Importance of Prenatal Care

Pregnancy is an exciting time. Whether you hoped for this pregnancy for a long time or were surprised by it, you are bound to have many questions.

Your Plan for a Healthy Pregnancy 

Call us as soon as you think you may be pregnant.  We will schedule you for a Welcome to Pregnancy telephone visit with one of our nurses.

• They will be able to answer your questions, order needed labs and make note of your medical and pregnancy history in preparation for your first prenatal office visit.
• They will also help you select your care team. For example, you may prefer to see a midwife or an obstetrician for prenatal visits, you can choose the specific location where you’d prefer to receive your prenatal care, or you can select one of our affiliated hospitals for the birth. 

Throughout your pregnancy, your clinician and members of your care team will see you regularly and answer common questions, explain your baby’s growth and your changing body, and share ways to cope with any discomforts you may feel.

Your health care team 

Our health care providers usually work as a team. Depending on your chosen practice location for prenatal care and your preferences, you may see a nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, or an obstetrician for your check-ups. They are assisted by RNs, LPNs and other medical support staff.

Discuss any problems with earlier pregnancies with your clinician. 

If you’ve had problems with earlier pregnancies, talk with your obstetric clinician. They will try to find out what caused the problem and how likely it is to happen again. Your current pregnancy will be watched carefully and special tests may be done, if needed. 

How to Find out More

We have provided a Pregnancy Resources section for additional information about what to expect during your pregnancy. If you do not have access to the internet, please let your prenatal care team know so that we can provide you with handouts. In the coming months, we hope you’ll ask many questions and take good care of yourself and your baby-to-be.