Prenatal care is care you get during pregnancy. Your prenatal care provider will check both you and your baby during your prenatal care visits. However  to get  prenatal care, you need to first choose a  provider.

Choosing a prenatal care provider that is right for you

You have the option  of choosing your own prenatal  care provider. They take care of you during pregnancy and  delivery. Here are your options.

• an obstetrician  is also known as an OB. It is a doctor who has  special education  and training to take care of women during pregnancy and delivery.
• a family practice doctor is a doctor who takes care of every member of your family. She can take care of you before, during and after pregnancy. He can also help deliver your baby.
• a midwife has specialized education and training in taking care of women of all ages. These include pregnant women. It is important to make sure that your  midwife is certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) or the North American Registry of Midwives (NARM).Certified nurse-midwives (also called CNMs) and certified midwives (also called CMs) are certified through AMCB. Certified professional midwives (also called CPMs) are certified through NARM.
• a family nurse practitioner is a nurse with special training to take care of every member of your family. She can take care of you during pregnancy and can help deliver your baby
• a women’s health nurse practitioner is a nurse with special education and training to take care of women of all ages including pregnant women.
• a maternal – fetal medicine specialist is an OB with special education and training to take care of women with high risk pregnancies. If you have a medical condition that may cause complications during pregnancy, your doctor will recommend that you see a maternal – fetal medicine specialist.

What you should look out for in a prenatal care provider

First of all , you have to choose a health care provider whom  you feel comfortable with and  listens to you. It is also important that his office or birthing center  where he delivers babies is close to where you live.

Other things to consider when choosing a prenatal care provider include the following :

• is the provider covered by your health insurance ?
• do you prefer a man or woman  ?  How old should your provider be ?  Does he listen to you
• have you heard good reviews about your provider ? Was the provider recommended by family or friends
• Is the office easy to get to ? Does the office hours fit your schedule ? Are the office staff friendly and helpful
• Is the provider a group practice. If he is, who will you see during prenatal appointments ? Who will deliver your baby if your provider is not available when you go into labor
• who handles after hours or emergency calls. Do you have to pay for phone consultations ? Who takes care of phone calls during office hours
• what hospital or birthing center does the office use ?  What do you know about it ? Is it close to where you live ?