Regular prenatal care is vital to having a healthy pregnancy. Once you confirm your pregnancy, there is no reason to wait to begin proper prenatal care. Ramona Women’s Clinic can assist you with free pregnancy confirmation, prenatal vitamins, and free or low-cost prenatal care recommendations. Schedule your appointment today.
What is a Prenatal Doctor Visit?
Prenatal visits are doctor’s appointments to monitor you and your baby during pregnancy. An obstetrician, nurse, or midwife conducts the appointments and offers specialized care.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, this is what you might expect from a provider during your first prenatal visit:
- Begin tracking your weight.
- Check your blood pressure and temperature.
- Get a urine sample to confirm your pregnancy, test your kidney function, and check for protein in your urine.
- Take a blood sample to look for signs of specific health conditions such as anemia (low iron), Hepatitis B, and certain STDs and STIs.
- Ask about your health history, including current medications you are taking.
- Do a pelvic and breast exam.
- Perform an ultrasound.
- Calculate your due date.
- Recommend a prenatal care plan.
Your first visit establishes a base to measure changes in your body as the pregnancy progresses.
How Many Appointments Will I Have?
The Cleveland Clinic suggests the following schedule:
- Weeks 4 to 28 — One prenatal visit every four weeks
- Weeks 28 to 36 — One prenatal visit every two weeks
- Weeks 36 to 40 — One prenatal visit every week
A full-term pregnancy lasts anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks, so it’s difficult to determine the exact number of doctor’s visits you will have.
When you visit the doctor, ask about changes to your diet, exercise, and symptoms you should know in case of an emergency.
We Offer Free Prenatal Classes
Our free educational program teaches you about your changing body and your baby’s growth as your pregnancy continues. We offer several prenatal classes, including:
- What to Expect During Pregnancy
- Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices During Birth and Beyond
- Preparing for Birth
As you complete classes at Ramona Women’s Clinic, you’ll receive Baby Bucks, which you can use to “purchase” essential items like diapers, wipes, clothing, furniture, toys, and more from our Mommy and Me Market.
Schedule Your Free and Confidential Appointment Today
Schedule a free appointment with us to get more information and referrals for proper prenatal care. We provide a free and confidential pregnancy test, limited obstetrical ultrasound (some restrictions apply), and STI testing for the most common sexually transmitted infections if you have a confirmed pregnancy.
You can also receive prenatal vitamins and referrals for medical, insurance, and community services. We care about your health and well-being. How can we help you today?
