Pregnancy

Prenatal care is the healthcare you get while you are pregnant.

Prenatal care can help keep you and your baby healthy. 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. Doctors can spot health problems early when they see mothers regularly. This allows doctors to treat them early. Early treatment can cure many problems and prevent others. Doctors also can talk to pregnant women about things they can do to give their unborn babies a healthy start to life.

Your doctor will give you a schedule of all the doctor's visits you should have while pregnant. Most experts suggest
you see your doctor:

• About once each month for weeks 4 through 28
• Twice a month for weeks 28 through 36
• Weekly for weeks 36 to birth

If you are older than 35 or your pregnancy is high risk, you'll probably see your doctor more often.

During the first prenatal visit, you can expect your doctor to:

• Ask about your health history, including diseases, operations or prior pregnancies
• Ask about your family's health history
• Do a complete physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap test
• Take your blood and urine for lab work
• Check your blood pressure, height and weight
• Calculate your due date
• Answer your questions

At first visit, you should ask questions and discuss any issues related to your pregnancy. Find out all you can about how to stay healthy.

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:

• Checking your blood pressure
• Measuring your weight gain
• Measuring your abdomen to check your baby's growth (once you begin to show)
• Checking the baby's heart rate

While you're pregnant, you also will have some routine tests. Some tests are suggested for all women, such as blood work to check for anemia, your blood type, HIV and other factors. Other tests might be offered based on your age, personal or family health history, your ethnic background or the results of routine tests you have had.