Prenatal Care
Pregnancy is an exciting time, often filled with anticipation and hope. Prenatal specialists at Providence help you and your baby stay healthy.
During your pregnancy, your care team may include:
- Certified nurse midwives (CNMs)
- Family medicine obstetricians (FMOBs)
- Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs)
Prenatal care is a series of well-care appointments and tests that begin as monthly visits and then increase in frequency as your due date nears. The schedule is typically:
- Once a month through week 28
- Every two weeks from week 28 through week 36
- Every week for the final 4 weeks of your pregnancy
Ultimately, your care team will recommend the right schedule for you and your baby’s needs.
Our prenatal care program is designed to keep you strong, confident and informed throughout your pregnancy. Regular care can increase your chances of a routine, healthy delivery.
During your first visit, we give you a full physical and determine your estimated delivery date. We run blood tests to determine your blood type and whether you’re Rh negative or positive type. Over the next several appointments, we perform a variety of screenings and tests to measure the health of you and your baby, including:
- Antibody screening
- Complete blood count
- Cystic fibrosis carrier screening
- DNA probe
- Hearing and dizziness test
- Hepatitis B and C screens
- Hemoglobin (HGB) electrophoresis tests, for sickle cell anemia
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests
- One-hour glucose tolerance test
- Pap smear
- Rubella test
- Syphilis screening
We want you to have a healthy, happy pregnancy and delivery. During your appointments, we discuss the required and optional tests and vaccines with you, so you know what to expect.
This voluntary vaccination helps protect you and your baby from flu-related complications. The flu shot is safe to get during any trimester.
A voluntary screening test for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18. This test may be given again during your appointment that falls between 15-21.
This test measures the levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), estriol, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and inhibin-A in your blood to calculate the risk of chromosomal or neural tube abnormalities in your baby. If this test indicates a high probability of abnormalities, your care provider may recommend amniocentesis.
These are the second screening tests for open neural tube defects, Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18.
This voluntary test may be needed for certain high-risk patients.
This voluntary vaccination transfers protective antibodies to your baby, helping shield them from whooping cough during their early months before they can be vaccinated on their own.
During this appointment, we test for gestational diabetes. If we detect gestational diabetes, we work with you to get your blood sugar to a normal level with diet or insulin. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after birth, but women who get diabetes during pregnancy should be monitored later in life in case it comes back.
If you are Rh negative, a follow-up antibody screen will be performed. Along with this screening, you’ll get an injection of Rhogam to prevent antibody formation.
This test checks for evidence of anemia in your blood.
This voluntary vaccination during pregnancy provides antibodies that help protect your baby from serious respiratory illness after birth.
This is a vaginal/rectal culture that tests for Group B strep. If present, you will be treated during labor with antibiotics to prevent infection.
Recommended Vaccines During Pregnancy
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend vaccination as the best way to protect yourself and your baby.
Vaccination is safe for you and your baby and will provide your baby essential protection to fight off diseases.
Choosing a Provider for Your Pregnancy
Deciding what type of care you want for your pregnancy and beyond is a personal choice. Providence offers several options to meet your unique needs – and all offer you a lifetime of care.
- Able to care for low- or average-risk pregnancies
- Board-certified
- OB-credentialed, trained and experienced in obstetrics
- Offer family-centered maternity and family planning care
- Partner with OB-GYNs as needed
- Provide primary care for every member of your family, including newborns
- Able to care for high-risk pregnancies
- Board-certified
- Coordinate your pregnancy and postpartum care with a team of patient navigators and social workers
- Surgically trained so they’re able to perform C-sections and other procedures when necessary
- Board-certified
- Partner with OB-GYNs as needed
- Coordinate your pregnancy and postpartum care with a team of patient navigators, social workers and an OB-GYN
- Offers group visits with patient, and partners, at similar stages in pregnancy
Frequently Asked Questions
Prenatal care is the medical care you receive during your pregnancy. This includes regular check-ups with your care team, bloodwork, screenings and optional tests. You’ll also receive guidance and tips on managing your health from your doctor.
Typically, you’ll have monthly appointments until week 28 of your pregnancy. Then you’ll move to appointments every two weeks until week 36. During the last 4 weeks of your pregnancy, you’ll begin weekly appointments with your doctor.
High-risk pregnancies may require additional tests or more frequent visits; always follow your care team’s advice and recommended schedule for appointments.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend certain vaccinations that are safe to get while pregnant. They help boost your immunity to illnesses like the flu and RSV, and also help protect your baby by passing on the antibodies to them.