A physical exam and lab tests will show if there are any special concerns. Your health care provider can then plan the care that will help prevent problems later.

Your provider may want to do some tests during your first trimester. This is normal. Be sure to have these tests, even though your life is busy with many new concerns.

When a mother is Rh negative and the fetus is Rh positive, there can be health risks for the fetus.

For 48 hours before the test, do not douche, use vaginal medications or creams. For 24 hours before, do not have sexual intercourse.

CVS is a test that helps you learn if a fetus has health problems. The test is most often done between weeks 9 and 11 of pregnancy.

Vaginal ultrasound can be done earlier in pregnancy than abdominal ultrasound—as early as the fourth week.