Pregnancy is one of the most miraculous chapters of a mother’s life. It marks the start of emotional and biological transformation that will change you and your loved ones’ lives forever! As you begin your beautiful journey to parenthood, the first major task that you should bear in mind is the initial or first prenatal visit. Prenatal care is an essential preventive health service designed to ensure the total well-being of both you and your growing baby, thereby nurturing a positive pregnancy experience.¹ Scroll down to learn more about what you can expect during your very first prenatal visit!

WHEN SHOULD YOUR FIRST PRENATAL VISIT HAPPEN?

The first prenatal visit should ideally be done within 10 weeks of getting pregnant because this not only confirms your pregnancy, but also identifies what you can do best to keep your baby strong and healthy in the upcoming months. Additionally, a major focus of the first prenatal visit is determining social drivers of your health, such as the ability to access healthy food, rigidity of your daily work schedule, and, most importantly, your support system.²
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WHAT TO EXPECT

The first prenatal visit, whether conducted virtually through telehealth or in-person, involves a comprehensive assessment into your health. During the session, your healthcare provider will review your complete medical, obstetric, and family history to identify any risk factors that may put you or your baby at risk early on.³

ROUTINE LABORATORY TESTING

One of the most crucial parts of the first prenatal visit is establishing your clinical baseline (current health status) through performing standard laboratory tests. These include:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Check for conditions like anemia, as well as ensuring you have enough healthy red blood cells to support your expanding blood volume.
• Blood Type and Rh Factor: Knowing your Rh status is important to prevent future complications. If you are Rh-negative, and your partner or sperm donor is Rh-positive, your doctor will likely plan to give you medication later in the pregnancy to protect the baby.
• Urinalysis and Urine Culture: Check for urinary tract infections that show no symptoms but need to be treated during pregnancy.
• Infectious Disease Screening: American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends universal screening for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C early in pregnancy to ensure immediate treatment, if necessary, and to begin steps to prevent transfer to your baby. Screenings for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are also standard and early treatment can prevent your baby experiencing complications such as blindness, meningitis, and sepsis .
• Early Glucose Screening: Every pregnant patient should be monitored for blood glucose levels to detect abnormal levels and allow for early intervention to prevent complications like abnormal fetal size and nutrition. If you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, in addition with another risk factor (such as a family history of diabetes or high blood pressure), ACOG recommends an early 75-g or 50-g oral glucose tolerance test at this initial visit to check for type 2 diabetes.⁴

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PRIORITIZING YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Pregnancy is as much a psychological journey as it is a physical one. If you are feeling worried, you are absolutely not alone! Approximately 37% to 42% of first-time pregnant mothers experience anxiety, particularly because of the health of the baby, the physical mechanics of labor, and impending lifestyle changes.⁷

Because your emotional well-being directly impacts your baby's development, screening for depression and anxiety should be done during the first initial prenatal visit.⁸ Your prenatal care team should aim to support you holistically, and identifying these feelings at the first visit helps to ensure you get the uplifting, therapeutic support you deserve throughout your entire pregnancy. If your provider is not asking these questions, feel free to volunteer this information! Any question or concern you have is valid and deserving of an answer. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I do my very first visit online?
Yes! The initial needs assessment can absolutely be completed via telehealth, depending on your provider’s policies, saving you time and reducing travel stress while you are experiencing first-trimester fatigue.² But, there are a number of advantages to an in-person appointment, such as checking growth earlier so that early steps can be taken if any issues are identified.

Will I hear the baby's heartbeat at the first appointment?
It actually depends on exactly how far along you are in your pregnancy. Fetal heart tones are typically checked and heard after 10 to 12 weeks of gestation using a handheld Doppler monitor placed over the abdomen. However, if your visit is earlier than that, you might be able to see the heartbeat on an early transvaginal ultrasound instead. Transvaginal ultrasounds can typically identify the heartbeat by 6 weeks.

Do I have to take all the genetic tests offered?
Genetic screenings are entirely optional. Your provider will offer them to you and help you navigate the information, but the final decision to proceed is always 100% yours.⁶ Genetic testing can offer a lot of valuable information, but it can also create anxiety. Plan on speaking to a genetic counselor if you decide to do the testing.

ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FIRST VISIT

TIP #1: Write Everything Down
Keep a running list of questions on your phone in the weeks leading up to your appointment to ensure all your questions and doubts are addressed.

TIP#2: Gather Your Family History
Knowing if there is a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, postpartum depression, pregnancy loss, or genetic conditions is important information that will help your healthcare provider personalize your care.³

TIP#3: Bring a Support Person
Having someone during the first prenatal visit to hold your hand, take notes, and share in the excitement makes the experience special and less intimidating. Debrief with them after so you can be sure you understood and heard everything your provider said.
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TIP#4: Advocate for Yourself
If you are feeling anxious, please do not hesitate to share. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health, and having early, gentle support is transformative.
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THE NATUROPATHIC APPROACH

Your first prenatal visit is a beautiful milestone where your pregnancy transitions from a personal secret into a shared journey of holistic and loving care. At Natural Path to Wellness your team will help you nurture your pregnancy through a tailored and personalized approach that compliments that offered by your prenatal care team. Conventional prenatal care can feel incomplete or rushed, but adjunctive naturopathic prenatal care can help you create the pregnancy journey that feels right for you. Talk to us today! ​

Written by Kate Nemenzo

Edited and medically reviewed by Marney Johnson, ND, MSCI-TS 

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
​Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information. ​

​REFERENCES:  

1. World Health Organization. WHO recommendation on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. NCBI Bookshelf. Published 2016. Accessed May 25, 2026.
2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Tailored Prenatal Care Delivery for Pregnant Individuals: ACOG Clinical Consensus No. 8. Obstet Gynecol. 2025;145(5):565-577. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005889
3. The OBG Project. Initial Prenatal Needs Assessment and New Recommendations for Prenatal Visits. The OBG Project. Published August 7, 2022. Accessed May 25, 2026.
4. StatPearls. Routine early testing for type 2 diabetes at the initial prenatal visit. NCBI Bookshelf. Published 2024.
5. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Screening for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 226. Obstet Gynecol. 2020;136(4):e48-e69.
6. Farrell RM, et al. Reconsidering the First Prenatal Visit: The Role of Shared Decision-Making in Prenatal Genetic Screening. Prenat Diagn. 2023.
7. Răchită AIC, Strete GE, Sălcudean A, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of depression and anxiety among women in the last trimester of pregnancy: a cross-sectional study. Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(6):1009.
8. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Screening and Diagnosis of Mental Health Conditions During Pregnancy and Postpartum: ACOG Clinical Practice Guideline No. 4. Obstet Gynecol. 2023;141(6):1232-1261. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000005200