After you get a positive pregnancy test, one of your first thoughts might be, “Where will I go for my prenatal appointments?” If you are looking for holistic midwifery care and an out-of-hospital birth environment, we encourage you to consider Magnolia Birth House in North Miami Beach.

Before you arrive for your first prenatal appointment, though, there are several things you need to know. We want you to feel empowered and prepared when you tour our birth center and meet our experienced team. In this blog, we are sharing seven ways to prepare for your initial visit.

When is My First Prenatal Appointment?

As a Magnolia client, you’ll have your first prenatal appointment around 10-12 weeks’ gestation. Depending on when you take a test or realize you’re pregnant, this can feel like a long time. For low-risk pregnant folks, however, it’s the ideal time for your initial visit. We’ll most likely be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat, and it’s a great opportunity to delve into education about out-of-hospital birth. Of course, if you have urgent questions or concerns before your first prenatal visit, feel free to call the birth center.

7 Ways to Prepare for Your First Prenatal Appointment

Read and Sign Electronic Documents

When you schedule your first prenatal appointment over the phone, we will email you a set of electronic documents. You will read and review them on your own, and some of them will require an electronic signature. When it comes to the information in these administrative forms, you do not need to discuss it with the midwife at your initial visit.

Be Ready to Complete Paperwork

When you arrive at the birth center for your first prenatal appointment, you’ll spend about 30 minutes with our front desk staff. This involves checking in, paying your registration fee, and completing in-office paperwork. These documents do include information you’ll be discussing with the midwife, such as an intake form and risk assessment. We’ll also set you up in Maternity Neighborhood, our electronic health record system, and Spruce, our communications platform for texting and virtual videos.

Allow Enough Time

For your first prenatal appointment at Magnolia, we ask that you block out two hours from arrival to departure. After the half hour you’ll need to finish administrative tasks, you’ll receive a tour of the birth center and then spend the rest of your visit with one of our Miami midwives. It’s important to plan ahead for this two-hour chunk of time with your employer and child care provider, if applicable. Make sure your partner or support person knows the time commitment, too, if they’re joining you. The midwifery model of care is successful because of the time we spend building a relationship and trust with you.

Know Your Medical History

During your first prenatal appointment, the midwife will ask about your overall health, such as physical and mental well-being, nutrition, exercise habits, lifestyle, and herbal support. You’ll also need to be aware of your medical history, and it’s helpful if you know about significant health conditions in your baby’s biological father as well as both of your families. In addition, be prepared to discuss previous pregnancies and birth experiences, if any.

Anticipate Physical Requirements

Soon after you complete your paperwork, you’ll be asked to provide a urine sample, so drink enough liquid before your appointment — and every subsequent prenatal visit, really — to be ready for that. In order to establish a baseline, we’ll check your weight and blood pressure, and these are metrics we’ll continue to monitor throughout your pregnancy. Finally, we’ll order standard prenatal blood work and begin discussing your options for genetic screening if you want to undergo those tests.

Write Down Your Questions

It’s normal to have questions, especially if this is your first baby, and often even if it’s not! No matter how much you ponder what you want to discuss with your midwife before your first prenatal appointment, you might feel nervous or excited and forget something you wanted to ask. That’s why we suggest writing down your questions, either on paper or in a note on your phone.

Bring Your Prenatal Records

If you’re already receiving prenatal care with another practice, we do accept transfers, even in the third trimester. When you come for your first prenatal appointment at Magnolia, we ask that you arrive with a copy of your medical records from your previous provider. The process to request and receive your records can take up to a week, so please be mindful of that when you schedule your birth center visit. Especially if you’re in your third trimester, time is of the essence.

Miami’s Premier Natural Birthing Center – Prenatal Care and Birth Services in North Miami Beach

While all of our maternity care at Magnolia is tailored to your individual health needs, the first prenatal appointment is especially important as we begin to build a relationship together. We value discussion, counseling, and shared decision-making. To schedule your initial maternity visit at Magnolia, call the front desk at 786-953-6534.