11 Crucial Pregnancy Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Expecting a baby and not sure what you should be doing? Check out these pregnancy questions to ask your doctor at your first prenatal visit.

Pregnancy Questions to Ask Your DoctorAnxious, excited, overwhelmed… I entered the doctor’s office as a soon-to-be first time mom, overcome with how new everything would be for me.

I figured the basics about pregnancy, but still had many questions. For instance, I’d heard I should avoid certain food, but which ones? How would I know when I’m supposed to go to the hospital? And what were the best ways to avoid the dreaded preterm labor?

Doctors are fantastic at providing an overview of your pregnancy, especially on that first visit. But you’ll also have pregnancy questions to ask your doctor that you’ll—of course!—only remember as you’re driving home.

Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.

Prenatal care is one of the most important factors in a healthy pregnancy. Your healthcare provider can monitor your progress using technology in ways you can’t always see or feel. She can catch or prevent certain pregnancy symptoms or abnormalities from happening, and give you a guideline of how to handle any issues.

Prenatal visits are also your opportunity to voice your concerns, ask pregnancy questions, and learn. Think of these appointments as your own one-on-one consultation.

You’ll have many questions throughout pregnancy, especially about your own unique needs. But I’ve learned that certain questions are a must, preferably during your first prenatal appointment. Here are a few pregnancy questions to ask your doctor:

1. “What kind of exercise should I be doing?”

Most pregnancies can benefit from exercise. I credit working out with helping my first pregnancy feel as comfortable as possible for most of those months.

But depending on your activity level and pregnancy needs, you may have a different routine than another mom. Someone who had always gone to the gym will have a unique regimen than the one who hasn’t been too active.

And if you had a twin pregnancy like I did, sometimes exercise isn’t even the best option. Your doctor may prefer you do light activities and focus instead on resting.

Free printables: These pregnancy questions to ask your doctor are only some of the many tasks to do as you prepare for the baby. That’s why I created a checklist of all the things to get done before your little one is born! Join my newsletter and grab your printable checklist below—at no cost to you:Pregnancy To Do List

2. “How much weight should I gain?”

Healthy weight gain is a huge factor in your pregnancy, and again, your doctor will tailor how much you should gain during this time. Depending on your current weight, she’ll give you a range to aim for, and even break it down by how much to gain by week or trimester.

You may not be able to gain as much weight at the end of your third trimester, especially when your belly has no room for comfortable eating and digestion. But if you’re like me, you might have a difficult time gaining weight in the first trimester too, especially with nausea and morning sickness.

Find out how much weight you should gain so you and your ob-gyn can check your progress during the next several months.

Signs You're in the First Trimester

3. “What should I eat and drink?”

I was surprised by the many restrictions a pregnancy places on women. Some seemed obvious, like avoiding raw fish, but others were less so. For instance, I didn’t know about avoiding deli meat unless it was heated, or that Caesar dressing isn’t the best choice because of raw eggs.

Find out which food your doctor recommends you should eat, too. Depending on your needs, you may have to steer toward certain types of meals. Anemia might mean increasing your meat intake, while leafy vegetables can ease constipation.

4. “Which vitamins do I take?”

Prenatal vitamins are a must for every pregnancy. You can avoid many complications by taking enough vitamins throughout these next several months. And depending on your pregnancy, your doctor may recommend certain prescriptions or add extra vitamins if you need it.

When I had twins, I took extra supplements of vitamin D, calcium, iron, and folic acid (to the tune of almost 10 times more the amount in the regular prenatal vitamin).

5. “How often will I visit you during pregnancy? And who do I call if you’re not available?”

Most prenatal visits are once a month, which increase toward the third trimester.

To help you better plan your calendar, find out how often your doctor needs to see you. Then, discuss her policy of whom you should call if she’s not available. You’ll want to know which doctors you can expect if she isn’t around, both for regular visits or even the day you give birth as well (you never know!).

6. “What symptoms should I expect? Which abnormal ones should I call you about?”

Pregnancy includes a slew of symptoms that vary from mom to mom. Your doctor can give you an overview of symptoms you might see, especially depending on the stage you’re in and your circumstances.

Then, learn which symptoms might be warning signs of problems. As scary as it may be to think about these signs, recognizing them is important. Many are innocent and normal on their own, but in rare occasions can point to problems your doctor needs to know about.

7. “What complications or sign of preterm labor should I look out for?”

Most pregnancies have little complications to watch out for, but being aware of any potential ones you might have can help.

Avoid researching every complication that probably won’t happen—this will only worry you. Instead, ask your doctor if she sees potential complications, based on your medical history, that you should be aware of.

Then, ask her what signs of preterm labor you should watch for. What does she consider an immediate call to the doctor, and which ones can you handle at home?

8. “What is your policy on bed rest?”

I felt more comfortable with a doctor who isn’t shy about writing a note to put you on bed rest. Doctors aren’t out to screw your employer or game the system. They’re advocating for your best health, even if that means you leave work earlier than your boss would like.

Because sometimes, there truly are legitimate excuses to get out of work while you’re pregnant. Unfortunately, not all doctors agree, as I’ve heard from a few friends whose doctors hesitated to listen to their woes. Find out early on what her policy is on bed rest should you ever need it.

Excuses to Get Out of Work While Pregnant

9. “Do I have travel restrictions?”

Most pregnant women can still travel up to 36 weeks. But depending on your health and type of pregnancy, find out exactly when your doctor recommends you stay local.

And discuss what she means by “travel.” Does that mean airplane travel, a certain distance, or time away? My doctor discouraged me from going to a wedding an hour away during my high-risk pregnancy with twins.

Your doctor has good reason to limit your travel. Travel is stressful enough as it is for regular people, but even more so for pregnant moms. This added stress can add more complications on top of your current discomfort and health conditions.

Babies are also viable after a certain point and will be placed in a NICU if needed. If you’re across the country and your baby is in the NICU, you won’t be able to take him home until he’s released. This complicates matters in ways I can’t even  imagine.

10. “What screenings do I need?”

Your doctor may recommend certain screenings depending on many factors, from age to ethnicity. Certain ethnicities are more prone to particular complications, and age could play a factor in your pregnancy.

Find out which screenings are available, including which ones she recommends and which you can opt out of.

11. “When labor begins, when should I go to the hospital?”

Despite what we may see on television or the movies, people don’t always rush to the hospital at the first contraction. Depending on many factors like your health or whether this is your first pregnancy, your doctor will tell you when it’s time to go to the hospital.

This might be from how long contractions last to the spacing between when they happen.

Then, find out when you can expect to see her once you’re in the hospital. Again, despite my initial misconception, doctors don’t show up the minute you arrive. In fact, you may labor in the hospital for hours, with nurses calling your doctor for updates.

Not until the last few moments will she arrive and deliver the baby.

Conclusion

No one likes feeling anxious or overwhelmed, especially during a time when we’re supposed to be taking care of ourselves. One of the best things to do to ease your worries is to know the important pregnancy questions to ask your doctor that will make you more informed.

Find out what exercise you can do, as well as how much weight to gain. Discuss any restrictions or recommendations for food, and which vitamins to take. Talk about how often you should attend prenatal visits, and symptoms and complications to watch out for.

Check her policy on bed rest, travel restrictions, and screenings she recommends. And finally, talk about your action plan for labor, including when to go to the hospital.

With these questions, you’ll stop feeling clueless and instead get a better handle on your journey moving forward. You’ll have a plan to steer you during pregnancy. Nine months can seem like a lifetime of waiting for your little one, but now you’ve got the questions–and the answers—to feel better prepared.

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