The ideal time to schedule your first appointment is when you decide you want to have a baby, even before you conceive. This preconception checkup can help you make any necessary changes to improve your chances of conceiving, especially if you've ever struggled with infertility.
Dr. Brathwaite can help you discontinue birth control in a safe way and with the ideal timing to encourage conception when you're ready. She may prescribe prenatal vitamins to help prepare your body for a baby.
Dr. Brathwaite may also perform several tests, such as a Pap smear, blood work, and other tests to check for potential health issues that could cause problems during pregnancy.
A pregnancy prep appointment can also give you all the information that you need regarding your general health and wellness during this very important stage of your life.
But, if you discover that you're pregnant before you have the chance to schedule a preconception checkup, simply book an appointment at Innovative Women's Care as soon as you have a positive home pregnancy test.
At Innovative Women's Care, Dr. Brathwaite schedules your prenatal appointments based on your individual situation. A common schedule for a healthy pregnancy is:
If you have a high-risk pregnancy, Dr. Brathwaite may recommend a more frequent prenatal visit schedule and may refer you. to perinatologist to comanager the pregnancy. She's a high-risk obstetrics specialist who can tailor all pregnancy care for the individual.
In some cases, you may need an extra appointment for a specific reason — for example, if your blood glucose screening test shows a high glucose level, you may need to schedule an oral glucose challenge test for gestational diabetes separately from your usual appointments.
Pregnancy visits can vary with the stage of your pregnancy and your personal needs. In general, your appointments may include:
You won't need all of these tests at every appointment — some appointments are brief progress checkups. In general, your first appointment is usually the longest unless new issues arise during your pregnancy.
With the support of Innovative Women's Care, you can have a healthy and happy pregnancy, from the time of your first positive pregnancy test through to delivery. Learn more about customized pregnancy care by calling the office or using the online scheduler.