Introduction
The objectives of the first physical diagnostic and laboratory tests in a pregnancy are:
- to establish whether there is a pregnancy and whether intrauterine implantation has taken place
- to determine baseline values which will form the basis for the further management of the pregnancy, and to identify or rule out any abnormalities that may affect the course of the pregnancy, labour and postnatal period
- to use information from the history-taking and examination/tests to draw up a picture of the general physical and mental condition of the pregnant woman and of the state of development of the foetus
- to estimate the medical-obstetric risk for the mother and child based on the aforementioned findings, and to choose the appropriate management: to make a (provisional) decision about the nature and place of the obstetric care
- to give advice about health and hygiene during pregnancy and labour.
The examination that takes place early on in the pregnancy consists of a physical diagnostic examination (general physical and obstetric) and laboratory tests.