A first antenatal appointment covers a great deal of routine ground. These are the questions that tend to matter to the person in the chair, and that are easiest to forget to ask.
Bring a list — you will forget otherwise
First antenatal visits cover a lot of ground: dates, history, medication, bloods, scans, and a good deal of routine paperwork. Almost everyone leaves having forgotten the question they came in with. Writing it down beforehand solves that entirely.
Questions worth asking
- Which of my current medicines should continue, and which should not? This includes herbal preparations and supplements.
- What is my expected date, and how confident are we in it?
- Which scans and tests are coming, when, and what is each one for?
- What symptoms should make me call rather than wait for the next visit?
- What can I keep doing? Work, exercise, travel and fasting are all worth asking about directly.
- Who do I see if you are away?
A question you were too polite to ask is the one you will search for at midnight. Ask it in the room.
What to bring
A photo ID, any previous obstetric records, your current prescriptions, and recent reports if you have them. If you are attending with a partner or family member, they are welcome in the room — several of the answers are easier to remember with two people listening.
