Maybe you just saw a positive test. Or you have been wondering for a few weeks. Either way, a lot is about to change, and you may feel excited, nervous, or both at once.
One of the best first steps is a simple one. It is a checkup with a doctor early in your pregnancy.
Why an early first visit matters
Your first pregnancy checkup is where your care begins. It is a chance to check on your health and your baby’s health. You can talk about any health problems you already have and any medicines you take. Together, you make a plan for the months ahead. It is also where you meet the people who will care for you during your pregnancy.
Try to have this first visit in the first three months of your pregnancy. If you joined a new health plan while you were already pregnant, try to go within about six weeks of joining.
Not sure where to start? Call your doctor’s office. Your doctor can confirm your pregnancy and help you find an OB/GYN or another pregnancy care provider.
When getting there is hard
Life does not stop for a checkup. A ride falls through, a work shift will not move, or there is no one to watch the other kids. The papers come in a language that is not yours. Or you just do not know who to call first.
These things are real, and you do not have to sort them out alone. Tell your doctor’s office or your health plan what is getting in the way, so they can help you plan.
After your baby arrives
Your own health still matters after your baby is born. Doctors who care for pregnant women recommend that new mothers check in with their pregnancy care provider within the first three weeks after birth, and have a full checkup no later than 12 weeks after birth [1].
That checkup is for you. It is a time to talk about how you are healing, how you are sleeping, how you are feeling, and how feeding your baby is going [1].
If something does not feel right, during pregnancy or in the year after, say so. The CDC’s Hear Her campaign asks the people around pregnant and new mothers to listen when a woman says something is wrong [2]. Your doctor wants to hear it, too.
Your baby’s first checkup comes fast. It usually happens when your baby is 3 to 5 days old. Then come checkups at 1 month and 2 months [3]. Choosing your baby’s doctor before birth can make that first visit easier to plan.
A healthy start for the whole family
Pregnancy is a good time to make sure you have a primary care doctor of your own. A doctor who knows you can help with everyday health needs long after your baby is born, for you and for your growing family.
Your next step
If you think you might be pregnant, or you just found out, a good first step is to call your doctor’s office and ask for a visit. When you are not sure who your doctor is, the phone number on the back of your health plan card is a good place to start.
References
[1] American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Optimizing Postpartum Care.” Committee Opinion No. 736. May 2018. https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2018/05/optimizing-postpartum-care
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Hear Her Campaign: An Overview.” May 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/hearher/about/index.html
[3] American Academy of Pediatrics, Bright Futures. “Well-Child Visits: Parent and Patient Education” (infancy visits). https://www.aap.org/en/practice-management/bright-futures/bright-futures-family-centered-care/well-child-visits-parent-and-patient-education/
