Your First Doctor’s visit, what you need to know

This first visit, and every visit from now on, you WILL pee in a cup. They will also do some blood work but that’s mostly the first visit.

Next they will ask a lot of question about your family health history as well as the baby’s dad’s family history.  So it is best if both of you can come to answer all of these questions.  They will also give you a due date as well as tell you how far along you are!!! (This was the best part for me! It made it so real for us!)  They will go over what to expect in the next couple of weeks and how often you will be visiting the doctor for the next 9 months or less. (see below for timeline)

Prenatal Doctor visits:

*First one to confirm!

*Next in 5 weeks  (when you are at 10-11 weeks to check your pelvic for birthing and possibly here the heart beat! I teared up for a moment thinking about that! So precious! (First Sonogram and first PICTURE!)

*After that will be a visit 1 per month until your 28^th week (when they test for diabetes)

* Then you go to visit every 2 weeks

*The last month, you go to visit every week until you go into LABOR

Insurance and finance plan. Then someone there comes to talk to you about your insurance, what it covers and what you will be left with to pay for (FYI: this person has called your insurance Provider and asked all the questions needed to know what all you can get out of your policy.  So great!)  This amount covers (at least for us) pretty much all of the prenatal stuff and the delivery.  There are still some other bills you will occur while you are in the hospital such as for Anesthesiology, pathology and Baby Bills. 

(Baby Bills: after you give birth, there is a nurse that is assigned to your baby to take care of and examine.  You can actually request this person to be your family doctor if you so chose.  I don’t know which is cheaper.  Nevertheless, this bill covers this persons expenses charged)

NOW, Before you Get Pregnant!

Here are a couple of things I have figured out within the first couple of months of this Pregnancy.  Hope they help out other women as they begin their journey through becoming a mommy!

A.) Take a prenatal vitamin now! 

And If you can, take a fish oil supplement as well.  You never know when you are going to get pregnant or if you going to have an “Opp’s” and you want your baby getting that nutrition ASAC (as soon as conceived).

B.) Starting asking questions now!

You might have friends that are having babies so ask them questions about what books they read, who is their doctor and how do they like them, what were the expenses like and how much did insurance cover? 

This helps you learn more about the process now (while you have time) and start to see what are the important questions to ask when it’s your turn.  Plus this might help you find the right doctor for you,  your husband and your baby. 

C.) Read Now!

Again, you have time now!  When we found out I was pregnant we were thinking “YAY! in 9 months we are having a baby!”  Then we go to the doctor a couple of days later to find out I am 5 weeks and 3 days.  So now all the sudden we are 7 months 2 weeks.”  IN OTHER WORDS, 9 months turns into 7 months like that; it goes quicker than you think!  Having as much knowledge now, while you have time, is a good idea!

D.) Workout  NOW!

I am currently in the “overweight” category so my weight is not ideal.  And Now that I am pregnant I can’t over do it by any means NOR can I try losing weight right now. 

So if you wanting to be in good shape (because you bounce back better after giving birth AND it’s safer for you and the baby) and you don’t want to be huge during the pregnancy…..start trying to lose weight and get in shape NOW!

E.) Save NOW!

For us, the first Doctors appt we were told, the  charge would be $100 to cover what the insurance didn’t cover or go to your payments for the prenatal – labor charges. 

Also at that first appt they go over what your insurance does cover and what you will be liable for after that. (Monthly payments and such). 

Most offices will sit down with you about what your insurance will cover and talk numbers with you from now until you give birth