You asked and you shall now receive. It’s only fair for us to share all of this stored up knowledge about having a baby and what is going on with your body during those nine (really ten) months. We now will answer, in a very public forum, all of those burning questions about having a baby. Each Monday, we will tackle a commonly-asked-question from the point of view of an expectant parent. Chiming in to give feedback will be an expert (you know someone who does this for a living). Earmark, share and add your own input to today’s question; it’s good karma.
What questions should I ask at my first prenatal visit?
Congrats on expecting! When all the excitement settles – many questions begin to fill a mom to be!
The first prenatal visit is a wonderful time to establish your relationship with your ob / gyn. For many, the frequency and the intimacy of this relationship may be uncharted territory. You’ll have frequent visits for an ongoing period of 40 weeks and share intimate details. It’s important that you feel comfortable, at ease, and feel supported in your pregnancy journey.
Communication with your ob / gyn is the cornerstone of this relationship. Asking the office how you can best communicate (whether it be email or phone) and how you receive your test results as you go through your pregnancy are great ways to begin and puts expectant moms worries at ease.
Once past all the logistics for connectivity with the office, our real expectant mom questions emerge! It’s important to limit our time googling, and reach out to providers, or connect with other expectant moms. It’s also great to chat with friends who have been there, as their wisdom is most helpful.
Here are some typical questions that come up on the first prenatal visit:
– What foods can I eat while expecting?
– Which prenatal vitamins do you recommend?
– Is exercise allowed or restricted during my pregnancy?
– How safe is it to travel and fly while expecting?
– When will I hear the baby’s heartbeat?
A final helpful tip is to keep a notepad in your purse – as questions come up between visits, it’s a great place to jot down your thoughts and have all your questions in place for your next doctor’s visit or expecting mom support group. Expecting moms have found that staying connected with other expectant moms gives them an ongoing source for support and resources between those doctor’s visits before your bundle of joy arrives.
Expert: Renee Sullivan
Renee Sullivan, parent coach and Founding Director of Mommybites support groups, works with moms each week to create their own personal parenting plan that is right for them, while making sure that each mom gets the support, resources, and community they need for their parenting journey. Drawing from her experience as an birth coach and educator, she guides moms – new, seasoned and expectant through the never – ending array of decisions that come with having a child. Weekly sessions that are “nurturing, informative, and fun” and her “calm-laid back personality” has made her a “dynamic resource” to the parenting community since 2006. Renee’s positive, warm and enthusiastic personality relaxes and guides new and expectant moms to enjoy the journey and her personal attention to detail allows all parents that work with her to quickly get the resources they need to feel at ease to make informed and educated decisions. Before joining Mommybites, she narrowly escaped the trenches of Corporate America where she was a Senior Project Manager for The New York Times, Morgan Stanley and Pfizer. She lives in New York City and is the mom of one happy kindergartener.
