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Your First Prenatal Visit: What to Bring and What to Ask

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Finding out you're pregnant is an incredibly exciting milestone, but it's completely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed as you prepare for your first prenatal visit. 

At Center for Women's Health, led by C. Funsho Fagbohun, MD, PhD, FACOG, FACS, we're here to guide you through every step of your pregnancy journey. From our two offices in Richmond, Texas, we provide compassionate, personalized prenatal care for women in Richmond, Sugar Land, and the surrounding areas.

Starting care early is one of the best things you can do for your baby. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2026), about 75.5% of pregnant individuals in the United States initiated prenatal care in the first trimester in 2024. Early visits allow us to establish a healthy baseline, answer your questions, and address any potential risks right away. So let’s take a look at what you should bring — and what you should ask.

What should you bring to your first prenatal visit?

To prepare for your first prenatal visit, you should bring your complete medical history, a list of all current medications, and your insurance information. Having these items ready helps us create a personalized care plan tailored to your unique health needs. Here's a quick explanation of each.

Your medical history

Write down the date of your last period, details about any past pregnancies, surgeries, or chronic health conditions.

All medications and supplements

Bring the bottles or a list of everything you take, including over-the-counter drugs and vitamins.

Your insurance card and ID

This ensures a smooth check-in process at our Richmond offices.

What should you ask during your first prenatal visit?

During your first prenatal visit, no question is too small, and our team is here to give you peace of mind. Specifically, you should ask the following.

1. Which of my current medications are safe to continue?

We'll review your prescriptions to make sure they're safe for your developing baby.

2. What lifestyle changes should I make right now? 

We can discuss nutrition, exercise, and safe habits for the first trimester.

3. What is my prenatal care schedule? 

While older models required up to 14 visits, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG, 2025) now supports a tailored schedule of 6 to 10 visits for average-risk pregnancies, which may combine in-person and telehealth care.

What screenings are included during your first visit?

Your first prenatal visit will include essential health screenings, such as blood pressure checks and blood tests, to protect both you and your baby. These routine tests help us identify and manage any conditions early.

Blood pressure checks

We monitor your blood pressure to screen for hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia.

Infectious disease screening

Following guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF, 2025), we screen for infections like syphilis early in pregnancy to prevent serious complications. 

At Center for Women's Health, our team of three dedicated providers — including Dr. Fagbohun, Chunhua Lu, MD, PhD, and Sefali Patel, MSN, APRN, FNP-C — is committed to providing advanced, personalized care. If you're ready to take the first step in your pregnancy journey, please schedule a visit with us today.