Is prenatal care important?
Yes! You can help make sure that you and your baby will be as healthy as possible by following some simple guidelines and checking in regularly with your doctor. What will happen during prenatal visits? Your doctor will probably start by talking to you about your medical history and how you’ve been feeling. You’ll probably be weighed and have your blood pressure taken on every visit. On your first visit, you’ll also probably have a pelvic exam to check the size and shape of your uterus (womb) and a Pap smear to check for signs of cancer of the cervix (the opening of the uterus). Urine and blood tests may be done on the first visit and again later. Urine tests are done to check for bacteria in your urine, high sugar levels (which can be a sign of diabetes) and high protein levels (which can put you at risk for preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure in pregnancy). Blood tests are done to check for low iron levels (anemia). Sometimes, an ultrasound may be done to help figure out when
