Questions to Ask Your Obstetrician During Your Prenatal Appointments

woman smiling after pregnancy Test

The moment that you’ve been waiting for has come: you finally got a positive pregnancy test. Now it’s time to schedule a prenatal appointment.

However, before you see your OB/GYN, it’s important to know the right questions to ask—not only during your first prenatal appointment but all the succeeding ones as well. Before each of your visits, make sure to prepare a list, so you don’t forget your questions. This helps ensure you come out of the doctor’s office very well informed as to how you can keep yourself and your baby healthy throughout your pregnancy and best prepare for the arrival of your precious bundle of joy.

REGARDING YOUR OVERALL HEALTH

It goes without saying that if you take good care of your health, your baby also greatly benefits. Here are some questions about your overall health that you may find worth asking your OB/GYN:

  • I know I should exercise during my pregnancy. But, what kind of activities are best, and what should I avoid?
  • What vitamins and supplements should I take? Should I continue with my routine medications?
  • I am diabetic. What dietary and lifestyle recommendations can you give me?
  • How much weight should I gain? How much is too much or too little?
  • Can I travel while I am pregnant?
  • What specific health assessments will you carry out during my pregnancy?
  • What is a high-risk pregnancy? How can I avoid it?

ABOUT YOUR BABY

Your pregnancy means your doctor has to care for two patients: you and your baby. Here are some important questions to ask your doctor about your baby and their health:

  • When will my baby’s heartbeat be detected?
  • When will I start to feel my baby’s movement? What changes in my baby’s activity level should I report to you?
  • How many prenatal appointments will I need and at what intervals?
  • How will I know my baby is growing normally during my pregnancy?
  • What tests do I need to undergo to ensure my baby is free from congenital defects?
  • At what month will I know my baby’s gender?
  • What movements can I make that will not harm my baby?
  • Is sex safe during pregnancy?

ABOUT LABOR AND DELIVERY

Toward the end of your third trimester, around week 36, you will experience baby dropping or lightening, in which your little one starts to settle or drop into your pelvis to get ready for labor.

Below are some questions to ask your doctor, so you can plan, and make sure you’re adequately prepared for the arrival of your baby:

  • How is my due date calculated?
  • Is natural birth better than c-section?
  • Is home birth a safe option?
  • Are belly aches and pains normal at this point?
  • What are the signs that labor is starting? When should I go to the hospital?
  • What if I begin to bleed or have contractions before my due date?
  • If I go beyond my due date, will you induce labor, and when?
  • I have had a c-section. Is a VBAC (vaginal delivery after c-section) an option for me?
  • Is there such thing as painless delivery? If so, what type of anesthesia are you going to use?
  • Can you teach me some breathing techniques?
  • When should I start packing and what should I include in my hospital bag checklist?
  • Can my husband or family be with me when I give birth?
  • When should I start finding a pediatrician? Can you give me a referral?

THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD

The postpartum period refers to the first six weeks following the birth of your baby. This phase involves more than just becoming comfortable with your role of being a mother— it also entails considerable anticipation and preparation. Along with the preparations that you need to make for the responsibilities and “chaos” that accompany the arrival of your baby, keep in mind that you are also bound to experience physical and emotional changes, some of which may even surprise you if you’re a first-time mom.

The following are some questions to consider asking your OB/GYN:

  • What postpartum body changes should I anticipate?
  • How much should I rest after I return home with my newborn?
  • How long will I look “pregnant” after giving birth?
  • How much bleeding is normal?
  • Is it safe to co-sleep with my newborn?
  • How can I bounce back after pregnancy? How can I get back in shape?
  • When should I take my baby for their first check-up with our pediatrician?
  • How often should I feed my baby?
  • What is postpartum depression? What signs should I watch out for?
  • When can I resume sex?
  • When will my periods return? When will I become fertile again?
  • Do you recommend that I work with a lactation specialist as I begin and continue with breastfeeding?

PRENATAL CARE AND OBSTETRIC SERVICES IN WOOSTER, OH

At Wooster Community Hospital, our obstetrics unit, the Women’s Pavilion, is staffed with compassionate and highly qualified OB/GYNs and support personnel, who are all eager to work with you and guide you, so you can have a healthy, comfortable, safe, and successful pregnancy.

The Women’s Pavilion is a level II maternity service, which means we are well equipped to handle moderate- to high-risk antepartum, intrapartum, or postpartum conditions. We also have a special care nursery for high-risk infants.

To schedule a prenatal appointment with one of our OB/GYNs, call us at (330) 263-8144. We look forward to serving you!