Before baby is born

Prenatal care is the healthcare you receive when you are pregnant. Regular prenatal care helps doctors identify and treat health problems early, which results in healthier moms and babies. 

As soon as you suspect you are pregnant, make an appointment with our prenatal care team (a physician obstetrician/gynecologist and a registered nurse midwife). You can expect to see your care team regularly throughout your pregnancy. Typically, you will be scheduled for your first prenatal appointment when you are at least 8 weeks pregnant. For pregnancies without complications, prenatal visits are usually scheduled as follows:

• Up to week 28: 1 prenatal visit a month
• Weeks 28 to 36: 1 prenatal visit every 2 weeks
• Weeks 36 to 40: 1 prenatal visit every week

Your care team will want to see you more often if you had any preexisting health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure before you became pregnant, if you are over the age of 35, or if problems develop during your pregnancy.

At your first prenatal visit, your care team will review your medical history. They likely will perform a complete physical examination as well as urine and blood tests during this visit.

At each visit, your prenatal care team will check you and your baby. They will talk with you about the things you can do help you and your baby stay healthy, such as eating healthy foods, staying active and gaining the right amount of weight during pregnancy. Your healthcare provider may also order blood tests and imaging tests, such as an ultrasound.

As you get closer to your delivery date, our team will advise on how to register to give birth, what to expect in labor and delivery, including pain relief options, postpartum care and contraception, and much more.  We are here for you every step of your parenting journey!