Antenatal Care During The First Trimester
Antenatal care refers to any and all medical supervision and treatment that you might receive whilst pregnant. Antenatal care is an important part of your pregnancy, and different parts of the pregnancy determine what kind of care you need. The pregnancy is split into three trimesters, each three months long and representing a set of developmental changes that a foetus undergoes. This article discusses some of the antenatal care you might experience or should seek during your first trimester.
Who do I see for antenatal care during my first trimester?
After a positive pregnancy test, your GP will usually refer you to a specialist obstetrics and gynaecology department which will take over your care. Or if you’d prefer you could inform a midwife of your pregnancy, and he or she would be able to arrange the necessary appointments.
What does antenatal care during the first trimester involve?
Generally speaking your first antenatal appointment will involve lots of information. You will be told about how important it is to eat right and keep yourself fit (while not overdoing it), and about the importance of particular parts of the diet, like vitamin D and folic acid. You will also be informed about how dangerous smoking and drug use can be, and will be screened to determine the health of your baby. Your midwife might also give some advice on how to deal with morning sickness, for example the use of ginger or antihistamines is often recommended as a safe way of dealing with the nausea and vomiting that can occur during the first trimester.
During your first appointment with either a midwife or doctor it is very important that you are completely honest in answering any questions you are asked about your lifestyle, even if you feel embarrassed by the answer. If you have had a child previously and experienced any complications you should bring that to light, and similarly if you are being treated for any kind of long-term illness like depression or diabetes, you will need to tell your doctor or midwife.
Your first appointment will also involve arranging a second appointment that will be scheduled for the end of the first trimester, usually between 8 and 12 weeks into the pregnancy. This is usually a two-hour appointment during which you can talk to your midwife or doctor about the pregnancy so far, ask any questions you may have, and undergo an ultrasound scan to check that all is well. You can expect to be given more information that is relevant to the second trimester of your pregnancy.
Attending your antenatal appointments is important as it allows your doctor to keep track of your pregnancy and ensure that everything is going well. It’s also a good way for you to find out about anything that may be bothering you, and thereby give you peace of mind.
« The First Trimester of Pregnancy The Second Trimester of Pregnancy »
- The Ultrasound Scan
- Internal Ultrasound
- Exterior Ultrasound
- Chorionic Villus Sampling During Pregnancy
- Advantages of Chorionic Villus Sampling Test
- Risks and Side Effects Involved in the Chorionic Villus Sampling Test
- Clinics Offering Chorionic Villus Sampling
- Chorionic Villus Sampling on the NHS
- Private Chorionic Villus Sampling
- Amniocentisis During Pregnancy
- Benefits of Having Amniocentesis
- Preparing for Amniocentesis
- Recovering from Amniocentesis
- After the Amniocentesis Test
- Risks of Amniocentesis
- Differences Between Chorionic Villus Sampling and Amniocentesis
- Rhesus Disease In Pregnancy
- Diagnosing Rhesus Disease During Pregnancy
- Treating Rhesus Disease In Pregnancy
- Preventing Rhesus Disease In Pregnancy
- Pre-Eclampsia During Pregnancy
- Causes of Pre-Eclampsia
- Risk of Pre-Eclampsia
- Diagnosing Pre-Eclampsia
- Treating Pre-Eclampsia
- NHS Amniocentesis During Pregnancy
- Private Amniocentesis During Pregnancy
- Preparing for Childbirth
- How do I Know if I’m in Labour?
- The Stages of Labour and What To Expect
- Coping and Preparing for Labour
- Foetal Heart Monitoring During Labour
- Birth Partners and What They Can Do To Help
- Choosing Where to Give Birth
- Choosing to Have a Home Birth
- Giving Birth at a Birth Centre or Midwifery Unit
- What is Assisted Delivery During Childbirth?
- Why Would Forceps be Used During Childbirth?
- Ventouse Delivery in Childbirth
- Childbirth & Caesarean
- The Caesarean Section Surgery
- Can I give ‘normal’ birth after a C-Section?
- Caesareans on the NHS vs. a Private Caesarean
- Pain Relief in Labour
- Using an Epidural for Pain Relief During Childbirth
- Pain Relief through TENS During Childbirth
- Natural Methods of Pain Relief During Labour
- Using Gas and Air for Pain Relief During Labour
- Hydrotherapy for Pain Relief During Childbirth
- The Use of Injectable Pain Relief During Labour
- What Happens After Labour?
- Breech Birth
- Vaginal Breech
- Delivering Twins
- Delivering Triplets
- Private Baby Scans
- Preparing For A Private Baby Scan
- Ultrasound In Private Baby Scans
- What Happens When You Have A Private Baby Scan?
- Do I Have To Have A Baby Scan?
- Are Private Baby Scans Better Than NHS Scans?
- Differences Between NHS And Private Baby Scans
- Early Pregnancy Baby Scan
- Pregnancy Dating Scan
- Pregnancy Combined Screening Test
- Non-Invasive Pre-Natal Testing (NIPT)
- NT (Nuchal Translucency) During Pregnancy
- Gender Baby Scans
- Pregnancy Detailed Or Anomaly Scans
- Foetal Growth Scan
- What Do Private Baby Ultrasound Scans Show?
- Private 3D and 4D Baby Scans
- Are 3D and 4D Baby Scans Safe?
- Cost Of Private 3D And 4D Baby Scans
- How Much Does A Private Baby Scan Cost?
- Are Baby Scans Painful?
- Who Can Go To A Private Baby Scan?
- After a Baby Scan
- Abnormalities In A Baby Scan
- Risks Associated With Private Baby Scans
- How Long Does A Baby Scan Take?
- How Often Can I Have Private Baby Scans?
- What Types Of Abnormalities Can A Private Baby Ultrasound Scan Detect?
- Other Private Antenatal Tests
PREGNANCY
- Find Private Pregnancy Clinics
- Pregnancy Guide
- Preparing to Have a Baby
- Getting Pregnant & Stopping Contraception
- Best Time to Conceive
- Finances & Baby Budgeting
- Maternity & Paternity Leave
- Preparing for Pregnancy, Work & Home Environment
- Nutrition & Lifestyle During Pregnancy
- Exercise & Weight During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy & Hereditary Diseases & Genetic Tests
- Is Genetic Testing Available on the NHS During Pregnancy?
- Private Genetic Testing During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy & Genetic Counselling
- Genetic Counselling on the NHS During Pregnancy
- Private Genetic Counselling During Pregnancy
- The Pre-Conception Test
- Pregnancy & The Canavan Disease Test
- Pregnancy & The Spinal Muscular Atrophy Test
- Pregnancy & The Bloom Syndrome Test
- Pregnancy & The Fragile X Syndrome Test
- Pregnancy & The Fanconi Anaemia Test
- Pregnancy & The Jewish Genetic Disease Test
- Pregnancy & The Niemann-Pick Test
- Pregnancy & The Cystic Fibrosis Test
- Pregnancy & The Tay Sachs Test
- Getting Pregnant & Your Fertility
- Fertility Screens & Tests
- Testicular Health and the Testicular Ultrasound Scan
- Female Health and the General Pelvic Ultrasound Fertility Scan
- Fertility Blood Tests
- Pregnancy & Hysterosalpingogram
- Pregnancy & Hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography
- Pregnancy & Laparoscopy
- Pregnancy & Hysteroscopy
- Pregnancy & Follicle Tracking Scan
- How do I Know if I’m Pregnant?
- Home Pregnancy Testing
- Pregnancy and Your Body
- What is Antenatal Care and Where do I get it?
- Antenatal Care on the NHS
- Private Antenatal Care
- The First Trimester of Pregnancy
- Antenatal Care During The First Trimester
- The Second Trimester of Pregnancy
- Antenatal Care During The Second Trimester
- The Third Trimester of Pregnancy
- Antenatal Care During the Third Trimester
- Your Pregnancy & Smoking
- Your Pregnancy & Nutrition
- Supplementing Vitamins and Minerals During Pregnancy
- Folic Acid During Pregnancy
- Vitamin D During Pregnancy
- Iron Levels During Pregnancy
- Caffeine During Pregnancy
- Drinking Alcohol During Pregnancy
- Exercise and Fitness During Pregnancy
- Exercises to Help Your Pregnancy
- Drug Use During Pregnancy
- Foods You Shouldn’t Be Eating While Pregnant
- Sex During Pregnancy
- Antenatal Checks of Maternal Health
- Antenatal Screens and Tests of Foetal Health