Prenatal Care
Whether you’re thinking about getting pregnant, or just got the great news, Beaufort Memorial is here to keep you and your baby healthy. Our caring maternity team provides early and regular prenatal care visits, including important testing to help find and prevent any possible concerns.
Even if your family has no history of problems during pregnancy, prenatal care is vital to your wellness and giving your baby the best possible start. Prenatal care greatly reduces your chances of having a low birth weight baby, which can lead to health problems. These checkups can also help you address questions or concerns and learn how to ease any discomfort you may be having during your pregnancy.
And prenatal care isn't just for when you're getting further along in your pregnancy.
Before You Are Pregnant
There are many steps you can take in preparation and during your first trimester to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby:
- Learn about the health history of your family and your partner.
- Increase your daily intake of folic acid (a B vitamin) to at least 400 micrograms.
- Make sure your immunizations are up-to-date.
- Control your diabetes or other medical conditions.
- Avoid or quit smoking, vaping, drinking alcohol and/or using drugs.
- Attain a healthy weight.
- Seek help for mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety.
Starting Prenatal Care
As soon as you suspect you may be pregnant, you should see an obstetrician or other prenatal care provider.
At your prenatal visits, your obstetrician or midwife will check your health and the growth of your baby to ensure there are no problems, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia. Typically, you'll have a physical exam, weight check and provide a urine sample. Depending on the stage of your pregnancy, you may also have blood tests and ultrasound or 3-D ultrasound exams.
If you do not have any health conditions that put you at risk of problems, you'll see your provider for a prenatal care visit about once a month from weeks four through 28, twice a month through week 36 and then weekly until your baby is born. If you’re pregnancy is considered high-risk, your obstetrician or midwife may see you more often.
Your obstetrician will have you return for a postpartum visit four-six weeks after the birth of your baby, or sooner if you had a C-section, bilateral tubal ligation (tubes tied), hypertension or other complications.
Find an Obstetrician/Prenatal Care Provider
Click below to get to know our team of board-certified obstetricians and nurse midwives, then come see us for your healthiest pregnancy.