When should I see my healthcare provider?

Good care during pregnancy includes regularly scheduled prenatal exams. You should schedule your first prenatal visit with your provider as soon as you think or know that you are pregnant. Depending on your health and health history, your provider will then schedule visits at least once a month for the first six months. During the seventh and eigth months you may see your provider every two weeks and during the last month once a week until your delivery date. If you are over 35 or your pregnancy is high risk because you have certain health problems, your provider will probably want to see you more often. In some cases your provider may refer you to a medical specialist for more help with special needs such as diabetes. Your healthcare provider will check at each visit to make sure that you and the baby are healthy. By seeing you regularly, your healthcare provider has the chance to find any problems early so that they can be treated as soon as possible. Other problems might be prevented. In addition to meeting your medical needs, your provider will help you know how to take care of yourself, including having a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise and rest, and dealing with the emotional changes that can happen during pregnancy.