Prenatal Care

Prenatal care means health care during your pregnancy before your baby is born. Take care of yourself and your baby by:

• Getting early prenatal care. If you know you are pregnant, or think you might be pregnant, call your health care provider as soon as possible and schedule a visit.

• Getting regular prenatal care. Follow your health care provider's schedule for visits and don't miss appointments.

• Doing everything you can to keep yourself and your baby healthy during your pregnancy.

Prenatal care is important because, by seeing you regularly, your health care provider has the chance to find problems early so that they can be treated as soon as possible. Other problems might also be prevented. Many studies have shown that early and regular prenatal care is important for the health of both mothers and their babies.