Routine prenatal visits serve many important functions. You and your Morning Star midwife become familiar with each other and your general well-being is assessed at each visit. At your first prenatal visit, along with medical history, a complete physical exam is done and some blood is drawn and sent to the laboratory. Lab work includes a Prenatal Profile (CBC, Rubella status, Hepatitis B, Blood Type and Rh factor, antibody screen and serology). HIV testing is recommended, but not required. Urine is checked at each visit for protein, glucose, white blood cells, ketones and blood. STD screening can be done as indicated.

Subsequent prenatal visits include a physical assessment, fetal heart tones are checked, as well as uterine growth. Visits are about 45 minutes, so there is plenty of time to ask questions, check out the library, watch a video or just visit. Prenatal exams are done at Morning Star Birth Center in Menomonie, Wisconsin, once a month until 28 weeks of pregnancy, and then every two weeks until 36 weeks. Weekly exams are then done until birth. If you are planning a home birth, a home visit will take place around the 36th week (one month before your due date).