6 Tips for Easier Prenatal Visits

When you’re pregnant, seeing a doctor or midwife is important for your and your baby’s health. You’ll need to attend many prenatal visits throughout your pregnancy. And each one is crucial.

Find a doctor or midwife early in your pregnancy and then visit them according to the prenatal visit schedule they recommend. Routine care helps reduce prenatal health problems and prevent maternal death, says Sarah Pollock, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn at Atrium Health in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Routine care allows your doctor to monitor you and your baby throughout the pregnancy. This is how they can diagnose and address issues early and prevent serious complications, says Allison A. Urrutia, M.D., a board-certified ob-gyn at Austin Regional Clinic in Texas. “It also allows patients to discuss plans for delivery and receive education on breastfeeding and care for newborn and self after delivery.”