Every practice works a little differently, and your own provider's advice is the one that applies to you. These are ideas for what to bring up, not a checklist you have to finish.
The first prenatal visit is usually one of the longer ones, often somewhere between weeks 8 and 12, and it's easy for your questions to vanish the moment you sit down. Below are twenty that come up a lot, grouped by topic, each with a line on why it matters.
You don't need to ask all of them. Read through, keep the few that feel true for you, and leave the rest. Your provider will cover plenty on their own.
What to bring
- Insurance card and photo ID
- A list of your medicines and supplements (a photo of the bottles works)
- Anything you know about your own health and family history
- The first day of your last period, if you know it
- A support person, if you'd like one there
- Your questions, on your phone or on paper
Your care team and where you'll deliver
1. Who will deliver my baby, and will I see the same provider each time?
Some practices rotate through everyone; others keep you with one or two people. Knowing now helps you decide if it suits you.
2. Where do you deliver, and can I see the place before the day?
Hospital, birth centre, or both. Some offer tours, which can make the day feel a little less unknown.
3. How often will I be seen, and what happens at each visit?
Most uncomplicated pregnancies follow a steady rhythm, but practices differ. Our visit-by-visit guide shows the usual shape, and it helps to see the whole schedule early.
4. How might my health and family history shape my care?
If you have a condition, a past pregnancy or a family pattern worth mentioning, it helps your provider plan with you.
5. How long are visits, and is there room for questions?
A good moment to notice whether you feel rushed or heard.
6. Who can come with me to appointments and scans?
Policies on partners, children and support people vary, and they affect how you plan your day. If a partner is coming, this guide is for them.
Reaching someone, and knowing when to call
7. Who do I call after hours, and what number should I save?
Most practices have a line that's answered overnight. Put it in your phone before you leave.
8. Which symptoms mean I should call you, and which mean I should go straight to urgent care?
Your provider's own guidance is the one that applies to you. Ask them to say it out loud and write it down.
9. What's the best way to reach you for questions that aren't urgent?
A portal, a nurse line, or a call back. It saves a lot of late-night searching.
10. What should I expect to feel in the coming weeks?
Tiredness, nausea and aches are common early on. It's reassuring to hear what's usual for you and how to manage it.
Tests and screenings
11. Which tests and screenings do you recommend, and which are optional?
Some are routine at most practices and some are your choice. You can ask what each one looks for before you decide.
12. What genetic screening options are there, and when do I need to decide?
Some have timing windows, so it's worth asking early even if you aren't sure yet. The schedule guide shows where first-trimester screening usually fits.
13. How will you screen for gestational diabetes, and what if I have concerns about the drink?
Many practices use a glucose drink around the middle of pregnancy. If it worries you, ask what options your lab accepts.
14. When is my next ultrasound, and can I find out the baby's sex if I want to?
Entirely up to you. If you'd rather be surprised, tell the team so it doesn't slip out.
Medicines, food and everyday life
15. Which prenatal vitamin do you recommend?
If you already take one, bring the bottle or a photo and ask whether it's right for you.
16. Are my current medicines and supplements okay to keep taking?
Bring the full list, including over-the-counter things. Please don't stop anything on your own before asking.
17. What can I take for a headache, a cold or an upset stomach?
You'll probably need to at some point, so it helps to have your provider's own list.
18. What should I know about food, exercise, work and travel?
Ask about the things that are part of your actual week, like a physical job or a trip you've booked.
Costs and paperwork
19. What does my insurance usually cover, and who can help me check?
Some screenings and scans are billed separately. Practices handle this all the time and can give you a realistic picture.
20. Are there forms I'll need for work or leave, and when should I bring them?
Easier to ask early than to chase at the end.
If you forget one
It happens to almost everyone. You'll see your provider many more times, and most practices are glad to answer a question between visits. Keep a note on your phone so the next thought has somewhere to go, or let the Nuga app hold it for you and bring it up before your next visit.
Keep reading
What to expect at each prenatal visit
How often you'll be seen, and what typically happens at the first visit, the anatomy scan, glucose screening, and beyond.
How to support your partner at prenatal appointments
What to ask her beforehand, how to help during the visit, and how to share the remembering afterward.
Hospital bag checklist, week by week
What to pack for you, your partner, and the baby — and when to have it by the door.
Nuga keeps every visit in context
Jot a question the moment you think of it, and Nuga keeps it ready for your next appointment, so it doesn't vanish when you sit down.
Nuga is an iPhone app for pregnancy and postpartum. Try it free.
Download on the App Store Available nowNuga supports your pregnancy with information and tools. It does not diagnose, and it does not replace your midwife, doctor, or maternity unit. Your provider's own schedule and instructions always come first.