Pregnancy Specialist

Why is prenatal care important?

Whether you’re expecting your first child or your third, each pregnancy is different and you benefit from prenatal care to monitor the health of you and your baby throughout the nine months of development. Proper prenatal care allows your doctor at The Women’s Center to detect problems early and ensure you’re doing all you can to prevent complications. Women who have consistent prenatal care have fewer cases of low birth weight babies and are less likely to die during childbirth.

How often are prenatal appointments scheduled?

Your doctor at The Women’s Center schedules your visits according to your particular needs. High-risk pregnancies may require more frequent visits. In general, however, expect to come in about once a month for the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. In weeks 28-36, you’ll see your doctor twice a month. After that, you’ll see your doctor weekly until you give birth.

What happens during prenatal visits?

At your first prenatal visit, your doctor at The Women’s Center takes a thorough medical and family history. They ask about previous pregnancies and other medical conditions. You undergo a pelvic exam, complete physical, and a Pap test, and you’ll be asked to give blood and urine samples for additional testing. Your doctor calculates your due date as well.

At the first and subsequent visits, the team tracks your blood pressure and weight. And you’ll have an opportunity to ask any questions that you have.

As your pregnancy progresses, your doctor performs ultrasounds, measures the size of your belly, performs tests to check the health of your baby, and evaluates you for complications such as anemia, HIV, and gestational diabetes.

What is a high-risk pregnancy?

If you have a greater risk of developing complications during your pregnancy, you’re deemed high-risk. Being older than 35, having a pre-existing condition such as lupus or diabetes, or developing a condition during pregnancy such as preeclampsia makes you high-risk. A multiple pregnancy also might require extra prenatal care.

If you’re pregnant, call one of the offices of The Women’s Center today or book an appointment online to start your prenatal care.