Pregnancy: What to Expect for Care

Pregnancy is a big life moment. And it may require you to change some of your habits to support both your own and your baby’s health.

One of the most important aspects of prenatal care is regularly seeing your maternity care provider. Your provider can monitor various aspects of your health and your baby’s health to make sure everything’s on track. This includes a physical exam and bloodwork. Your provider will also monitor your baby’s growth and heart rate. These visits are covered in full when you visit a Preferred provider.

How often you need to see your provider depends on how far along in your pregnancy you are. Also, everyone’s health is different—so talk to your provider about a prenatal schedule that makes sense for you and your baby. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a general prenatal schedule might require a visit:

● Every 4 weeks until you are 28 weeks pregnant
● Every 2 to 3 weeks from 28 to 36 weeks pregnant
● Every week from 36 weeks until delivery

As much as these visits are a chance for your doctor to examine your health, it’s also a chance for you to ask questions. Keeping a pregnancy journal in a notepad or on your phone can help you keep track of your questions about your health, pregnancy and parenthood.

Once your baby is born, it’s recommended to follow a postpartum care schedule as recommended by your doctor. That typically means seeing your provider at six weeks postpartum, then on an as-needed basis after that. Keep in mind that postpartum care may be a little different if you had a C-section or delivered vaginally.

As a Service Benefit Plan member, your benefits are designed to support you through each stage of your pregnancy. We cover breastfeeding education and coaching by lactation consultants and offer access to helpful breastfeeding resources.

Plus, members can also receive one breast pump kit and milk storage bags per calendar year by logging in to their MyBlue^® account and ordering the kits online or by calling 1-800-411-BLUE (2583). Click here to learn more about our pregnancy tools and resources.

Postpartum care also includes managing your mental health, too. Many new parents develop ‘baby blues’ after childbirth, which often includes symptoms like mood swings, crying spells, anxiety and/or difficulty sleeping. Usually, baby blues subside after two weeks. However, some parents may experience postpartum depression. It’s a severe, long-lasting form of depression that may interfere with the ability to care for your child and handle daily tasks.

Be sure to make plans for ‘me time’ and ask for help when you need it. If you need additional support, you can use telehealth services from Teladoc® to chat with a mental health specialist from wherever you’re most comfortable.

Remember that we’re by your side at every step. Eligible members can earn a free Pregnancy Care Box packed with items you can use during and after pregnancy—and $75 in wellness rewards.* You can also visit our pregnancy page to learn more about the resources and tools available to those who are expecting.

*You must be 18 or older on a Standard or Basic Option plan to earn this reward.

Sources:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/5181-pregnancy-prenatal-care
https://www.verywellfamily.com/postpartum-recovery-4771494
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617