Pregnancy and Prenatal Care

Prenatal care is one of the most common and effective preventive health services, designed to protect the health of both you and your baby through screening, medical care, education, and emotional support. Regular visits help catch issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, infections, or mental health concerns early, when they are easier and safer to manage.

New guidance recommends a comprehensive needs assessment as early as possible, ideally before 10 weeks of pregnancy, to review your medical and reproductive history and discuss lifestyle, medications, and any symptoms. Early care can also identify emergencies like ectopic pregnancy and allow safe adjustment of medications and exposures that might affect the developing baby.

For nearly 100 years, many people followed a standard schedule of 12–14 in‑person prenatal visits, no matter their health or risk level. Recent evidence shows that for low‑risk pregnancies, fewer targeted visits (often 6–10) can have similar outcomes and patient satisfaction when care is well organized.

In 2025, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) introduced a framework for personalized prenatal care that adjusts visit number and timing based on your individual risk, previous pregnancies, and preferences. High‑risk patients may need more frequent or specialized visits, while low‑risk patients may safely combine in‑person, telehealth, and group care options.

Modern prenatal care recognizes that your health is shaped not only by biology, but also by social and structural factors like income, housing, food access, transportation, racism, and job conditions. The new guidance recommends screening for these “social drivers of health” before 10 weeks and connecting patients with community resources when needs are identified.

These conversations might include questions about stress, intimate partner violence, mental health, substance use, and your support system at home. By surfacing these issues early, your team can help with referrals to social workers, nutrition programs, mental health care, or community groups that make it easier to stay healthy during pregnancy.

Prenatal care is no longer limited to a quick check in a clinic room. New models encourage blending traditional visits with telemedicine check‑ins, remote monitoring, and group prenatal care when appropriate. Some visits—like detailed physical exams, ultrasounds, or certain lab tests—must still be in person, but routine check‑ins or education sessions may safely move online.

Telehealth can reduce travel time, childcare challenges, and missed work, while group care can build community, reduce isolation, and improve understanding of pregnancy changes and warning signs. Throughout, clinicians are encouraged to use shared decision‑making: clearly explaining options and risks, then working with you to design a plan that fits your values, culture, and daily life.

If you think you may be pregnant, schedule an appointment as soon as you can rather than waiting for the second trimester. Bring a list of medications, supplements, past health issues, and questions, including concerns about work, childcare, transportation, or housing so your team can tailor support.

Between visits, learn the key warning signs that need urgent care—such as severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, sudden swelling, or significantly reduced fetal movement later in pregnancy—and know how to contact your provider after hours. Above all, remember that prenatal care should be a partnership: you are the expert on your body and your life, and your care team brings medical expertise; together, you can build the safest, most realistic plan for a healthy pregnancy.