Title: What is involved in a prenatal physical exam? | Health & Pregnancy - Sharecare
Headings: What is involved in a prenatal physical exam?
What is involved in a prenatal physical exam?
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Content: What is involved in a prenatal physical exam? | Health & Pregnancy - Sharecare
What is involved in a prenatal physical exam? Paula Greer
Midwifery Nursing Specialist
A prenatal exam includes a thorough medical, family and social history to obtain all the necessary information to help take care of you during your pregnancy. It also includes some family and medical history from the father of the baby to determine if there any genetic factors that might affect your baby. It also includes a regular physical exam like you would get with your primary care provider plus a thorough pelvic exam like you would get with your ob/gyn. A thorough physical is done to assure you have no medical problems that would affect your pregnancy. Many tests will be performed including pap smears, STD cultures, urine testing, bloodwork and ultrasounds. It is important to know things like your blood type, whether you are immune to things like rubella which can cause birth defects during pregnancy, as well as whether you currently have any signs of cancer or infections or any recent exposures to things which might harm your baby. Your uterus will be sized to see how far along your pregnancy is and if you are having more than one baby. A dating sonogram will also be ordered to confirm the findings.