Pregnancy is a very exciting time, but it can also carry with it plenty of anxiety.
At the University of Minnesota Health Women’s Health Specialists Clinic, we seek to arm all our patients with as much information as possible, and pregnancy is no exception. We sat down with Certified Nurse Midwife Ann Forster Page, DNP, APRN, CNM, FACNM and asked her to answer some common questions about the first prenatal appointment.
A trans-vaginal or abdominal ultrasound will let us know how far along you are, and confirm your expected delivery date. After the ultrasound, you will meet with the midwife. The two of you will review your answers to a detailed questionnaire provided to you before your appointment, either through our MyChart services or upon your arrival at the clinic. The questionnaire includes your family history, medical history, past pregnancies and surgeries.
This information helps you and the midwife map out a plan for the pregnancy. The midwife will recommend blood tests and you will have blood drawn during this visit. She will also review information for optional genetic screening tests. She can also answer other questions you may have about morning sickness, nausea, vomiting, nutrition, warning signs, what to expect from our clinic during your prenatal care and other topics.
We normally see you every four to six weeks until your pregnancy reaches 28 weeks, at which point we recommend you come in every two to three weeks. From 36 weeks until the birth, we recommend weekly appointments.
We also offer a group prenatal care option for women who would like more education, a chance to meet other women at a similar time in their pregnancies or more time with one of our midwives. These group visits typically take place in the early evening and are scheduled around the 20, 24, 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy.
Editor's note: This article was originally published on Jan. 20, 2016, and has been updated to ensure continued accuracy and comprehensiveness.