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As soon as you discover that you are pregnant, you should establish a schedule of prenatal care with your physician for the duration of your pregnancy.
For normal pregnancies without significant complications, prenatal exams are usually scheduled every month from the 1st week through the 28th week, then every two weeks from the 29th week through the 36th week, changing to weekly exams from the 37th week until delivery.
This schedule may vary depending on your personal medical condition and your physician's preference.
Additional prenatal care may be necessary if there are any preexisting medical conditions (i.e., diabetes) present in the mother and/or if complications arise while carrying the baby to term.
Who provides prenatal care?
Prenatal care can be provided by various medical professionals, including the following:
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Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN) - a physician who has specialized training in the care of women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. An OB-GYN also specializes in many gynecological health issues.
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Family Physician (FP) - a physician who has specialized training in primary care, including obstetrics.
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Nurse Practitioner - a nurse with specialized training who can provide women's health care.
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CertifiedNurse-Midwife (CNM) - a nurse who has additional training to care for women with low-risk pregnancies. Some midwives work with physicians while some work on an independent basis.
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Perinatologist - an obstetrician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Perinatologists are also called maternal-fetal specialists.
More about prenatal care in the Health Library
