Prenatal Care Specialist

What is prenatal care?

Prenatal care is medical care designed especially for pregnant women. During prenatal appointments at The Cedar City Institute of Women's Health, your provider checks your health and your baby’s growth and helps you prepare for labor and delivery.

Most expectant mothers have their first prenatal appointment between weeks 8-10 of pregnancy. The first appointment is usually the longest because Dr. Heath and the team review your medical history, complete a physical exam, and take a blood sample.

Prenatal appointments are a great time for you and your partner to ask questions about pregnancy. As your due date gets closer, the team helps you prepare for the arrival of your baby. Prenatal care includes discussions about the hospital stay, induction, epidurals, labor, delivery, and more.

Why is prenatal care important?

As a woman, your body is naturally equipped for pregnancy and birth. However, pregnancy, labor, and delivery are major medical events, and it’s important to get routine medical care during pregnancy.

Prenatal care appointments are one of the best ways to ensure you and your baby are as healthy as possible. The Cedar City Institute of Women's Health closely monitors the health of you and your baby and performs tests as needed to determine if your pregnancy is high risk.

Most women with average-risk pregnancies have two ultrasound scans. Ultrasound imaging is a safe way for your provider to evaluate your baby’s development before they’re born. If you want to know if you’re having a boy or a girl, the team can determine your baby’s gender via ultrasound around weeks 18-22.

How often do I need prenatal care check-ups?

Expect to visit The Cedar City Institute of Women's Health regularly as your pregnancy progresses. After the first prenatal appointment, most women have monthly check-ups during their first two trimesters (until week 26). From weeks 26-36, you may have appointments every two weeks.

Your pregnancy is considered full-term once you begin week 37, and you could start labor at any time. Most women have weekly prenatal appointments from week 37 until their baby is born. Dr. Heath and the team monitor your baby’s position in the last few weeks and help you prepare for labor and delivery.

Give your baby a strong start to life with comprehensive prenatal care at The Cedar City Institute of Women’s Health. To schedule your first prenatal appointment, call the office or request an appointment online today.