There are many important pregnancy questions to ask your doctor when you find out you’re pregnant.
During pregnancy, you’re excited, scared, nervous, and anxious, all at the same time. This was how I felt when I first walked into the doctor’s office as a first-time mom-to-be.
Before I chose to go the midwife route, I saw my family doctor to confirm my pregnancy, and go over the next steps. I had so many questions that I needed answers to (there is only so much Dr. Google can do).
I’ve also been told by multiple doctors not to rely on Google for medical advice, so I made sure to write a list down of questions.
Also, if you don’t ask questions, doctors/midwives can’t read your mind, so don’t be shy and ask away, that’s what they’re there for.
Doctors can prevent symptoms from happening, so if you don’t feel right, or something seems off to you, then I advise you to get into contact with your doctor or midwife.
Again, don’t feel shy or embarrassed to ask questions about pregnancy and/or childbirth.
In most cases, doctors don’t judge, and I’m sure they’ve heard a million different questions in their lifetime (even embarrassing ones).
I say this because if you’re feeling certain symptoms it might mean something serious, and your doctor/midwife will be able to detect it early (so speak up ladies).
Here are a few pregnancy questions you need to ask your doctor, and the ones that I asked as well.
**By the way, this post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you. I only list products that I love and have used myself. Thank you!**
1. What Exercises can I do, and How Often?
This is a really important one. Pregnant women need to understand that not all workouts and exercises are safe to do. You also need to look at different factors such as how active you were before pregnancy, and if you have any prior injuries before you got pregnant.
Before I got pregnant I was an avid goer of Oxygen Yoga (still am). I also have two slipped discs in my back, so this was a concern for myself, my doctor, and my midwife.
I loved going to Oxygen Yoga, basically it’s Bikram’s Yoga on steroids (cardio and weights in 40 degree infrared heat). I made sure to let my doctor know, and to my surprise, he told me to stop immediately. The excess heat is extremely dangerous to the fetus.
A mom, who frequents the gym often, will be able to do more than someone who is a bit more sedentary. However, all mama-to-be’s should always stay active, even if it means walking for an hour a day (keep on moving ladies).
Also ask how much of a certain exercise you should be doing, and how you should be doing it. If you like running, how long is it safe to run for? If you like swimming, is there a certain swimming technique you need to stay away from? If you’re into bodybuilding, are there certain exercises and machines you shouldn’t do?
These are all great questions to ask your medical practitioner, to make sure your baby doesn’t go into distress while you’re exercising.
2. How Much Weight Should I Gain?
This is a good question to ask. So many ladies believe the saying “you’re eating for two.” You’re not eating for two, as much as you want to believe that, I’m sorry.
Eat clean & whole healthy foods, indulge once in a while, and try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. P.S. never say to a pregnant woman that they’re eating for two, this is one of my greatest pet peeves.
The average amount of weight you should gain is around 25-30 pounds, but again each woman is different, so ask your doctor/midwife. They will weigh you during your first visit, so make sure you ask how much weight you should gain for a healthy pregnancy.
If you’re underweight, overweight, or normal, you need to find out the exact number of weight you should gain.
Of course we’re going to have our moments where we want to indulge. But check your weight frequently. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later, once your baby is born, and you don’t have much weight to lose (losing baby weight is bloody tough, but we’ll talk about that in a future post).
Try using this pregnancy weight gain calculator, to help get an estimate on healthy weight gain during your pregnancy.
3. What Screenings do I Need?
Based on your age and other factors, certain women need certain prenatal screenings. Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), is a non-invasive blood test that measures the amount of fetal DNA and tests for abnormalities such as Downs Syndrome and Trisonomy X.
It also can detect the sex of your baby; if that’s something you want to know. The NIPT test is usually recommended for women 40 years or older, however anyone can take this test (you’ll just have to pay a hefty price, I did, but it was worth it).
Some women might have to get an amniocentesis done, which is a better confirmation of abnormalities than the NIPT test. This test is required if the NIPT test detects an abnormality and further testing is required.
Ask your doctor what an amniocentesis is, how it works, and what the risks are for you and your baby.
All women will get an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy in the beginning, as well as around 20 weeks of pregnancy. There may be more ultrasounds depending on any complications that you have throughout your pregnancy.
So depending on your age and other medical factors, ask your doctor/midwife what screenings they recommend for you, how they work, how much they cost, and what the risks may be.
4. WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I EXPECT?
This was one of the millions of pregnancy questions I asked my midwife. It’s a broad question, but your medical practitioner can give you an idea of certain symptoms you might face. The internet has a lot of different opinions, and again, I advise you to avoid Dr. Google.
I had severe pelvic pain called Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). With SPD, your pelvic spreads apart as it is getting ready for labor, and OMG it was seriously so painful (started at 20 weeks throughout the remainder of my pregnancy). This was discussed on one of my first visits with my midwife, so when I started feeling the pain, I knew it had to be SPD.
I did confirm that it was definitely SPD, and my midwife gave me great exercises to do to help ease the pain (the pain went away 100% once my son was born).
You can read more about SPD here.
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5. How do I Know When to go to the Hospital?
When I first went into labor my husband and I got sent home (after getting a nice shot of morphine & gravol to ease the pain). The reason we were sent home was because I wasn’t dilated enough.
In most cases, hospitals won’t admit you until you’re around 4 cm dilated. There’s also a rule taught by my midwives, which was to call them when my contractions were every four to five minutes, one minute apart, for one hour (4:1:1 rule).
Ask your doctor what the difference is between a Braxton Hicks contraction and a regular contraction. Many women experience Braxton Hicks contractions, and are usually turned away from the hospital due to false labor (some women go multiple times during their pregnancy, and most likely turned away).
Again, every doctor has different answers so make sure you ask (and write them down). When my midwife was explaining when to come in by the 4:1:1 rule (contractions every four minutes, lasting a minute, for an hour), It took me a while to figure it ( again, I blame my mommy brain).
Also when your water breaks (which mine did), your baby will be born in the next 24 hours, so in between that time you will be checking into your hospital..
6. What Does Bedrest Mean?
The term bed rest differs between women. Some women might be told to stay in bed and are restricted to activity, some may be able to do light to moderate activity, it depends on your symptoms and complications.
Women who are told to go on bed rest may have one or a few complications, including high blood pressure, vaginal bleeding, premature labor, gestational diabetes, etc.
Women who have high-risk pregnancies are advised to choose doctor as opposed to a midwife. Your doctor/midwife will help you manage your complication and give you advice as to how to manage your bed rest (it’s different for how severe your complication is).
Ask pregnancy-related questions about bed rest, such as what positions are best for bed rest? How can I deal with bed rest discomforts? And how can I make the best out of bed rest.
7. What Foods Should I Eat? And What Foods Should I Avoid?
You’d be surprised at what foods you can’t eat during pregnancy. Ask your doctor about safe & unsafe foods. You can also read my previous post 20 Must-Do’s When You Find Out You’re Pregnant, where I discuss foods to avoid and foods to consume while you’re pregnant.
I read online that there are certain cheeses you need to stay away from such as feta and goat cheese (I was so sad, I love my cheese). But when I asked my doctor, he said as long as it pasteurized cheese, then it’s safe to eat.
See? Asking pregnancy-related questions is a good thing; I was still able to eat that beautiful feta and goat cheese throughout my pregnancy.
I know it’s hard, but try to stay away from processed food and/or fast food. It’s okay to indulge once in a while, but try to keep it at a limit.
Every time I ate something I always thought of my babe, and how the food I was about to consume would affect my baby. Have a cheat meal (or two) a week. Try to focus on whole foods that nourish not only you but your baby as well.
You can take a look here to see a full list of foods to avoid while pregnant. But I also advise you to discuss this with your doctor as well
8. Which Medications or Vitamins Do I Need to Take/Stay Away From?
This is one of the most important pregnancy questions to ask your doctor.
All doctors/midwives will encourage you to take prenatal vitamins throughout your entire pregnancy.
Prenatal vitamins are a must, as not only do they help nourish your babe, but they also help in preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida (waddup folic acid). These are the ones I took during my pregnancy.
Centrum Prenatal + DHA
Specially formulated for women before, during, and after pregnancy, Centrum Prenatal+DHA combines a prenatal multivitamin tablet with a small softgel of DHA and EPA omega-3 fatty acids.
WHY WE LOVE IT
- 23 essential vitamins and minerals including folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin B, and vitamin D
- helps prevent neural tube defects
- Multiple Health Benefits for You and Your Baby
Some women might have severe morning sickness (I was one of those lucky women). I was put on Diclectin, which was a medication to help ease the sickness.
If you suffer from morning sickness, ask your healthcare practitioner what your options are.
Some may advise you to try all-natural remedies before you start taking medications.
Most midwives prefer all-natural remedies, but they didn’t work for me, so Diclectin it was.
There is some pain medications that you are encouraged to stay away from during pregnancy.
Ask your doctor/midwife what they are. Most likely you’ll be feeling many aches and pains throughout your pregnancy, and you want to make sure you take the right pain medications that won’t harm your baby.
9. What is Gestational Diabetes, and How Can I Prevent it?
This was one of the first pregnancy questions that I asked, because I knew a lot of women in my circle of friends/family that got it.
Gestational diabetes usually occurs between weeks 24 to week 28 of pregnancy. All women will get tested for gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, no matter what.
Women who are overweight, have a higher level of abdominal fat, older than 35, and have had a previous past with gestational diabetes, are more likely to get it. Take a look at this article for more information on gestational diabetes.
Ask your doctor how you can prevent this. In a lot of cases, gestational diabetes can happen randomly due to your hormones creating high levels of sugar in the blood.
Even the healthiest of people have gotten gestational diabetes.
If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I HIGHLY recommend spending a good amount of time with your doctor, and discuss how to maintain and treat it. It is so crucial to stay on top of things to ensure the safety of yourself and your babe.
10. Do I Have Travel Restrictions?
For someone who loves traveling, this was an important pregnancy question to ask my doctor.
I found out I was 8 weeks pregnant on a trip to Croatia with my husband. When we came back, I made sure to ask my doctor when traveling becomes unsafe, as well as if I was safe during my travels to Europe.
Most women can still travel up to 36 weeks pregnant. However, women with certain complications are discouraged to travel, and this is an important pregnancy question to ask.
This includes flights, road trips, and anywhere where you’re going to be more than an hour away from your hospital.
If you’re itching to get away, try doing a more relaxing trip as opposed to something where you’ll be on your feet a lot.
If your pregnancy is going smoothly, and you feel well enough to travel, then hop on a plane, bus, scooter, whatever you like, and treat yourself to a nice vacation or babymoon (you deserve it mama).
11. What is Your Doctor’s Personal C-Section Rate?
This information might be hard to obtain, however, it’s still a good question to ask. I don’t know about you, but the C-section rate amongst the women in my circle of friends and family is pretty high.
Recovering from a C-section is much harder & different than a vaginal delivery, and can also come with different complications as well.
If you ‘re set on having a vaginal delivery, then it’s important to discuss this with your doctor.
There is nothing wrong with having a C-section, sometimes it’s required because the baby is in distress, or there is another issue where the baby can’t be delivered vaginally.
Some doctors prefer C-sections to vaginal births, and some doctors feel that they can’t control the situation much with vaginal births, so they opt into C-sections.
Every doctor is different, so ask yours what his or her thoughts are. If you don’t feel comfortable with his or her answer, then maybe try looking for another doctor who is right for you.
12. What Are Good Positions and Techniques to Help You Get Through Labour?
During my pregnancy, I saw a group of four midwives, and they taught me a lot of very good positions and techniques to help me get through labor.
For most women, you will be at home for a big chunk of your labor, so having these techniques help.
Ask your doctor/midwife what the best positions are, how your husband/partner can help, if there are certain things you can drink or eat, if taking a bath will help ease the pain etc…
Doctors and midwives have different techniques to help ease the pain, and even get labor started quicker.
So ask away, and make sure you write these down.
13. If You Have to be Induced, When Will This Happen?
This might be a pregnancy question you want to ask your medical practitioner in your third trimester.
After your water breaks, there is a 24 hour period in which you have to have your baby. If your labor goes over 24 hours, then your doctor will have to induce you, usually due to the possibility of infection.
However, doctors would rather not wait that long because it is kinda cutting it short.
Again, each medical practitioner is different, and will give you a different answer as to what they feel is best for you.
Ask how the induction process works and how you need to prepare yourself for it. Is it more painful than a regular delivery?
Are there more complications to yourself and the baby? What is the possibility of myself getting induced?
14. Ask Questions about Insurance.
I live in Canada. We pretty much have free health care. There are also a lot of perks you can get with your health insurance.
Your insurance will likely cover the cost of breast pumps, however you need a doctors note explaining that you have a medical reason as to why you can’t breastfeed.
For people living in the US, there are a lot of pregnancy-related questions that you need to ask regarding insurance.
Here’s a great article that includes all of the important questions to ask your healthcare practitioner regarding health insurance for people living in the US. (give it a good read, there a lot of great questions that NEED to be asked to get the most out of your insurance).
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Here you go mamas, common pregnancy questions to ask your doctor or midwife. Whether they are pregnancy questions to ask your doctor or midwife during your first visit, or 10th visit, never be afraid to ask questions.
As a mom-to-be take a careful and informed approach when you choose your medical practitioner.
I chose a midwife because I had a low-risk pregnancy, it’s covered in our medical service plan, and I did a lot of research on how great midwives are. However, some women feel safer with a doctor and that is okay (to each their own).
Do what makes you feel comfortable. Whatever medical practitioner you choose,
Always always always ask questions. Even if you feel like you’re asking a million questions, it’s okay, that’s what they’re there for (and getting paid for). If you’re too embarrassed to ask certain questions, just say you’re asking for a friend. Works every time 😉
Oh yeah, REMEMBER to write things down regarding pregnancy questions you ask your doctor.
Mommy brain is in full effect, and you will most definitely forget half the things the doctor/midwife says when you leave the office.
Do you have any other important must ask questions for your doctor or midwife? What are some embarrassing questions you’ve had to ask your medical practitioner? Comment Below
Cheers,
