What are the Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, you will go through a lot of changes and may have many new experiences and emotions. It is natural to have many questions. Asking questions can help you prepare for what happens during pregnancy, during labor and delivery, and after delivery (postpartum).

Your pregnancy health care provider is a good resource for reliable answers. Schedule an appointment with your health care provider if you are planning to get pregnant (preconception visit) or as soon as you know you are pregnant (prenatal visit).

New questions will come up as your pregnancy progresses. Write them down before each prenatal visit. This will help ensure that you get the information you need.

Questions to ask about pregnancy

After you find out that you are pregnant, you will want to learn more about what to expect from your prenatal visits and the different screening tests you may need.

You also need to understand how to best take care of yourself to help ensure a healthy pregnancy. In addition, you will want to know if you are at risk for complications and what problems you should watch for. Here are some common questions to ask your health care provider:

Prenatal visits and tests

• How often will I come in for my prenatal visits?
• Should I have a prenatal dental checkup?
• What type of screening tests should I consider? What are the risks and benefits of these tests?
• What type of routine exams are suggested and when?
• When would you recommend an ultrasound, and what will it show?
• Is there a nurse line I can call if I have questions?

Caring for yourself during pregnancy

• What is considered a healthy weight for me?
• What kinds of foods should I eat? Are there any I should avoid? What if I am on a special diet? Do I need supplements?
• When should I start taking my prenatal vitamins? What vitamins do you recommend?
• What kind of exercise should I get and how much?
• How much sleep is recommended now that I am pregnant?
• What kinds of things can I do to reduce stress and anxiety?
• Are there any travel restrictions?
• Is it okay to have sex?
• What types of substances should I avoid being exposed to? What if I am exposed at work?
• Why is it important not to smoke or drink alcohol? What about other drugs? Should I limit how much caffeine I get?
• Where can I get help if I am struggling to quit smoking, drinking, or taking drugs?
• Which medicines could be dangerous to take during pregnancy? How about supplements or herbal medicines?
• Are there vaccinations I should definitely get or avoid?

Complications

• Do I have any medical conditions that will need special treatment during pregnancy?
• What can I do if I have morning sickness?
• What complications should I look out for? What are the symptoms? When should I call?
• What if I have bleeding? How much bleeding is normal?
• What symptoms indicate a possible emergency? What should I do if I have any?

Questions to ask about labor and delivery

As you move through your pregnancy, you will start to think more about labor and delivery. To help make sure you understand your options, ask your health care provider questions such as:

• What are my options for labor and delivery?
• Should I create a birth plan? Can you give me some guidance? When is a good time to start working on this plan?
• Where can I have my baby? Is a birth center or home birth an option for me?
• What is natural childbirth? How do I learn more about it and prepare for it?
• What are my options for pain management? What are the risks and benefits of drugs to manage pain? What methods other than medicine might be used to help manage pain?
• When would a cesarean delivery—often called a C-section—be advised?
• Can I have a vaginal birth if I had a cesarean delivery in the past? How can I prepare for this?
• What is an episiotomy, and when might I need one?
• When would you recommend induced labor?

Questions to ask about what happens after delivery

While you are still pregnant, you can begin to think about questions that you may have after your baby is born. Here are a few questions that you may want to ask:

• How long will I need to stay in the hospital if I have a vaginal birth? What about if I have a cesarean delivery?
• Will I be in the same room as my baby (also called rooming-in)?
• What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
• When should I start preparing for breastfeeding? Can I take a class to prepare?
• How do I get back in shape after pregnancy? When can I exercise and have sex again?
• How soon can I get pregnant after giving birth? Should I use birth control?
• What is postpartum depression? What are the symptoms?

Summary

• Getting reliable answers to your questions during pregnancy is important to help you feel reassured and prepared.
• Your health care provider can be a valuable resource.
• Ask how you can prepare for and have a healthy pregnancy.
• Ask about what to expect during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and after your baby is born (postpartum).
• Be sure you know what signs could indicate a possible problem.