First Antenatal Appointment

[Leesha]

I've got my first antenatal appointment with my midwife coming up and I was wondering what the procedure for this was... What exactly do they do at the first appointment ???

I have no idea about anything as this is my first bub!!!

:D

[Mum2Lucas]

yeah they give you the first bounty bag and make you pee.

[Taylors_mum]

My first antenatal appointment took about an hour and a half. They checked everything. They talked about everything. Previous medical history ect. If your due for a pap smear then they might do one other then that everything they do is pretty fun. Depends how far you are but they will probably try to listen to bubs heart beat. :D

Good luck.

[littlepickle]

Leesha how exciting for you!! Well the first appointment is usually a bit longer then the rest of the appointments as they usually take quite a few notes down regarding your medica history and that sort of thing. they will probably ask you about what immunisations you have had and also ask when was the last time you had a pap smear. If you havent had one in a while, they might decide to do one. if you dont need a pap they probably will not do an internal examination. It is not routine anymore:smiliedance: Yay!
Apart from that they will check your blood pressure, double check your dates with you, and possibly use the doppler to try to hear bubs heart beat. They will also ask you if you have any questions, so make sure you go prepared with anything you want to ask (I take a notebook to every appointment so that I dont forget questions)
If you have not yet had an ultrasound, they may be able to set up a date for that for you as well. It is probably worth you asking about the ultrasound which is usually done between 18 and 20 weeks (you can also have an earlier one done in order to work out your due dates etc)
And ... you get your Bounty bag!!:smiliedance: ... I am still waiting for mine...but theoretically you should get one!
Hope this helps! Enjoy your first appointment!!:smiliedance:

[bambino]

I had my first one last month.

They chatted to me about family health history, your health, how your feeling, previous relationships (they do like a psych test to see if you are mental capable) and give you general information to cover all aspects such as breast feeding, sleeping, diet, excercise etc.

They also take a urine sample, blood pressure and just a general check up.

They then make your next appointment and update your new file and give you a hospital card and a gift bag (bounty bag) with more info and samples.

They even chatted with DH for a while to get his feelings and background also.

It's nothing to worry about and really is exciting.

[SamanthaJane]

Whats a bounty bag? I never got one!!!:no:

[jessi]

I had mine yesterday!

The lady asked me lots of questions... checked mental health, medical history etc etc and then just gave me a HUGE pile of paper work to read on being in water for the birth, labour, pain relief and eating right.

She checked my blood pressure, weighed me, took my height and then handed me the Bounty Bag and I was on my way...

I think I was there maybe half an hour!

[Hokey Pokey]

Ask the midwife if you can get a bounty bag if you have not yet! It has magazines, info, samples etc in it :thumbsup:

[ForeverMine]

Hey Leesha

I have my first antenatal appiontment on the 1st of July (so excited :D) and they told me I was going to be with a midwife/doctor for 2 to 3 hours :eek: What can we talk about for that long????

Good luck with yours, talk to you soon

Christie

[Kamaikia]

I think it depends on where you go as to how long it will take and what they will do. My first one was about 20 minutes. Basic health questions, blood pressure check, baby heartbeat check and scheduled an ultrasound.
After that they were 5 minute visits. Go in ask how things have been, any concerns, would check blood pressure and heartbeat and thats it. I was never once given a urine test (now I know I should have demanded it though).
I never got a bounty bag either. :mad:

[SassyMummy]

I never got a mental examination? Maybe I just don't look crazy...lol.

For me, there was medical history and all of that (which was pretty quick). Due dates, weight, blah blah. Mostly just really boring stuff. Blood pressure, pee-test...

The main thing I remember was the doppler. Hearing my bubs heartbeat almost made me cry (and my friend too - DP had to work).

[Beany]

To all the folks that missed out on a Bounty Bag: you really didn't miss anything. In fact, you saved an acreage of trees from elimination as the bag is stuffed with bits of paper that relate to ... not very much at all, really.

Stuff worth keeping: there was a single nappy sample by Huggies, I think. If you go to their website and request a sample, they'll send you out 2. There was also a teeny tiny tub of nappy rash cream. I'm sure that's attainable from their website too.

Buy yourself a Bounty chocolate bar. Far more satisfying.

Leesha: wear easily removable clothing. While they might not make you take your kit off for kicks, there is a chance that they might. My first prenatal appointment was with an OB and he did the usual rapid-fire question round (and I didn't even win a washer and dryer! :mad: ) and followed it up with a rapid-fire physical. Brought back memories of the conception, really ...

:p

[Beany]

Okay, maybe I'm a freak of nature (don't all rush in to agree! I'm watching you!) but when I first heard the baby's heartbeat, with my OB smiling down at me all paternal-like and my husband across the room grinning like a Cheshire cat, all I did was say "swishy swishy".

Probably wrecked the model of maternal tenderness that the OB had encountered up to that point.

[Hokey Pokey]

LOL at the swishy swishy hehe :laughing: