Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is an important part of a healthy pregnancy. At each prenatal care visit, your health care provider checks on you and your growing baby. You have a few options for prenatal care providers:
- An obstetrician/gynecologist (also called OB/GYN) - a doctor who has education and training to take care of pregnant women and deliver babies.
- A family practice doctor (also called a family physician) - a doctor who can take care of every member of your family. This doctor can take care of you before, during and after pregnancy.
- A certified nurse midwife (also called CNM) - a nurse with education and training to take care of women of all ages, including pregnant women.
- A maternal-fetal medicine specialist (also called MFM) - an OB with education and training to take care of women who have high-risk pregnancies.
If you’re planning to get pregnant, you should contact any of the above for prenatal care which will get you started on the right path to having a healthy pregnancy. If this pregnancy was unplanned, you will want to get your first prenatal appointment scheduled as soon as you can.
This first initial appointment is typically scheduled between the 8th and 12th week from your last menstrual period.
This interim time can seem impossibly long, you may not even be sure yet that you want to continue the pregnancy and just need to talk to somebody. That is exactly why Clearway exists. We’re here to help you in those first stressful moments you find yourself pregnant and need answers. We can typically see you before anyone else can, as early as 5-6 weeks from your last period. We will provide you with important information which will enable you to make an informed decision in regards to your pregnancy.
It’s still important to schedule your initial prenatal appointment as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. It’s important to have an OB/GYN established even if you haven’t made a decision yet or plan on having an abortion as you may experience complications. Already having a doctor in place will help you get the immediate care you may need.
What will happen at my first prenatal appointment?
Your first checkup is usually the longest because your provider asks you lots of questions about your health. At your first prenatal care checkup, your provider will:
- Give you a physical exam and check your overall health
- Ask you lots of questions on your lifestyle and habits
- Check your blood, blood pressure and urine
- Give you a pelvic exam and a pap smear
- Provide you with an estimated due date based on your last menstrual period information
- Prescribe you a prenatal vitamin
- Talk to you about available prenatal testing
Later prenatal care checkups are usually shorter than the first one. At your checkups, you tell your provider how you’re feeling. Your provider will:
- Check your weight and blood pressure
- Check your baby’s heartrate
- Measure your belly to check for growth
- Provide certain prenatal testing
- Provide a pelvic exam (at discretion of provider)
- Weeks 4 to 28 of pregnancy, go for one checkup every 4 weeks (once a month)
- Weeks 28 to 36 of pregnancy, go for one checkup every 2 weeks (twice a month)
- Weeks 36 to 41 of pregnancy, go for one checkup every week (once a week)
Resources
How can you get free or low-cost prenatal care?
If you don’t have health insurance or can’t afford prenatal care, learn about free or low-cost prenatal care services in your community:
Call 800-311-BABY [800-311-2229].
Para información en español, llame este número: 800-504-7081.
Visit healthcare.gov to find a community health center near you. Community health centers can provide low-cost prenatal care.
