Your at-home pregnancy test is positive. Now what?
Now you call the team at Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Hastings or Grand Island, Nebraska, and schedule a prenatal care appointment.
How soon you start prenatal care depends, but it’s usually a good idea to connect with your obstetrician four to eight weeks after your last menstrual period. Here’s what to expect.
Prenatal care is specialized medical care during pregnancy. Though pregnancy is a normal and natural occurrence, it’s a medical condition that affects the life of the person who’s pregnant. While most women have healthy, normal pregnancies, anything can come up.
Early and regular prenatal care is how you stay on top of your health and catch and manage any potential problems so you can have a happy and healthy gestation.
Depending on how far along you are, you meet with your doctor once a month during the first trimester, twice a month during your second trimester and most of the third trimester, and then weekly during your last month of pregnancy until birth of the baby.
We may also schedule more frequent appointments based on individual needs.
Typically, we schedule your first prenatal appointment within the first eight weeks after your last menstruation. Your last period marks the start of your gestational age.
How soon we schedule your appointment may depend on your overall health and risk factors. If you have health conditions and a high risk pregnancy, we may want you to come in sooner so we can confirm pregnancy and start medical care.
You can expect attentive and comprehensive prenatal care with our team at Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC. We have experienced OB/GYNs and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) to help make your experience everything you dreamed of, whether it’s a routine birth, a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC), or at-home delivery.
Your first appointment is the longest and includes a detailed health history, physical exam, pelvic exam, bloodwork and urinalysis, confirmation of pregnancy, and estimation of due date.
We also explain what to expect throughout your pregnancy, including testing like ultrasounds and the glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes. We talk about nutrition, exercise, and how to manage general health during your pregnancy.
At the end of your first visit, we schedule your next prenatal appointment for one month, encouraging you to contact us to make an appointment if anything concerning happens between visits.
Are you pregnant and in need of prenatal care? Call our office today or request an appointment online for exceptional women’s health care and support during pregnancy.
