Prenatal Care Specialist

What is prenatal care?

Health care that you receive while you are pregnant is called prenatal care. Check-ups during pregnancy utilize diagnostics to ensure that everything is going well for you and your baby and that developmental milestones are being met.

Tests are performed at various stages throughout the pregnancy to check for and treat any issues or problems that may arise.

Regular appointments during pregnancy give you a chance to ask questions about how you are feeling, what to expect during delivery, address concerns, minimize discomfort, and gauge how the baby is growing.

What should I expect at my first prenatal care appointment?

As soon as you know or believe you are pregnant, visit Womens Clinic LA for a comprehensive evaluation. Your first appointment will take longer than follow up appointments because it includes:

• Health history assessment
• Blood and urine samples
• Physical examination
• Vital sign check
• STD screening
• Ultrasound
• Pap smear
• Vitamin and nutrition counseling
• Lifestyle recommendations
• Establishment of due date

How often are prenatal appointments needed?

After the all-important first examination to establish your health for the pregnancy, follow-up appointments are quick and routine. Every woman’s pregnancy is unique, and the medical team will recommend appointments accordingly.

In general, though, most women follow a prenatal schedule like this timeline:

• Monthly visits until you are at 28 weeks pregnant
• Bi-monthly appointments from 28 to 36 weeks pregnant
• Weekly check-ups from 36 weeks pregnant until you deliver your baby

What kind of prenatal testing is administered?

At Womens Clinic LA, the practitioners strive to provide comprehensive prenatal care to ensure you have the healthiest pregnancy possible. The team monitors you and the baby continuously and advises the use of specific testing at certain intervals during each of the three trimesters of pregnancy.

Some of the tests check for abnormalities with the baby so that you know what to expect as the pregnancy advances. Tests fall into one of two categories: screening or diagnostic.

Prenatal testings options include:

• Amniocentesis
• Group B strep testing
• Multiple marker screening
• Genetic testing with Panorama and Verizon; includes early screening for genetic issues
• Immunity testing
• Ultrasounds
• Chorionic villus sampling
• Ectopic pregnancy screening
• Blood work
• Lab work
• STD testing
• Gender reveal as early as 9 weeks

Your providers at Womens Clinic LA offer supportive and complete prenatal care for you and your baby. Schedule your appointment online or call to reserve a time to come in for a check-up.