Special Topics
10 Things to Know About Prenatal Care
- Prenatal care is the health care you get while you are pregnant. Take care of yourself and your baby by getting early and regular prenatal care.
- All women need prenatal care which allows your obstetrical providers to identify, treat health problems early and thus prevent complications.
- Women who see an obstetrical provider regularly during pregnancy have healthier babies and are less likely to deliver prematurely.
- Babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight and five times more likely to die than those born to mothers who do get care.
- You should start taking care of yourself before trying to get pregnant by staying active, eating right, and taking a multivitamin. This will lower your chances of having a baby born with a birth defect.
- A typical prenatal care schedule for a low-risk pregnancy is:
- Weeks 4 to 28: every 4 weeks
- Weeks 28 to 36: every 2 to 4 weeks
- Weeks 36 to birth: every week
- During the first prenatal visit, your obstetrical provider will:
- ask about your health history as well as the health of your partner
- ask about your family's health history
- identify medical problems and discuss medications you are taking
- do a complete physical exam and pelvic exam with a Pap test
- order tests of your blood and urine
- check your blood pressure, height, and weight
- figure out your expected due date
- make sure you are taking prenatal vitamin and folic acid
- answer your questions
- Later prenatal visits will probably be shorter. Your doctor will check on your health and make sure the baby is growing as expected. Most prenatal visits will include:
- check the baby's heart rate
- checking your blood pressure
- checking your urine for signs of diabetes and preeclampsia
- measuring your fundal height (belly size) and weight gain
- assessing the baby's position
- ordering prenatal tests
- Talk with your doctor about Kick Count.
- Do not miss any prenatal appointment.
