Many women visit their GP first then get a referral to a hospital, obstetrician , birth centre or private midwife. While such referrals aren't always essential, they can provide useful information for the person or centre caring for you during your pregnancy , and will encourage the sharing of information from that person or centre back to your GP. Antenatal care refers to the care you will receive during your pregnancy.
At your first antenatal appointment , you can talk to your GP about your options for antenatal care and the birth. For example, you may be able to choose to have your baby in a public hospital, private hospital , birth centre or at home. Your choice will affect whether your regular check-ups and scans during your pregnancy are done by your GP or by a midwife or obstetrician.
Your GP will check your overall health and ask you about your medical history. They will want to know about any health issues that could affect you or your baby. They will probably offer you the first of many routine tests done in pregnancy. Some of these might be covered, or partially covered, by Medicare. It's a good idea to ask your GP about costs. Your doctor can also help you make lifestyle changes that are good for your baby.
Stopping smoking or drinking alcohol , for example, will help keep you and your baby healthy. Some GPs can be involved in antenatal care in a 'shared care arrangement' which is more common in rural areas. You could have some of your antenatal appointments at your doctor's clinic and some at a public hospital, or with your obstetrician.
Some GPs have done extra training in obstetrics and are known as GP obstetricians — they can provide antenatal care and be there for the birth. GPs are not usually involved in the antenatal care of your pregnancy if you are going to a birth centre or are planning a home birth, although they will still be involved in other aspects of your health. It's a good idea to see your GP at around 6 weeks after the birth. They will check your physical and emotional wellbeing and also your baby's health.
At this age, your baby is due for vaccinations. You can choose to get the vaccinations at the same appointment, if you wish. Age affects the fertility of both men and women, and is the single biggest factor affecting a woman? Allergy testing is used to find which substances provoke an allergic reaction. Androgen deficiency in women and its treatment is controversial, and more research is needed. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
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Home Healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy testing. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Blood pregnancy tests used by doctors Urine pregnancy tests used by doctors Home pregnancy test kits How to use a home pregnancy test kit False-positive results Other reasons for a missed period False-negative results Always see your doctor for confirmation Inaccurate results from tests given by the doctor Where to get help Things to remember.
Blood pregnancy tests used by doctors Your doctor can give you a blood pregnancy test as early as 11—14 days after ovulation. The two main types of blood pregnancy test include: Quantitative blood test — measures the exact amount of hCG in the blood and can give you an estimate of how far along the pregnancy has progressed.
Qualitative blood test — only checks for the presence of hCG. Urine pregnancy tests used by doctors The doctor can give you a urine pregnancy test. Home pregnancy test kits Home pregnancy test kits are available from pharmacists.
The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice.
Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Registry Builder New. Your First Prenatal Appointment. Medically Reviewed by Aaron Styer, M. Medical Review Policy All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. Your pregnancy test was positive yippee! Here's how to prepare and what to expect at your first prenatal appointment.
Back to Top. In This Article. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. They work by detecting hCG in your urine. HPTs are highly accurate. But their accuracy depends on many things. These include:. The most important part of using any HPT is to follow the directions exactly as written.
Most tests also have toll-free phone numbers to call in case of questions about use or results. If a HPT says you are pregnant, you should call your doctor right away. Your doctor can use a more sensitive test along with a pelvic exam to tell for sure if you're pregnant. Seeing your doctor early on in your pregnancy can help you and your baby stay healthy. Blood tests are done in a doctor's office. They can pick up hCG earlier in a pregnancy than urine tests can. Blood tests can tell if you are pregnant about six to eight days after you ovulate.
Doctors use two types of blood tests to check for pregnancy:. Department of Health and Human Services. ET closed on federal holidays. Breadcrumb Home Pregnancy Before you get pregnant Knowing if you are pregnant. Knowing if you are pregnant.
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