Prenatal care is the health care you receive from a health care provider, such as a doctor or midwife,  while you are pregnant.

It includes your checkups and prenatal testing. During prenatal care visits, your health care provider will make sure you and the developing fetus are healthy and strong.

These regular checkups are your chance to learn how to manage the discomforts of pregnancy, have any testing you may need, learn warning signs, and ask any questions you may have.   

These visits are also important to allow your health care provider to spot health problems early. Early treatment can cure many problems and prevent others.

Your doctor or midwife will give you a schedule for your prenatal visits. If you are over 35 years old or your pregnancy is high risk because of health problems like diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor or midwife will probably want to see you more often.

You can also expect to see your health care provider more often as your due date gets closer.

You should begin prenatal care as soon as you know you're pregnant.