Maybe you are pregnant?

When you know you are pregnant, you should call to schedule your first examination during the first 6 to 8 weeks of your pregnancy, or when your menstrual period is 2 to 4 weeks late. Many health care providers will not schedule the first visit before 8 weeks, unless there is a problem.

During your first visit, you'll be asked a lot of questions about your health and habits that may have an impact on your pregnancy. It's important to try to remember the date of your last menstrual period so your doctor can estimate the duration of your pregnancy and predict your delivery date.

You can expect to have a full physical, including a pelvic and rectal examination. A blood sample will be taken and used for a series of tests:

1. a complete blood cell count (CBC)
2.  blood typing and screening for Rh antibodies (antibodies against a substance found in the red blood cells of most people)
3. for infections such as syphilis, hepatitis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
4.  for evidence of previous exposure to chickenpox (varicella), measles (rubeola), mumps, or German measles (rubella)
5. for cystic fibrosis (health care providers recently started to offer this even if there's no family history of the disorder)

Some blood tests are offered only to women of certain ethnic backgrounds, who may be at higher risk of carrying genes for specific diseases. For example, women of African or Mediterranean descent are usually tested for thalassemia or sickle cell trait or disease because they're at higher risk of these chronic blood diseases or carrying the sickle cell trait, which can be passed on to their children.

Women of Ashekenazi Jewish heritage (Jews of central and eastern European descent) and women of French-Canadian/Cajun heritage are at increased risk for carrying the genes for Tay-Sachs disease.

Talk with your health care provider to see if any of these genetic tests may be recommended for you.

During the first visit, you also can expect to provide a urine sample for testing and to have a Pap test (or smear) for cervical cancer. To do a Pap smear, the doctor uses what looks like a very long mascara wand or cotton swab to gently scrape the inside of the cervix (the opening to the uterus that's located at the very top of the vagina). This generally doesn't hurt; some women say they feel a little twinge, but it only lasts a second.

NOTICE: Sex during early pregnancy

It is now well recognized and accepted that making love throughout pregnancy is perfectly safe, in the absence of pregnancy complications such as heavy vaginal bleeding or the waters (amniotic fluid around the baby) being broken.

During the first 12 weeks or so, some couples will feel so excited and elated about their new pregnancy that sex becomes an intimate celebration of this event. This can be especially so if it has taken you a few menstrual cycles (or fertility treatments) to conceive your baby (or the pressure is off to 'perform' to a schedule). Or it may just be a pleasant surprise! 

For many couples, sex during early pregnancy also bring up concerns about miscarriage, especially if the woman has had a miscarriage in the past. It is now recognised that penetrative sex during early pregnancy does not cause miscarriage, and if a miscarriage is going to occur, it will do so whether the couple have sex beforehand or not.  

However, for many women the 1st trimester of their pregnancy also brings with it many physical changes and discomforts such as continual tiredness, nausea and/or vomiting, making their desire to want to have sex wane. This can sometimes be compounded by feelings of being unsure about the pregnancy and/or how her partner is reacting to news. Another child (or children), a demanding job and/or hectic life schedule can also mean that sex takes a back seat for a while. Try to be patient with each other at this time and be honest with how you are feeling about the pregnancy and having sex. Cuddling and reassuring each other of your love through this often tumultuous time of psychological adjustment can help keep you close until you are feeling more inclined.

However, even with this in mind it is still important to follow your own instincts and do what feels right for you.

If you have experienced some bleeding during early pregnancy and/or have had a previous miscarriage (or you have cultural reasons for avoiding intercourse), then you may feel more comfortable abstaining from sex for a while during this time.

Many women who have experienced a previous pregnancy loss, or who have taken a long time to conceive, often feel they want to 'wrap themselves up in cotton wool' during early pregnancy, with some partners feeling 'afraid to touch' because they are nervous about causing a 'problem'. Not respecting your partner's wishes may result in them feeling anxious (or guilty) and lead to relationship conflicts. If your partner does concede to having sex, they probably won't enjoy it and may experience anxiety or stress worrying about it afterwards. Again, understanding and patience may be required. You may wish to read more in miscarriage.

Read more:

You might need to say no to pregnancy sex

Q&A: Sex During and After Pregnancy

Contractions After Sex