A Working Checklist for Prenatal Care Schedule

The series of checkups with an obstetrician, family doctor or midwife that runs from early pregnancy until birth. Regular visits let your care team track your blood pressure, your weight and the baby's growth, and catch problems such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia early, when they are easier to manage.

Key takeaways

• First visit: as soon as you think you are pregnant, ideally in the first trimester
• Typical visits up to 28 weeks: about every 4 weeks
• Most useful single change: Call to book your first visit as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test.
• Commonest mistake: Waiting until you "feel pregnant" or until the second trimester to book a first visit.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

Do

• Call to book your first visit as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test
• Bring a list of every medicine and supplement you take, including over-the-counter products
• Write questions down between visits so they do not get forgotten in the appointment
• Ask your team which schedule fits you; people with health conditions or higher-risk pregnancies are often seen more often
• If cost or insurance is a barrier, ask about Medicaid, which covers prenatal care in every state for those who qualify

Do not

• Waiting until you "feel pregnant" or until the second trimester to book a first visit
• Skipping visits because you feel well, since high blood pressure and high blood sugar often cause no symptoms
• Stopping a prescribed medicine on your own when you find out you are pregnant; ask first

The numbers behind the list

The reasoning behind both lists, in numbers.

If you change one thing

Call to book your first visit as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test. If you only change one thing, make it that.

Related topics

• What the Guidance Really Says About Vaccination in Pregnancy (Vaccinations)
• Finding a Primary Care Doctor: What the Evidence Actually Says (Using Health Services)
• What the Guidance Really Says About Men and Health Services (Men's Health)
• What the Guidance Really Says About Annual Reviews (Long-Term Conditions)

Where to go next

• What Prenatal Care Schedule Is, and Why It Matters
• What People Get Wrong About Prenatal Care Schedule
• Prenatal Care Schedule — the reference entry
• Pregnancy and Postpartum: The Complete Guide
• Folic Acid Before and During Pregnancy: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy: What the Evidence Actually Says

When to speak to a doctor

Call your prenatal care provider promptly for a headache that will not go away, vision changes, fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, severe swelling of the face or hands, vaginal bleeding or leaking fluid, or a baby that is moving less than usual. Call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, a seizure, fainting, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

Where this comes from

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Having a Baby
• MedlinePlus — Prenatal Care
• CDC — Hear Her: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.