Beyond the ob-gyn: 4 other checkups you need during pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, it can feel like your ob-gyn is your new best friend. You’ll see them for prenatal visits at least a dozen times throughout your pregnancy. They’ll track your baby’s growth, take your blood pressure, monitor your weight, and much more. These visits are an important way to help you have a healthy pregnancy.

While your appointment book may be getting fuller, it’s important to keep your regular checkups with other providers during this time. Be sure to keep those checkups on your calendar throughout your pregnancy.

1. Dentist

“Most pregnant women don’t realize that their oral health is an important part of prenatal care,” says ob-gyn Cindy M. Duke, M.D. Pregnancy may make you more likely to have gum disease and cavities. In fact, up to 75% of pregnant women have gingivitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s an early stage of gum disease with symptoms such as red, swollen gums.

How come? The powerful hormones that come with pregnancy cause some changes in your body too. Some of those hormonal changes can make gingivitis symptoms worse.

And dental problems aren’t just bad for you, Dr. Duke says. They can affect your pregnancy too. Gum disease, for example, has been associated with preterm birth and low birth weight, according to the CDC.

For a healthy mouth, visit your dentist at least once every six months for a routine dental exam and cleaning. If you’ve had a lot of cavities, gum disease, or other oral health issues, your provider may recommend more frequent visits.

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2. Eye doctor

Pregnancy can affect your eye health in a lot of ways. Some common eye problems women face during pregnancy include dry eye, swelling, and blurry vision, says Dr. Duke. Your hormonal changes may be at the root of your vision troubles.

Blurry vision, for example, can happen in the early weeks of pregnancy. Hormones that support your growing baby also cause you to carry extra fluid. That can change your eyes in ways that result in blurry vision, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Certain chronic conditions that affect the eyes and may cause blurred vision can also get worse during pregnancy. They include diabetic retinopathy, Graves’ disease, and multiple sclerosis. If you have any of these conditions, your eye doctor may monitor your vision extra carefully.

Thankfully, many eye issues go away after birth. Still, it’s a good idea to stay on top of your vision health with regular eye exams during pregnancy. And contact your eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) as soon as you notice any vision changes.

They can help rule out serious pregnancy-related medical conditions that may be associated with your eyes. Some examples: high blood pressure and gestational diabetes, which can both be serious. Your doctor will help you treat the symptoms. They might also steer you to your ob-gyn for care if needed.

3. Dermatologist

Try to keep up with your annual skin cancer checks during pregnancy. With all the changes that are happening to your body, it can be easy to overlook a growing mole. But your dermatologist knows what to look for. They can safely test any suspicious spots for melanoma (the most serious form of skin cancer) while you’re pregnant.

Being pregnant doesn’t increase your risk of melanoma, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. But melanoma tends to develop during a woman’s childbearing years. So finding (and treating) it early is key for the health of you and your baby.

Do you use prescription acne medication? Let your dermatologist know you’re expecting. They can recommend safe ways to treat acne now. According to ACOG, some prescription acne medications should not be used during pregnancy, including:

• Hormonal therapy
• Isotretinoin (an oral medication that is a form of vitamin A)
• Oral tetracycline (an antibiotic)
• Topical retinoids

4. Specialist

Do you have any chronic conditions? Maybe you have diabetes, heart disease, or asthma, for example. It’s important to monitor them when you’re expecting, and keep up with the care you need from your specialists. In fact, you may even need extra care during pregnancy, says Dr. Duke.

Pregnant women with diabetes, for example, should be careful about managing their blood sugar levels. Blood sugar that isn’t well controlled can cause birth defects, preterm labor, or preeclampsia, according to the CDC. Preeclampsia is serious kind of high pressure that can happen after about 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Another example: Women with asthma should continue to see their asthma specialist when they’re expecting. About one-third of pregnant women with asthma will notice their symptoms getting worse, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. And keeping asthma under control may help reduce the chance of complications such as low birth weight, high blood pressure, and premature birth.

You may also need additional prenatal exams with your ob-gyn. But that varies according to your medical condition and provider, Dr. Duke says. Your ob-gyn and your specialist will help you come up with a plan to manage your chronic condition.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.