Prenatal care is the schedule of medical visits, screening tests, and counseling that supports a pregnant person and developing fetus from confirmation of pregnancy through delivery. Standard low-risk schedules involve 8-14 visits across approximately 40 weeks of gestation, with monthly visits to 28 weeks, every 2 weeks to 36 weeks, then weekly until delivery.
Prenatal care (ICD-10: Z34.0-Z34.9 supervision of normal pregnancy; Z36.x antenatal screening) is the package of medical, nutritional, and educational interventions delivered to pregnant patients to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes. Modern prenatal care has three concurrent objectives: identification and management of pre-existing maternal conditions (hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disease, HIV, hepatitis, anemia); routine screening for pregnancy-specific conditions (gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placenta previa, Rh isoimmunization, group B Streptococcus); and fetal surveillance including aneuploidy screening, anomaly ultrasound, growth assessment, and antepartum testing where indicated. The standard US schedule recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) involves a confirmation visit at 6-10 weeks, monthly visits through 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, and weekly until delivery. The WHO 2016 antenatal care model recommends a minimum of 8 contacts with one in the first trimester, two in the second, and five in the third.
The key symptoms of Prenatal Care are: Missed menstrual period — the most common early sign, typically prompting pregnancy testing 1-2 weeks after the expected period., Breast tenderness, fullness, and tingling beginning 1-4 weeks after conception due to rising progesterone and estrogen., Nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) affecting 70-80% of pregnancies, typically peaking at 9-10 weeks and resolving by 16-20 weeks., Fatigue out of proportion to recent activity, attributable to elevated progesterone and increased cardiac output., Frequent urination from increasing uterine size pressing on the bladder and increased renal blood flow., Food cravings, food aversions, and altered sense of taste and smell beginning in the first trimester., Light spotting (implantation bleeding) 6-12 days after conception in 15-25% of pregnancies; not all bleeding is normal and any bleeding should be evaluated..
Pregnancy is confirmed by qualitative urine beta-hCG, which becomes positive 7-14 days after conception, or by quantitative serum beta-hCG, which doubles every 48-72 hours in early viable intrauterine pregnancies. An intrauterine gestational sac is visible on transvaginal ultrasound by 5 weeks gestation; a yolk sac at 5.5 weeks; and fetal cardiac activity at 6 weeks. Dating is most accurate when an ultrasound is performed before 14 weeks using crown-rump length, after which biometric measurements (biparietal diameter, head circumference, femur length) become less precise. The first prenatal visit ideally occurs at 6-10 weeks of gestation and includes a detailed medical, obstetric, family, and social history, full physical examination, blood pressure and body mass index measurement, and a comprehensive panel of laboratory tests: complete blood count, blood type and Rh factor with antibody screen, rubella and varicella immunity, hepatitis B surface antigen, HIV, syphilis serology, urine culture, and chlamydia and gonorrhea screening in those at risk. Aneuploidy screening options are discussed and offered at 10-13 weeks (combined first-trimester screen, non-invasive prenatal testing). The detailed fetal anatomy scan is performed at 18-22 weeks. A 50 g oral glucose challenge or 75 g oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks screens for gestational diabetes. Group B Streptococcus screening is universal at 35-37 weeks. Symphysis-fundal height is measured at every visit from 24 weeks. Ultrasound for fetal growth and well-being is performed when clinically indicated, with universal third-trimester scans in some health systems.
With timely prenatal care, low-risk pregnancies in high-income countries have maternal mortality below 10 per 100,000 live births and stillbirth rates of 3-4 per 1,000. Late-booking pregnancies (after 12 weeks) double these risks; absent or fewer than 4 visits triples them. Disparities by race, ethnicity, geography, and income persist: non-Hispanic Black women in the US have maternal mortality 2-3 times higher than non-Hispanic white women despite similar access. Globally, 95% of maternal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, and most are preventable with skilled birth attendance, antenatal screening for preeclampsia and hemorrhage risk, and timely emergency obstetric care. Outcomes are best when prenatal care begins in the first trimester, includes the recommended 8-14 visits, and is coupled with skilled intrapartum and postpartum care. Vaccination, aspirin prophylaxis for preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes screening have measurable impacts on infant and maternal outcomes.
All pregnant people benefit from structured prenatal care, but maternal-fetal medicine consultation is warranted for advanced maternal age over 40, multiple gestation, prior preterm birth or stillbirth, chronic medical conditions, suspected fetal anomaly, or any positive screening test. Early referral allows targeted surveillance and reduces preventable maternal and neonatal morbidity.
Find specialists →Prenatal care is followed by 6-12 weeks of postpartum care, beginning with a 1-3 week postpartum visit and continuing through the comprehensive 6-12 week visit. Recovery from vaginal birth typically takes 6-8 weeks; cesarean recovery 8-12 weeks. Breastfeeding establishment, contraception, mental health screening, and management of any pregnancy-related conditions extend follow-up.
ACOG recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly for low-risk pregnancies, distributed across most days. Walking, swimming, stationary cycling, modified resistance training, and prenatal yoga are safe. Avoid contact sports, scuba diving, hot yoga, and supine exercises after the first trimester. Stop activity immediately for bleeding, regular painful contractions, leakage of fluid, dyspnea before exertion, dizziness, chest pain, or calf swelling.
Choose a maternity service that offers continuity of care from a named obstetrician, midwife, or family physician, with access to ultrasound, maternal-fetal medicine, mental health support, lactation consultation, and an attached birthing unit. Ask about the institution's cesarean rates, postpartum hemorrhage protocols, and respectful-maternity-care accreditation.
Medically reviewed by AIHealz Medical Editorial Board · May 13, 2026
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