Pregnancy Specialist

Should I consider pre-pregnancy care?

If you're planning to have a baby but aren’t yet pregnant, consider scheduling a pre-pregnancy appointment. This checkup identifies any existing or potential health concerns that could interfere with having a healthy pregnancy and harm your baby. Then your provider can treat problems before they affect your developing baby.

When should I schedule pregnancy care?

Pregnancy care, also called prenatal care, should begin as soon as you know or suspect you're pregnant. 

After your first appointment, you have monthly pregnancy checkups until you reach week 28 and then you have an appointment every two weeks until week 36. After week 36, you go in every week until you have your baby.

What happens during pregnancy care?

During your first visit, your provider learns about your medical and gynecology history. They talk with you about previous pregnancies and if you take medications or have lifestyle habits like smoking cigarettes. You also have a complete pelvic exam, and your provider determines your due date.

At your follow-up appointments, your provider checks your blood pressure and weight, as well as your baby's growth and heartbeat. They also run urine tests to watch for signs of common problems like urinary tract infections and gestational diabetes.

At All Female Health Care, your prenatal care also includes education about common pregnancy concerns like morning sickness and weight gain. They also explain your birthing options and what to expect during delivery.

What routine tests do women receive during pregnancy?

As part of your pregnancy care, your provider runs routine urine and blood tests to check for potential problems such as:

• Anemia
• Hepatitis B
• Gestational diabetes
• Bladder and kidney infections
• Rubella and chickenpox
• Chlamydia and other STDs
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)

At certain stages, your provider also performs standard genetic and chromosomal screenings to detect your baby's risk of having a birth defect. 

When will I have an ultrasound during pregnancy?

Your provider may perform an ultrasound at any time during your pregnancy if they need to evaluate your baby's health. Some women have an ultrasound during their first visit to verify their pregnancy or to see if they're carrying more than one baby.

However, all pregnant women have a routine ultrasound between weeks 18-20. At this stage, your provider can evaluate your baby's size and growth. Most of the time, you can learn your baby's gender (depending on the baby's position).

Whether you want pre-pregnancy planning, a pregnancy test, or need to schedule prenatal care, you can count on All Female Health Care. Call or book an appointment online today.