Prenatal Care

All women need prenatal care. Women who see a health care provider regularly during pregnancy have healthier babies, are less likely to deliver prematurely, and are less likely to have other serious problems related to pregnancy.

A typical prenatal care schedule for a low-risk woman with a normally progressing pregnancy is:

Weeks 4 to 28: 1 visit per month (every 4 weeks)

Weeks 28 to 36: 2 visits per month (every 2 to 3 weeks)

Weeks 36 to birth: 1 visit per week

A woman with a chronic medical condition or a “high-risk” pregnancy may have to see her health care provider more often. Make sure you go to all your prenatal care appointments, even if you're feeling fine.

What Happens at a Prenatal Care Visit?
During your first prenatal care visit, your provider will ask you a lot of questions and do some tests. Most of your other visits will be much shorter.

At the first visit your health care provider will:

·         Ask you about your health, your partner's health and the health of your close family members. Don't worry if you don't know all the answers.

·         Identify medical problems.

·         Discuss with you any medications you are taking.

·         Do a physical exam and a pelvic (internal) exam.

·         Weigh you.

·         Check your blood pressure.

·         Check a urine sample for infection.

·         Do some blood tests to check for anemia and see if you have had certain infections. You will be asked if you want a test for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

·         Do a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer and other tests for vaginal infections

·         Figure out your due date: an estimate of the day your baby will be born. Most babies are born within two weeks (before or after) their due date.

·         Make sure you're taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid.

During later prenatal visits your provider will:

·         Weigh you.

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