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the first trimester unless there is cause for concern which might make the health care provider want to monitor you more closely. During each prenatal visit the health care provider will take a urine sample to test for protein and sugar in the urine and screen out potential problems like toxemia and gestational diabetes. The health care provider will give you a general checkup and record your weight gain, heart rate and blood pressure at each visit in order to monitor potential problems which may arise during the pregnancy. They will also prescribe prenatal vitamins. On future visits they may prescribe iron supplements if blood work shows signs of anemia.

During the first prenatal visit the health care provider will naturally give you a pregnancy test to validate the pregnancy. The health care provider will perform a pelvic exam on the first or second visit to check the cervix for thickness and take cultures for testing for cervical cancer and STD's. They will also estimate the deliver date of the fetus based on the date of your last menstrual cycle. This may change later during the pregnancy. Most health care providers will use an ultra sound test sometime during the first trimester to verify the due date and screen for potential problems or fetal abnormalities.

Your health care provider will want to discuss your medical history with you during the first visit and may follow up on potential problems at later visits. They will discuss lifestyle activities which should be limited or eliminated and answer any concerns you may have regarding activities and lifestyle choices. They will need detailed information about prior pregnancies, family history of birth defects or abnormalities, previous gynecological problems, use of birth control, any surgeries you may have had, previous exposure to lead or mercury, and any prescription medications or over the counter medicines you may be using. They will need as much accurate information as possible in order to ensure maternal and fetal health throughout the pregnancy. They will also discuss any concerns about work or home environments to eliminate the risk of the fetus being exposed to possibly detrimental elements like chemicals, toxins, radiation or exposure to disease.
Testing and screening for potential maternal and fetal health problems and birth defects is usually done during the first trimester. Blood work is typically done throughout the pregnancy but mostly during the first trimester. Pregnancy blood work done during the first trimester include tests that will determine your blood type, rule out RH factor (a complication that can arise from the mother and fetus's blood being incompatible), to check pregnancy hormone levels in the blood, to check iron and glucose levels, to check for immunities or exposure to diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox and HIV and to check for possible exposure to syphilis and hepatitis B. Other blood work is done to rule out concerns about genetic disorders and potential birth defects. If these tests show any cause for concern, the health care provider will request additional tests to be done.

The first trimester is considered the most crucial for the development of the fetus. It is during this time that the major organs and nerve and brain systems develop. Your health care provider will be able to give you information on proper nutrition and diet during pregnancy, lifestyle choices to avoid and activities to limit throughout your first trimester in order to ensure the healthiest pregnancy possible.

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