The medical care that a woman and her fetus receive during pregnancy is called prenatal care. It is typically provided by an obstetrician or obstetrician-gynecologist (ObGyn). However, it may also be provided by a certified nurse-midwife and, in some instances, a family practitioner.

Prenatal care is designed to monitor the progress of a patient’s pregnancy and detect any potential problems before they affect the expectant mother or baby. All women can benefit from prenatal care, regardless of their age, health status or number of previous pregnancies.

During prenatal care visits, a physician will:

• Teach the expectant mother about pregnancy
  
  
• Monitor any pre-existing health conditions (e.g., high blood pressure)
  
  
• Test for any new health conditions (e.g., gestational diabetes)
  
  
• Test for potential problems with the fetus
  
  
• Provide referrals to services (e.g., childbirth education classes)

Prenatal care visits generally take place once a month for the first four to 28 weeks of pregnancy and twice a month during weeks 28 through 36. After week 36, patients may have to meet with their physician as often as once a week. Women with chronic medical conditions and those with high-risk pregnancies may have to visit their healthcare provider more frequently. The first prenatal care appointment generally takes longer than the other checkups that follow.