Early prenatal care is very important for a healthy pregnancy. When you start prenatal care early, your doctor can keep track of both your health and your baby’s development from the start. Below, our OB/GYN specialists in Munster, Indiana are going to explain the best time to schedule your first prenatal visit.
Why is early prenatal care so important for a healthy pregnancy?
Early prenatal care plays an important role in keeping both the mother and the baby healthy during pregnancy. As a matter of fact, one of the first things many people do after getting a positive pregnancy test is schedule their first prenatal appointment.
At the first appointment, an OB/GYN specialist in Munster, Indiana will confirm the pregnancy. It is also the time when your doctor starts to understand your overall health and medical history.
Your doctor will ask about any past medical conditions and whether you have been pregnant before. They will also review any surgeries you have had and discuss the medications you are currently taking.
You could feel like your doctor is asking too many questions at first. But there is a good reason for it. By understanding your medical history early, your doctor can monitor certain conditions more closely and take steps to prevent possible problems.
Your doctor will also take some basic measurements during this first visit. Your doctor usually records your blood pressure and weight immediately. Early lab tests for blood type, Rh factor and anemia screening are also routine.
Another reason for an early prenatal visit is to learn how far along the pregnancy is.
The first trimester is the most accurate time to estimate the baby’s gestational age. If you clearly remember the first day of your last menstrual period, your doctor can generally use that information to estimate your due date.
But not everyone remembers the exact date of their last period. Some women also have irregular cycles, which can make it harder to estimate how far along the pregnancy is. In these cases, an early ultrasound can be very helpful to estimate the baby’s due date.
Knowing the estimated due date is important for many reasons. For example, doctors use it to schedule screening tests and monitor the baby’s growth throughout the pregnancy.
Early prenatal care is also the time when doctors start focusing on prevention.
Folic acid is a vitamin that is very influential in the early development of the baby. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, a structure called the neural tube forms. This structure later develops into the baby’s brain and spinal cord.
The CDC Folic Acid Guidelines recommend that women who are pregnant or could become pregnant take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force on Folic Acid recommends a similar range of 400 to 800 micrograms per day. Taking folic acid regularly can reduce the risk of neural tube defects and support the baby’s healthy early development.
What is the best time to schedule your first prenatal appointment?
Most women have their first prenatal appointment sometime around 6-8 weeks after the first day of their last menstrual period. Pregnancy tests are very accurate by that time. Doctors can usually check the pregnancy with an ultrasound and confirm healthy child development at that stage.
Waiting almost two months for that first appointment can feel very long if you just found out you are pregnant. But those first few weeks are still very early in the development process. If you schedule a visit with your OB/GYN specialist in Munster, Indiana early on, the ultrasound may not show much yet.
With that said, there is no single schedule that works perfectly for everyone. Pregnancy experiences can vary from person to person. Some women may need to see their doctor earlier than usual, especially if they have had complications in a previous pregnancy. The care team may want to start monitoring the pregnancy sooner in those situations.
Looking for an affordable OB/GYN specialist in Munster, Indiana?
If you’re ready to meet with a qualified OB/GYN specialist in Munster, Indiana, 219 Health Network is here for you. Our licensed obstetricians and gynecologists can guide you through every stage of pregnancy. Contact us today to learn how we can help.