Pregnancy Care Q & A 

Why do I need pregnancy care?

A typical pregnancy lasts 39-40 weeks, and during this short time, your body changes considerably as it accommodates and develops a new life. To ensure that your health, as well as your baby’s health, stay on track, good prenatal care is imperative.

Once you receive the good news, Drs. Pakideh and Ahadi like to meet with you as early as possible to set up the best schedule for your pregnancy. During these prenatal visits, you receive invaluable guidance that helps you navigate your pregnancy as smoothly as possible as the doctors ensure that important milestones are met along the way. Ultimately, the goals of the prenatal care at Monroe OBGYN are to:

• Track proper fetal growth and development
• Optimize your health through disease detection and prevention
• Address proper nutrition and supplements to ensure appropriate weight gain
• Encourage regular physical activity during pregnancy

Your pregnancy care is also a great time for you to ask any questions you may have and to plan your delivery with your doctor.

How often should I see my doctor?

A schedule for most pregnancies typically follows this timeline:

• Once every four weeks through week 28
• Every two weeks from weeks 28-36
• Once a week after week 36 until delivery

If you fall into a high-risk category, which can happen for reasons such as age or multiple babies, you may need to see your doctor more often.

At each of your pregnancy care visits, your obstetrician checks your:

• Blood pressure
• Urine for protein
• Baby’s heart rate
• Abdomen measurement to make sure your baby is growing appropriately
• Weight gain to assess whether it is on track

By keeping to your prenatal schedule, the doctors at Monroe OBGYN can track your pregnancy, spotting any potential problems and quickly resolving them.

When do I have an ultrasound?

The doctors at Monroe OBGYN perform an ultrasound during your first prenatal visit in order to determine the location and gestational age of your fetus.

Your second ultrasound is between weeks 20 and 22 in order to conduct a full anatomic survey of your baby, including the:

• Organs
• Brain
• Heart
• Spine

You can also find out the sex of your baby during this ultrasound, if you choose to.

Ultrasounds are painless and harmless since they don’t rely on radiation. So should a problem arise, this diagnostic tool is always available throughout your pregnancy.

To get started on your pregnancy care, call Monroe OBGYN, or request an appointment by filling out the online form.