Pregnancy Specialist

When should I schedule my first appointment for pregnancy care?

If you are planning on trying to conceive a baby, you should make an appointment with Dr. Ugwu before you start. Dr. Ugwu can help you optimize your health so that when you become pregnant, your body is in the best possible health to carry a baby.

However, if your pregnancy is a surprise, you should make an appointment with Dr. Ugwu to confirm your pregnancy after you’ve missed a period and have taken an at-home pregnancy test.

You have several prenatal appointments while you’re pregnant. In most cases, you have a monthly appointment for the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. Then, you have biweekly appointments until week 36, and finally, weekly appointments until your baby is born.

If you have a high-risk pregnancy — for example, if you’re over the age of 35 or have a health condition like diabetes or high blood pressure — you have more frequent appointments so Dr. Ugwu can monitor your pregnancy more carefully.

Why do I need so many prenatal appointments?

Pregnancy should last around 40 weeks, which isn’t a long time when you consider that you grow a whole new human in that time. Having frequent prenatal appointments allows Dr. Ugwu to monitor your baby’s development and help you improve and protect your health as your body changes to accommodate your baby.

For example, at each appointment, Dr. Ugwu checks your blood pressure and measures your weight and abdomen. You also have ultrasounds at the end of your first trimester and around 20 weeks and a glucose test during your second trimester. These tests help Dr. Ugwu identify any issues or abnormalities and recommend lifestyle changes, treatments, or further testing to protect you and your baby’s health.

How can I protect my health during pregnancy?

One of the best things you can do to protect your health and to help your baby grow is to maintain healthy diet and exercise habits. You only need an extra 200 calories per day to provide the energy required for pregnancy. If you were active before becoming pregnant, you should maintain your activity levels. Dr. Ugwu can answer your questions about safe exercises during pregnancy, and if there are any movements you should avoid. You should also attend your prenatal checkups and follow Dr. Ugwu’s personalized advice for a healthy pregnancy.

Call VNC RealHealth or make an appointment online today.