Pregnancy Care Specialist

Why is prenatal care important?

Proper prenatal care helps you manage your pregnancy and head off any complications before they arise. No two pregnancies are the same, and your body may respond differently to this pregnancy than it has to previous experiences, so you should seek support no matter how many babies you’ve had.

Early care helps increase your chances of having a healthy baby. It involves regular screenings, monitoring, and education.

How often should I schedule prenatal visits?

Dr. De Leon (known as Dr. D) or Dr. Nguyen-Luu establish a schedule for you. Most healthy pregnancies usually require you to visit the office once each month through week 28. From weeks 28-36, plan on twice-monthly visits. In the final weeks, you’ll come in weekly.

If you have a high-risk pregnancy or are a mother older than 35, you may be scheduled for more frequent visits.

What should I expect during pregnancy care?

At your first visit, the doctor reviews your health history and performs a thorough physical examination, including a pelvic exam. Your blood pressure, height, and weight are measured. The doctors calculate your due date and educate you on prenatal vitamins and ways to keep your body and your baby healthy for the next nine months.

If you have questions, raise them at this visit or any subsequent appointment. The doctors want to support your pregnancy and need to know about any changes or issues that occur between visits.

At later visits, the staff continues to monitor your blood pressure, weight gain, and your baby’s growth and heart rate.

What information is provided during pregnancy care?

Dr. De Leon and Dr. Nguyen-Luu help you understand important lifestyle strategies that support a healthy pregnancy. These include:

• Exercise recommendations
• Healthy diet guidelines
• Prenatal vitamin recommendations
• Medications that are safe and those that should be avoided
• Weight gain recommendations
• Chemicals to avoid
• Sleep and rest recommendations

Remember that everything with which you come into contact can affect your baby. Smoking and alcohol consumption can be harmful.

If you’re pregnant or planning on getting pregnant soon, call one of the offices to take advantage of the team’s expert pregnancy care.