Prenatal care is ongoing healthcare during pregnancy. It is a chance to check on your health, follow your baby’s development and make decisions with information you understand.
You do not need to arrive with everything figured out. Questions about symptoms, work, food, exercise or feeling anxious are all worth bringing up.
Your provider may review your medical history, medications, previous pregnancies and the date of your last period. An exam and blood or urine tests may be recommended. Share any previous pregnancy complications, ongoing conditions or concerns about your safety and support at home.
Visits may include checks of blood pressure, growth and your baby’s heartbeat, depending on the stage of pregnancy. Testing can include screening for infections, anemia and gestational diabetes. Your provider can explain the timing and purpose of each test.
The appointment schedule depends on your needs. Additional visits or specialist input may be recommended if concerns arise.
Ask about ultrasound, genetic screening and preparations for birth. For each proposed test, it helps to understand what the result could change and how you will receive it.
Bring a medication list and any records from care elsewhere. Keep your most important questions at the top of your list, including symptoms you may find difficult to discuss. Before leaving, check the next appointment and any tests to arrange.
Seek medical care immediately for warning signs such as chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, a severe or persistent headache, vaginal bleeding that is more than spotting, fluid leaking from the vagina or a decrease in your baby’s usual movement. Call 911 for a medical emergency. The CDC resource below explains additional warning signs; do not wait for your next visit if something feels seriously wrong.
Not usually. Ultrasound is used for particular medical questions at appropriate points in pregnancy. Ask which scans are recommended and what each is intended to assess.
Review prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and supplements with your provider. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own; untreated conditions can also affect pregnancy.
Ask how to contact your care team between visits and outside office hours. New or concerning symptoms may need assessment before your next scheduled appointment.
