First Pregnancy – Initial Exams and Procedures

last updated on: 03.06.2025 | Medical review by:

Mayara Belli

Nutritionist

And the dream of your first pregnancy finally comes true. But now what? What should you do right after finding out that your positive result has finally arrived? Well, first of all, take a deep breath and process what is really happening—it may sound silly to say this, but only by going through that initial moment of “shock” can you really know what I’m talking about.

After that, once you’ve gotten over the surprise and happiness, it’s time to tell your husband/partner/boyfriend. There are some really creative ways to do this and announce the arrival of the baby to the parents-to-be!

First Steps of Pregnancy

Once everyone’s been told, the first steps are simple: schedule an appointment with a trusted OB-GYN. The first pregnancy comes with some specific precautions, including blood tests. These are done fasting and all of them are meant to prevent and monitor certain conditions during pregnancy. They include:

Complete blood count
HIV
Syphilis
Toxoplasmosis
Rubella
Syphilis VDRL
Hepatitis B and C
TSH and total T4
Urinalysis (Type 1)
Blood glucose
Ultrasound

It seems like a lot, but all these tests are to check the mother’s health during this special time. Now, with all the referrals in hand, it’s time to check how everything is during your first pregnancy and start prenatal care.

What Are These Tests For in the First Pregnancy?

Blood tests are very important in the first pregnancy, as they can reveal any issues. If necessary, the woman can begin treatment to prevent fetal malformations and also receive medications for HIV¹ and syphilis² if she tests positive for them.

Some of these diseases, such as toxoplasmosis³ and rubella⁴, need to be checked to see if the mother has already had them or is immune, and to guide her on what precautions to take to avoid infection. In the case of toxoplasmosis, infection comes from contact with cat feces, and rubella from contact with infected people. Neither disease is dangerous for adults, but they can pose risks to the developing baby, so it is important to be very careful.

Explanatory Video

Blood Count

The complete blood count is effective and can identify anemia or infections the pregnant woman may have. The glucose test is to determine whether the pregnant woman’s blood sugar levels are normal or if there is any risk of gestational diabetes in the first pregnancy or future ones.

Additionally, the blood count also serves to identify the mother’s blood type, so that it is possible to check whether she needs to receive the indirect Coombs vaccine (positive or negative karyotype). HIV-positive women can transmit the virus to the fetus during pregnancy, so it is important that this test is part of the initial tests during the first pregnancy so that proper medication can be provided.

Ultrasound

Once the blood tests are done, it’s time for the first pregnancy ultrasound! The images always leave moms in awe and also very happy to see their little bean growing. Depending on the stage or the week of your first pregnancy, it will be possible to see the baby’s heartbeat—typically around the 6th or 7th week.

You shouldn’t have the ultrasound before this time because the baby may not have had enough time to develop, or the pregnancy may not match the date of your last period. The first pregnancy ultrasound is what will really determine the correct gestational age.

Some exams may also be part of these initial procedures in your first pregnancy, such as the Pap smear, which is used to detect cells that may cause an infection or other conditions like potentially cancerous cells. Many more tests will be done over the course of the pregnancy, but these are the first ones a newly pregnant woman should take, so just remember:

“A well-done prenatal care, whether in your first pregnancy, second, or tenth, means a well-monitored and very healthy pregnancy.”

Photo: TipsTimesAdmin

References:

1Deeks, S. G., Overbaugh, J., Phillips, A., & Buchbinder, S. (2015). HIV infection. Nature reviews Disease primers, 1(1), 1-22.
2Tsimis, M. E., & Sheffield, J. S. (2017). Update on syphilis and pregnancy. Birth defects research, 109(5), 347-352.
3Chaudhry, S. A., Gad, N., & Koren, G. (2014). Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy. Canadian Family Physician, 60(4), 334-336.
4Bouthry, E., Picone, O., Hamdi, G., Grangeot‐Keros, L., Ayoubi, J. M., & Vauloup‐Fellous, C. (2014). Rubella and pregnancy: diagnosis, management and outcomes. Prenatal diagnosis, 34(13), 1246-1253.

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