

Source: Pregnancy Tips: I Am Pregnant, When Should I See A Doctor?