Prenatal Care Services & Treatments

If you're ready to start or grow your family, we're here to help. Our Obstetrics providers at Mayo Clinic Health System offer the exact care you need, including pregnancy planning and prenatal care.

Find out more about our services:

• Conditions and consultations
• Diagnosis and treatments
• Prenatal care specialists
• Referrals
• FAQ
• Prenatal care locations near you
• Prenatal care specialists near you

Conditions and consultations

Our prenatal care providers deliver personalized care through a series of appointments designed to monitor the health and well-being of you and your baby.

Prenatal care provided includes:

• Prepregnancy counseling
  Your provider will answer your questions about pregnancy and help evaluate your readiness.
• An initial assessment
  During this appointment, your provider will confirm your pregnancy, estimate your due date, gather a medical history and discuss preexisting health conditions.
• Regular check-ups
  In-person and virtual check-ups help track you and your baby's health. Your provider will:
  • Monitor your weight gain, blood pressure, and pregnancy discomforts such as morning sickness and back pain; discuss emotional changes, your safety, and other concerns you have; and give you needed immunizations.
  • Monitor baby's heart rate, measure the size of the uterus and evaluate baby's growth.
  • Watch for signs of complications, such as preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and preterm labor.
• Ongoing education
  Education ensures you are informed about your pregnancy, risks and complications and what to do when you go into labor. You will learn about prenatal education options and discuss your desire to breastfeed and your birth plan.
• Nutritional support
  Your provider will discuss dietary recommendations and prescribe prenatal vitamins.

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Diagnosis and treatments

We specialize in diagnosing and treating several conditions related to pregnancy and will develop a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your preferences.

Treatments provided include:

• High-risk and low-risk pregnancy care
  See the Conditions and consultation section.
• Virtual prenatal care
  This program, available at select locations, is for women with low-risk pregnancies looking for a more active role in their prenatal care and the convenience of fewer clinic visits. In this program, prenatal care combines traditional office visits with Connected Care visits and in-home monitoring. Virtual care patients receive the same Consultations as in-person care patients. Not all prenatal care providers participate in this program.
• Blood and urine tests
  These are needed to screen for infections and preeclampsia, test for gestational diabetes and anemia, and check your blood type and Rh factor.
• Ultrasound exams
  Ultrasounds confirm your baby' due date, assess fetal development, and identify any health issues. Ultrasounds may be offered in the office or Radiology, depending on your prenatal care provider.
• Intrauterine insemination
  Limited providers offer this procedure once fertility issues have been identified. During this procedure, your provider places sperm directly in the uterus, the organ in which a baby develops, to improve your chances of becoming pregnant.
• Hysterosalpingogram
  Some prenatal care providers can evaluate female infertility. During this procedure, X-ray contrast is injected into your uterus, and an X-ray is taken to check for problems inside the uterus. The test also shows whether the fluid passes out of the uterus and spills out of your fallopian tubes.

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Prenatal Care specialists

Our team of experts, including nurse-midwives, OB-GYN providers, family medicine providers, nurses and specialized staff, work together to care for you. Finding a provider whose approach to labor, delivery and pain management aligns with yours is important.

Select a healthcare provider for your baby

OB-GYNs and most nurse-midwives do not provide primary care for children, but family medicine prenatal providers do. If you are not establishing prenatal care with a family medicine provider, you must choose a healthcare provider for your baby. Choose from Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine or Family Medicine providers.

Additional care and therapies may be provided by:

• Birthing Centers
• Genetic Counseling
• Laboratory
• Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine
• Radiology
• Reproductive Endocrinology (Fertility)

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Referrals

You can make an appointment without a referral from your provider — call the appointment number at your preferred Prenatal Care location.

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FAQ

What should I bring for my first appointment?

For your first appointment, bring your current prescription information or medical records from non-Mayo Clinic Health System facilities. Complete a medical records release form to authorize the transfer of health records from another healthcare facility to us. Visit our Medical Record Forms page for this form and other forms in multiple languages.

How long does an appointment take?

The appointment length depends on the patient's specific medical situation or concern. We recommend calling your preferred Prenatal Care location to inquire about the appointment length for your health needs.

How does the Mayo Clinic OB Nest program work?

Mayo Clinic OB Nest is a prenatal care program for women with low-risk pregnancies looking for a more active role in their prenatal care. The program combines traditional office visits with Connected Care visits and in-home monitoring. You will be given the proper at-home equipment to listen to baby's heartbeat and measure your blood pressure in the comfort of your own home.

You will communicate with an experienced obstetrics nurse through scheduled phone calls or messages. You will meet with your healthcare provider approximately every other visit and discuss questions and concerns along with your health and baby's heart rate.

For more information, call 608-785-0940, or send a message using the patient portal. Include "Mayo Clinic OB Nest" in the subject line of your message.

How does the OB Shared Care program work?

You will see your regular Family Medicine provider for most prenatal visits, for your postpartum care and for newborn care. You will see a provider from the OB-GYN team for weeks 36–40. You will complete pre-registration paperwork and discuss delivery options and plan.

A Family Medicine provider or pediatrician will care for your baby while in the hospital. Care will transition to your regular Family Medicine provider upon discharge. If you choose to circumcise your baby boy, discuss this with your regular Family Medicine provider prior to delivery to make arrangements. Talk to your provider to learn more and to see if OB Shared Care is available at your primary care clinic location.

How do I know which provider type is right for my prenatal care?

One of the many steps to preparing for baby is to select a provider who cares for you during pregnancy, labor and delivery. You can choose from:

• Family medicine physicians and advanced care providers. They are trained to care for people of all ages and provide preconception counseling and prenatal care. Typically, the family medicine physician who cares for you in clinic will deliver your newborn. They care for the medical needs of infants, children and your entire family.
• Family medicine residents. They are family medicine physicians in training through our Residency program and often have faculty members participating in care so patients receive the benefit of the resident and physician. They provide preconception counseling, prenatal care, and labor and delivery care for low-risk pregnancies. They care for the medical needs of infants, children and your entire family. Typically, the resident who cares for you in clinic will deliver your newborn.
• Nurse-midwives. They are advanced-practice providers with specialized training, education and certification in women's gynecological health issues. Nurse midwives provide preconception counseling, prenatal care, and labor and delivery care for low-risk pregnancies. They only provide women’s healthcare. Typically, the nurse-midwife who cares for you in clinic will deliver your newborn and provide additional services beyond maternity care.
• OB-GYNs. They are physicians who have completed specialty training in obstetrics and gynecology, more commonly referred to as Obstetricians, OB-GYNs, or simply OBs. OB-GYNs provide preconception counseling, fertility, prenatal care, and labor and delivery care for low- and high-risk pregnancies. They only provide women’s healthcare. The OB-GYN team rotates labor and delivery call; the physician who is on call at the time of your delivery will deliver your newborn.

When will I need an ultrasound?

Ultrasounds are performed by your provider or group of diagnostic medical sonographers. The following outlines when an ultrasound may be needed:

• First trimester. The ultrasound can be used to help determine birthdate and potential for multiple births.
• Second trimester. This typically occurs between 18 and 22 weeks. The technologist performing the exam will save multiple images to be reviewed by a radiologist to help evaluate your baby's growth and development. At this point in pregnancy, it is possible to determine your baby's gender.
• Third trimester. Ultrasounds are not always performed in the third trimester, but may be ordered to help determine the baby's estimated weight, amount of amniotic fluid, location of the placenta, fetal heart rate and well-being, and confirming delivery date range.

Does Mayo Clinic Health System offer virtual visits?

Virtual visits are offered in prenatal care. These visits may be scheduled through the patient portal, the Mayo Clinic App or by calling your preferred Prenatal Care location.

What childbirth education classes are available?

A variety of classes are offered to new or soon-to-be moms and their support person. Search our Classes & Events page to find a Mayo Clinic Health System offering near you. Mayo Clinic’s Perinatal Education Program in Rochester also hosts a wide selection of classes both in person and via the interactive Zoom platform. A variety of class topics are offered based on availability.

How can dad and partners support a pregnant partner?

It's important to be involved in your partner's pregnancy. Here are some ways to be involved from the start:

• Offer to run out and purchase the pregnancy testing kit
• Attend prenatal visits
• Talk to your partner
• Get to know your baby
• Support your partner in a healthier lifestyle

What are my payment options, and do you offer financial assistance?

Visit the billing page of your preferred location for information on insurance, billing and payments.

We serve patients in difficult financial circumstances and offer financial assistance to those who have an established need to receive medically necessary services. Learn more about financial assistance options.

Can you provide a second opinion?

Yes — call the appointment number at your preferred Prenatal care location.

Do you have an after-hours number in case of emergency?

Always call 911 in case of an emergency. For after-hours help with other issues, get virtual care 24/7 through the Primary Care On Demand app or review our convenient care options.

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Explore locations or providers near you for details on high-quality prenatal care:

Not all treatments, tests and services are available at all Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Check with your preferred location in advance.