Prenatal Care

Getting adequate prenatal care is one of the most important steps you can take to keep yourself and your baby healthy. You should begin your prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant. Your doctor will set a schedule for your office visits based on your individual needs. The frequency of your prenatal care appointments will typically increase as your pregnancy progresses.

Prenatal care enables doctors to detect and treat any possible health concerns for the mother or her baby early before they become more serious. During your first visit, your doctor will inquire about your health history and that of your family, do a complete physical exam, take blood and urine samples, check your blood pressure and weight, calculate your due date and answer any questions you may have. He or she may also make recommendations regarding lifestyle changes, maintaining a healthy diet and prenatal vitamin supplements. During subsequent visits, your doctor will continue to monitor your blood pressure and weight gain and check the baby’s growth and heart rate. Your doctor may also schedule additional blood work and ultrasound testing as needed to monitor the health of your baby.

The Maternity Care team at Yuma Regional Medical Center includes doctors who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN)  as well as perinatalogists who specialize in caring for patients with high-risk pregnancies. If you are pregant and need to set up prenatal care, search our physician directory to find a provider that is right for you.