Your first pregnancy visit involves being asked many questions and having several blood tests as well as a few simple examination procedures. Some procedures and tests offered are considered routine, meaning they are usually recommended for all pregnant women. However, others are optional depending on your preferences, after discussing them with your caregiver. If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy, thyroid or metabolic disorders, you may require additional tests. Women with multiple pregnancies or babies with suspected health issues may also require more testing than normal.

Standard tests and procedures you may be offered at your first pregnancy visit can include:

Blood tests

Urine tests

Physical examinations

Ultrasounds

Genetic testing

Blood tests

The first pregnancy visit is when most required blood tests are performed. Your caregiver will either take the blood during the consultation, or order the tests to be taken at the hospital or a private pathologist. They can include:

Group and antibodies

Iron, platelets and thalassaemia

Rubella, syphilis or VDRL

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis C

HIV/AIDS

Urine tests

You may be asked to provide a sterile urine specimen for testing, or perhaps be asked to bring a urine specimen with you in a clean jar to the appointment. A sterile urine specimen is sent to the pathologist to test for a possible bladder infection, which can sometimes occur without any obvious physical signs, called asymptomatic bacteriuria. For urine in a jar, your caregiver may just perform a rapid dipstick test to look for substances such as protein and perhaps glucose or ketones in the urine. This is explained fully in urine tests.

Physical examinations

A physical examination at the first pregnancy visit involves a few routine procedures. Your caregiver will take your