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Prenatal care and a healthy pregnancy

Revisado: 4 de octubre de 2026

Solo en inglés por ahora

Regular check-ups during pregnancy help spot problems early. Here is what prenatal care involves, habits that help, and warning signs that need care straight away.

What prenatal care is

Prenatal care (also called antenatal care) is the health care you get while you are pregnant. It includes regular check-ups and tests. It helps keep you and the baby healthy and lets a doctor or midwife spot problems early. If you plan to continue your pregnancy, contact a doctor, nurse or midwife as soon as you know you are pregnant.

What happens at check-ups

In some countries, such as the US, a typical pattern is a check-up about once a month until 28 weeks, twice a month from 28 to 36 weeks, and then every week until the birth. Your own schedule may differ. At most visits your blood pressure and weight are checked, the baby's heartbeat is checked, and your tummy is measured to follow the baby's growth. You will also be offered tests, such as blood tests and ultrasound scans.

Vitamins and medicines

Take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day until you are 12 weeks pregnant. It helps prevent birth defects of the brain and spine. Ask about vitamin D too. Do not take vitamin A (retinol) supplements or fish liver oil, because too much vitamin A can harm the baby. Ask your doctor or midwife about healthy eating and how much weight gain is right for you. Always talk to them before you start or stop any medicine, including medicines you buy yourself and herbal remedies.

Food and drink to avoid

Some foods can carry infections such as listeria or toxoplasmosis, or contain too much vitamin A. Avoid soft cheeses with a white rind, such as brie, unless thoroughly cooked. Also avoid pâté, raw or undercooked meat, cold cured meats, liver, raw shellfish, and shark, swordfish and marlin. Limit tuna and oily fish, have no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day, and avoid alcohol. Advice differs a little between countries, so ask your midwife what applies to you.

Habits that protect you and the baby

Avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs during pregnancy, as they can harm you and the baby. If you find it hard to stop, ask a doctor, nurse or midwife for support. Going to all your check-ups matters too, even when you feel well, because regular checks let your doctor or midwife spot problems early.

Warning signs that need care now

Get medical help straight away if you have bleeding or fluid leaking from your vagina, or severe tummy pain that does not go away. Do the same for a headache that will not go away or gets worse, changes in your vision, or extreme swelling of your hands or face. Other urgent signs are a fever of 38°C or higher, chest pain, a racing heart, trouble breathing, fainting, severe vomiting, or extreme tiredness. So is a painful, red or swollen leg or arm, or a baby that moves less or stops moving. Say that you are pregnant. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, get emergency help or contact a crisis line now.

This is general information. Your doctor or midwife knows your pregnancy best. If something feels wrong, contact them or get urgent help.