Aspirus | Aspire | Spring 2019

10 aspire Spring 2019 YOU’VE CHECKED and double-checked—and then checked again just to be sure. And all the home pregnancy tests agree: You’re pregnant! Now it’s time for a flurry of phone calls to share the news with family and friends. Just be sure at least one of those calls is to your doctor’s office—it’s time to make an appointment for your first prenatal checkup. Thebeststart Prenatal checkups are essential for both you and your baby. Getting regular prenatal care can: X X Help you have a healthy baby. X X Decrease your risk of having your baby too early. X X Help your doctor find and treat potential problems early. Paul Kerns, MD *Body mass index, which measures your weight in relation to your height. Source: National Institutes of Health BABY on the way? their 28th week of pregnancy,” said Paul Kerns, MD, an OB/ GYN with Aspirus. “After that, we see patients every other week from 28 to 32 weeks, and then every week thereafter.” What toexpect During prenatal visits, your doctor may: X X Determine your baby’s due date. In general, you’ll have about one prenatal checkup per month for the first several months of pregnancy. As you get closer to your due date—or if you have any health conditions that need to be monitored more closely—you’ll need more frequent checkups. “If a pregnancy is low risk, we typically see patients every four weeks until they reach Howmuchweight should I gain? It’s always good to discuss with your health care provider what a healthy amount of weight is for you to gain during pregnancy. The general recommendations below for pregnancy weight gain refer to weight before pregnancy and are for women having one baby. Ifyouare Youshouldgainabout Underweight (BMI* less than 18.5) 28 to 40 pounds Normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) 25 to 35 pounds Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9) 15 to 25 pounds Obese (BMI 30+) 11 to 20 pounds