How often should you see a doctor during pregnancy? (Prenatal Visits)

When you find out that you are going to become a mother, along with the joy you feel, there is also a little anxiety in your mind, right? Now a new routine is added to your life. That is, going to see the doctor at the appointed times, that is, attending prenatal visits. Each of these visits is a very exciting experience. It is at such times that you will find out the day you are due and you will hear the baby's tiny heartbeat for the first time. At these clinics, your doctor will regularly check the health of you and your baby. He will also inform you about the nutrition you need, the exercise you should do, what to expect during childbirth, and how to care for and breastfeed your newborn.

Recommended clinic schedule for a healthy pregnancy

If you have a healthy pregnancy with no health problems, your doctor will likely want to see you according to the schedule below. This is the generally recommended clinic schedule.

This prenatal care is very important for you and your baby. In fact, if a mother does not receive proper prenatal care, the likelihood of her baby being born with a low birth weight increases by three times . When your doctor examines you regularly, any problems can be identified and treated early . Then you can have the healthiest pregnancy possible.

Risk factors that may require more clinic visits

The schedule we discussed above doesn't apply to everyone. It's not a set rule. Your doctor will decide how often you need to see you based on your individual health. If you had health problems before you got pregnant, or if you develop problems during your pregnancy, your doctor may need to see you more often. He or she may also need to do additional tests to ensure the health of you and your baby.

If you have any of these risk factors, your doctor may increase your clinic visits:

• Age 35 or older: In fact, many women in their late 30s and early 40s give birth to healthy, strong babies. There's nothing to worry about. However, after age 35, the risk of having a baby with birth defects and complications during pregnancy increases slightly. Therefore, more attention is needed.
• Pre-existing health conditions: If you have pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor will need to see you more often. Your doctor will work with you to make sure those conditions are managed in a way that doesn't affect your pregnancy or your baby's health. Other health conditions, such as asthma, lupus, anemia, or obesity, may also require more visits.
• Medical problems during pregnancy: At the antenatal clinic, your doctor will be on the lookout for complications that may arise after pregnancy. For example, conditions such as preeclampsia, which is high blood pressure during pregnancy, and gestational diabetes. If you develop these health conditions, your doctor will need to see you regularly, as they are very concerned about your health.
• Risk of premature birth: If you have had a premature birth before, or if you are showing similar symptoms during this pregnancy, your doctor will monitor you more closely.

Special attention for those of you who are pregnant with twins

Many women give birth to healthy twins. But a twin pregnancy definitely requires extra attention and care . Your doctor will pay special attention to these things during your prenatal care:

Proper nutrition and weight gain

Because you are carrying two babies, you will need to gain more weight than a singleton. It is normal for a mother of twins to gain between 35 and 45 pounds (16 and 20 kilograms). Your doctor will explain to you how much you should gain, what foods you should eat, and what supplements you should take.

Preterm Labor

Delivering a baby before 37 weeks is the biggest health risk in twin pregnancies. Premature babies are at a higher risk of health problems than full-term babies. About half of all twins are born prematurely. Therefore, your doctor will educate you about the signs of premature birth and will be on the lookout for it during your clinic visits.

Health risks to the mother

Compared to a singleton, a mother carrying twins is at higher risk of high blood pressure, anemia, gestational diabetes, and the need for a cesarean section (C-section). Your doctor will monitor you for these conditions at your clinic.

Health risks of twins

Twins are more likely to be born smaller than normal. There can be problems with the placenta. Also, twins who share a placenta are at risk of a condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) . This is when one baby receives too much blood and amniotic fluid, while the other baby receives too little. If your babies share a placenta, you will likely need to have ultrasound scans every two weeks starting around the 16th week of pregnancy to monitor for TTTS.

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