You begin caring for your baby long before birth. After all, during pregnancy, you’re already paying special attention to how your eating habits, exercise routine and sleep schedule will affect your baby. Good prenatal care is essential—for the health of your baby and to prevent complications from developing in both mother and child.

Nutritional Know-How

When it comes to nourishing the life that’s growing inside you, most experts agree that a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean sources of protein is a smart approach. But there are a few specific nutrients that you’ll need to make a concerted effort to consume:

• Folic acid (1,000 micrograms per day) to prevent neural tube (spinal cord) defects, such as spina bifida, and poor growth of the baby;
• Calcium (1,000 milligrams per day) to help the baby develop strong bones and teeth and to ensure proper function of your circulatory and nervous systems;
• Iron (27 milligrams per day) to prevent anemia, fatigue, and increased susceptibility to infections during pregnancy.

Even if you eat healthfully on a daily basis, it’s possible to miss key nutrients, which is why health care providers generally recommend taking a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement every day, ideally starting three months before conception. This will ensure that you and your baby have all the nutrients you need, every step of the way.

Prenatal Checkups

During your pregnancy, you should expect tovisit your obstetrician-gynecologist once a month for prenatal check-ups during the first and second trimesters, then every two weeks for most of the third; in the last month, these visits will increase to once a week. At most visits, you’ll have routine checks—a weigh-in, a belly measurement, a urine test, a blood pressure reading, and a fetal heart rate check. You may also have a physical exam and a pelvic exam, and discuss lifestyle issues such as diet, exercise, sleep problems, and stress. At some visits, you may have screening tests to check for sexually transmitted diseases, gestational diabetes, Group B strep, anemia, and a blood-type incompatibility that can occur between you and the baby. At key milestones in the pregnancy, you will likely have an ultrasound to get a glimpse of the baby’s size and development. And depending on your age and personal risk factors, you may be advised to have additional diagnostic or genetic tests.

Throughout the pregnancy, it’s important to talk to your health care provider about any symptoms of worries you may have. . It’s your health care provider’s job to serve as a resource, guide, and source of support during the whole nine months, so don’t be shy about bringing up concerns. After all, what’s good for your health and state of mind is likely to be good for your baby’s, too.