Prenatal care

During your pregnancy, you'll probably see your health care provider more often than ever before. (See Kinds of health care providers.) That's because regular prenatal care visits help you have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby.

Regular prenatal visits

Each health care provider may have slightly different schedules. Generally, here's what to expect:

1. Your first prenatal visit should be before you are 12 weeks pregnant.
2. You'll probably be scheduled for an appointment each month until you are at 28 weeks.
3. Then you may have an appointment every other week or so until you are at 36 weeks.
4. From then until your baby is born, you'll probably see your health care provider once a week.

You may have fewer visits if your pregnancy is going well. Or you may have more visits if you are having complications.

How to get the most out of your prenatal visits

• Bring a list of your questions.
• Don't be shy. Ask those questions or give your health care provider your written list.
• If you do feel too shy to ask questions of or speak honestly with your health care provider, ask to meet other practitioners in your clinic. You might feel more at ease with someone else.
• Be honest, even about things that are hard to talk about. Drug, alcohol and tobacco use can be embarrassing to discuss, but for your baby's health, you must tell your health care provider.
• Don't suffer in silence. If you hurt, if something is uncomfortable, if you think you are feeling contractions or having pain, don't think you are complaining too much if you tell your health care provider. This is precisely the kind of information your health care provider needs to know from you at each visit -- or in a phone call between visits.
• Write down your health care provider's answers and recommendations. If your partner comes along to your visits, give your partner the pen and paper. It's easy to forget details when you are trying to remember all the questions you wanted to ask.

• Family practice physician: A medical doctor who is a specialist trained to care for women, babies and families
• Nurse practitioner: A registered nurse with special training, who may have specialized training in one area (like obstetrics or family practice) and who does not deliver babies but is qualified to complete prenatal exams and well-woman visits
• Nurse-midwife: A registered nurse with training in pregnancy and childbirth, able to provide complete prenatal care, deliver babies, and provide well-woman visits and services, including Pap smears and family planning
• Obstetrician: A medical doctor who is a specialist trained to care for women through pregnancy and birth
• Pediatrician: A medical doctor who is a specialist trained to care for children, newborn through teen
• Physician assistant: A medical professional with 2 to 3 years of intensive clinical training in direct patient care and management, who may have specialized training in one area (like obstetrics or family practice)

Related Links

Determining your health insurance coverage (requires Adobe Reader)

Prenatal screens and tests

When to call your health care provider

Allina Pregnancy Care

Find a Doctor

Pregnancy & Parenting eMagazine: Registration

First published: 10/04/2002
Last updated: 06/01/2003

Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts