Prenatal Care

Once you find out you�re pregnant, the most important next step is ensuring you have good prenatal care. For many this comes in the form of an obstetrician/gynecologist (OB/GYN), while for others a midwife or family doctor might be the desired alternative.

If you are still uncertain which type of prenatal care practitioner you are looking for, learning what each offers can help you reach a decision. And whatever form of prenatal care you choose, it�s important that you know what criteria to look for so you can ensure you have the healthiest pregnancy possible.

What To Expect

Once you have reached a decision, you may want to read up on what you should expect from your prenatal appointments, so that you can use them to your best advantage. One standard feature of prenatal care after the eighth week of pregnancy on is checking for your baby's heart beat. If you are feeling particularly nervous about your pregnancy, you may consider having a fetal heart monitor at home.

If you have experienced infertility or other fertility problems in the past, you may consider undergoing genetic counseling. This can be done both before and during a pregnancy to detect any genetic abnormalities that may be passed on to your future children.