5 Things to Bring to your Prenatal Appointment

 
By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com Guide

1. Medical History. Be sure to bring your complete medical history information to your first prenatal appointment. This may be records from your previous pregnancies, surgeries or anything you think your doctor or midwife might want. If this is not your first prenatal visit then be sure to let your practitioner know if anything has changed in your medical history since your last appointment.
2. List of Medications. No matter what you're taking medications for, be sure to bring an updated list to your prenatal visits. This should also include any medications prescribed by someone other than your doctor or midwife. You will also want to bring in a list of any vitamins or herbal supplements you're taking as well.
3. Questions You May Have. It never fails that as soon as you're alone in the exam room, you remember all of the questions you had before your appointment. Keep a piece of paper handy and write the questions down as you think of them between appointments. This helps you remember the questions and gives you a place to write some answers as well.
4. Your Husband, Boyfriend, Partner or a Friend.  Bringing another set of eyes and ears, particularly to key appointments like when you first hear the heart beat or during any prenatal testing, can be a big help. They can remember things you may have forgotten to write down as well as be a witness to your joyful moments.
5. An Open Mind.  Remember, your doctor or midwife has a lot of knowledge on the subject of pregnancy, labor, birth and babies. That is why you hired them to be your partner in your prenatal care decisions. If you have questions or want things done a certain way be sure to discuss these with an open mind. Be open and receptive to their ideas an opinions. Afterall, you'd request the same of them, no?