The healthy choices you make before and during pregnancy can have a lasting impact on you and your unborn child.
We recommend that you visit your doctor as soon as you suspect you're pregnant. Experts say healthy pregnancy outcomes are linked to early prenatal care.
During prenatal visits, your doctor can give you advice about diet, vitamins, exercise, and other issues that may affect you and your baby. These visits also help prevent or treat pregnancy-related complications. During the postpartum visit, your doctor can ensure that you’re well on the road to recovery after giving birth.
For normal pregnancies without significant complications, prenatal exams are usually scheduled as follows:
| Pregnancy Stage | How often |
|---|---|
| First prenatal visit | When you first suspect you're pregnant |
| Weeks 14 - 30 | Every four weeks |
| Weeks 30 - 36 | Every two weeks |
| Weeks 36 - 40 | Every week |
| Weeks 40+ | Once or twice a week |
| Postpartum (after delivery) | 21 - 56 days after delivery |
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Get extra support for a healthy pregnancy
The My Pregnancy Assistant program on the Blue Cross® Health & Well-Being website, powered by WebMD®, supports those who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or supporting someone who’s pregnant. Online tools and resources provide information, tips and interactives to help with a healthy pregnancy. To access My Pregnancy Assistant, log in to your member account on bcbsm.com, click on the Health & Well-Being tab, then WebMD. You’ll find My Pregnancy Assistant on the Resources page.
WebMD Health Services is an independent company supporting Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan by providing health and well-being services for members.