Pregnancy Specialist

When Does a Woman See the Doctor During Pregnancy?

A woman typically sees her doctor at specific intervals during her pregnancy. From 4 weeks up until 28 weeks, the prenatal visits should be once per month. After 28 weeks, the visits will generally be scheduled every 2 weeks until the 36th week. At that point, the prenatal visits will occur once a week until the birth. This is the standard visit scheduled for a woman with a healthy pregnancy, but for women with high-risk pregnancies, the visits are generally going to be much more frequent. Ultrasounds generally take place during scheduled visits, but additional ultrasounds and tests like amniocentesis may be scheduled separately.

What Should a Mom Eat While Pregnant?

The doctor will generally prescribe some supplements that will help a woman get all the nutrients that she and the baby need. Studies have found that eating a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy is critical to the baby’s development. Certain foods such as raw oysters or sushi must be avoided during pregnancy. There may also be other foods that the doctor recommends avoiding. During each prenatal visit, the doctor will check to make sure that weight gain is appropriate and that the baby is growing at a good rate. If necessary, the diet can be adjusted during pregnancy.

Is Vaginal Birth or C-Section Better?

This is entirely dependent upon the situation. Most women try for a vaginal birth if possible, simply because it is easier to heal from a vaginal birth. However, there are situations where the health of the mom and the baby might be at risk and a c-section is the safest choice. The doctor's first goal is making sure that both mom and baby are healthy and that there is a smooth delivery, regardless of whether it is a vaginal delivery or a c-section delivery.