Preparing for Your First OBGYN Visit

When you are heading into your first appointment with your OBGYN, it’s very common and easy to get anxious and/or forget what you want to ask. I definitely made my doctor look at me like a crazy person, (red flag) when I pulled out my journal and had a list of 30 questions to ask. I will 100% recommend asking every question you can possibly think of, EVEN IF you think it’s dumb or embarrassing. If your ONGYN makes you feel less than heard or understood, they are probably not the doctor for you.

Your OBGYN will ask you a dozen questions before your exam. You will need to know when your last period is. They will need this information to determine your “estimated” due date. This may change later after an ultrasound or two, but for now, this is your due date. You can use this time to ask your questions, or you can wait until after your physical exam so there’s less tension. But don’t forget to ask the questions altogether, may be better to get them out of the way at the beginning. (You could be more comfortable for an exam if you establish a rapport with your OBGYN.)

It’s important to be honest and upfront with your OBGYN. They are there to take care of you and your unborn child, not to judge you, but they can’t do that without having the correct information. If you feel like your doctor is judging you, not listening to you, or not helping because of personal views, it’s time to switch doctors. You will be with your OBGYN through your entire pregnancy, through labor, and the birth of your child (the most important moment of your life). Not to mention after birth and future gynecological care.

You can use these questions, to figure out if your doctor is right for you. Pick and choose which questions are most important to you, use them all, or build off of them and add your own. It is all about your comfort and level of care.

Experience and Credentials:

• Are you board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)?
  • Some people choose to use a midwife for their prenatal care and their regular gynecological care. There is nothing wrong with this. If you are high-risk, however, you must use a board-certified OBGYN for your prenatal care.
• How many years of experience do you have?
  • How long have you been a doctor? How many births have you attended? This may not matter to everyone, but it matters to some people to have an OBGYN with years of experience under their belt. Especially if there are any complications or issues during your pregnancy.
• Have you handled cases similar to mine?
  • If you have gone through a pregnancy before, and you know that you had issues, you may want to have a doctor who has handled issues like yours before. If you are high risk before pregnancy (if you have diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, etc.) you may want to work with a doctor that has dealt with those specific problems.

Hospital Affiliation:

• Which hospitals do you have admitting privileges at?
  • You live outside of the city and there are many hospitals inside of the city. If you go into labor early and can’t make it to your specific hospital, will your doctor have privileges at the hospital you end up at? If you end up having an emergency c-section, will your doctor be able to perform the procedure? Will you be comfortable with another doctor if your doctor doesn’t have privileges at the hospital you are at? You can learn about hospital privileges here.
• Is the hospital you’re affiliated with convenient for me?
  • If your OBGYN is in a private office, you will likely need to visit a hospital for labor and delivery. If the only hospital your doctor works with is 45 minutes away from you, this may not be the best option. You have to look for an OBGYN that meets all of your needs.

Office Location and Hours:

• Where is your office located?
  • Near? Far? In another town?
• What are your office hours?
  • I was surprised to find out that my doctor’s office closed at noon on Fridays. Some offices are closed daily for lunch. It is important to know when you will be able to reach your OBGYN and when you will need to head to a hospital.
• Do you offer telehealth appointments?
  • Besides tests, getting measured, and checking for the baby’s heartbeat, you may want to visit your doctor for other reasons. They are not just your baby’s doctor, but also your gynecologist. You may not want to drive 20-30 or more minutes to the doctor to just ask about heartburn or get medicine for a UTI. Telehealth appointments blew up with COVID-19 started, and have since still been a large practice. If this is important to you, be sure to ask your OBGYN upon your first visit.

Insurance and Billing:

• Do you accept my insurance plan?
  • Prenatal care alone can be costly. Labor and delivery will be even more so. In the event that you have to have a cesarean, you may be paying medical bills for a very long time.
• What are your billing and payment policies?
  • My doctor’s office required that I pay a $2000 fee before my 16th week ON TOP of what my insurance was paying them. Not as a deductible, but as a standard fee. Knowing the required fees and payment options upfront will help you better prepare.

Pregnancy and Childbirth:

• What is your approach to prenatal care?
  • My husband and I chose a more natural and holistic approach to childbirth and pregnancy. We wanted to let the baby come when she wanted to and how I felt comfortable having her.
• Do you support natural childbirth, or do you have a preference for medical interventions?
  • Many doctors and nurses SAY that they are open to natural childbirth but push you repeatedly to have an epidural. How long would you like to wait before medical interventions? Can Dad help out with the labor at all? Here is a mini comparison of natural vs. medicated childbirth.
• How do you handle emergencies during labor?
  • Suction? Episiotomy? Immediately take to cesarean or how long do we wait?
• How do you involve patients in decision-making?
  • Will they ask you before doing ANYTHING? Or only things they deem necessary? Will your SO have input?

Gynecological Care:

• What services do you offer for routine gynecological care?
  • Pelvic exam? PapSmear? Breast exams? STD tests? Fertility counseling? You won’t need all of these but you should find an OBGYN that will have all of the options that you want.
• Do you perform specialized procedures or surgeries if needed?
  • Amniocentesis? Will they perform a tubal ligation or hysterectomy with JUST your consent? Tubal Reversal? D&C in the event of a miscarriage? Cervical Cerclage? (A procedure to stitch the cervix closed to prevent premature birth in women at risk.)

Communication and Availability:

• How can I reach you in case of an emergency or with urgent questions?
  • Will there be an automated system? Will you need to call the hospital? Does your OBGYN have a direct line?
• What is your policy on returning calls and messages?
  • Will I need to wait 24 hours for a returned phone call? Is there an email option?

Patient Reviews and References:

• Can you provide references from other patients?
  • You would hate to be 30 weeks into a doctor and the closer you get to your due date, the less the doctor listens to you. Or push you into unnecessary medical procedures. Having references from previous patients, good and bad, will give you all of the details and things to watch out for.
• Are there online reviews or testimonials I can read?
  • Most doctors will have Google reviews. Some OBGYN offices will have personal websites with reviews from their patients individually, rather than rating the entire practice.

Backup and Support:

• Who covers for you when you’re unavailable?
  • Nearly all doctors will work in a full OBGYN practice. They will have on-call doctors to cover them when your primary OBGYN is unavailable. Sometimes, you may have to labor with a doctor you have never met. Be sure to ask your doctor if they have a specific backup OBGYN so that you can meet them beforehand.
• Is there a team of healthcare professionals I can rely on if needed?
  • If you are working with a smaller clinic, you may be granted the blessing of having a specific set of doctors and nurses. If not, this isn’t necessarily an issue. It is best to be informed either way.

Costs and Fees:

• What is the cost of prenatal care, childbirth, and other services?
  • Our first OBGYN had a $ 2,000 fee on top of everything that insurance covered. It had to be paid by our 16th week. Knowing their payment schedule at the first appointment will give you plenty of time to prepare and be ready for payments.
• Are there any additional fees I should be aware of?
  • Fees for lactation classes? Extra ultrasounds? Meals for spouse? Be prepared ahead of time. Are there any hidden fees we need to know about?

To find the average costs of childbirth for your state, click here.

Continuity of Care:

• Will you be my primary OBGYN throughout my pregnancy and beyond?
  • This touches back to “backup and support” You may be with them for every part besides labor. On rare occasions, you will change to another physician after birth. This is very, very rare. You will most likely have a gynecologist you have used for years and you will use them for your pregnancy and future gynecological care after.
• How do you handle long-term healthcare needs?
  • Extended care after a C-section, fertility treatments, labor complications, post-partum issues, and breastfeeding difficulties, are all issues that require long-term care after the delivery of your bundle of joy.

Personal Preferences:

• Do you have a particular approach to healthcare that aligns with my values and preferences?
  • If you prefer a more hands-off approach, only doing tests and procedures that are necessary, delivering your child without aid or drugs, then you should find an OBGYN, or even a midwife, that has your same approach. If you want to be taken care of the entire time, have all of the tests, and speak with your doctor constantly then you should find an OBGYN that is entirely hands-on.
• What is your stance on topics such as birth control, family planning, or alternative therapies?
  • It is so important to have someone to talk to about all of these things. You need to feel comfortable talking about birth control and side effects, and everything that comes with it.

Remember, it’s important to feel comfortable and trust your OBGYN, as they will play a significant role in your reproductive and gynecological health. Take the time to ask these questions and discuss your concerns to make an informed decision.

If your OBGYN didn’t give you the answers you want, it doesn’t mean your doctor won’t be perfect for you. Sometimes mothers may have unrealistic expectations about labor or prenatal care. We all do really, but doctors will have to tone these expectations down.

Really, you need to ask yourself, “Did I feel comfortable with this doctor? Did I feel heard by this doctor? Do I trust this OBGYN to take care of me and my unborn child?” If ANY of these questions are a no, find another OBGYN. The most important thing is that you and your baby are taken care of.

Don’t forget to check out my other blog posts!

Want to see my posts automatically? Subscribe to my blog for emails!