Prenatal care is a program of care for a pregnant woman before she gives birth to her baby.
Most women begin their prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Visits to the doctor occur about once a month during the first six months. The frequency of visits increases to every two or three weeks for the remainder of the pregnancy. Several tests are performed during these visits. A Pap test may be done to detect changes in the cervix that could be forerunners to cancer. The doctor can also perform various tests to check the fetus for birth defects.