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Ask A Midwife

Q. I think that I may be pregnant (my 2nd child). With my first pregnancy, symptoms showed up very early for me, and the same thing is happening now. I am scheduled to go in for an annual examination and pap smear tomorrow, and I'm afraid it will be too early for a pregnancy test to be accurate. If the pap is performed and I am in fact pregnant, is there any chance this could harm the fetus? I'm also wondering if it would be a good idea to reschedule my doctor's appointment for a few weeks later. Please advise.

A. No, a pap won't harm you if you are pregnant. You might want to reschedule in order to save a trip as these things are a part of your normal first visit, if not be sure to tell him your suspicions.

Ollie Anne Hamilton, CPM is a lisenced Direct Entry Midwife in Montana. As a midwife for over 20 years, she has primaried over 600 births. She has three children Two were born at home, all born naturally.