You’re pregnant! You’re on the brink of the greatest adventure an adult can have: parenthood! Being a parent is a big responsibility, but don’t let that scare you. The trick is to take it one step, one day, and sometimes one minute at a time.

Once you become pregnant, the very first step towards being a great parent is an easy one: Get yourself some good prenatal care. Whether you go to an expensive clinic or your neighborhood community health center isn’t important. The important thing is to go.

At your first visit, you’ll meet the doctor or nurse-practitioner who will take care of you. That person will take a medical history and do a brief exam and some blood work to confirm that you’re really pregnant. You’ll probably receive information about what to eat, how to stay healthy, and how your baby will be developing inside of you. There’s a good chance you’ll be given a prescription for special prenatal vitamins.

If everything is going well, you’ll probably be asked to come in once a month for the first four to six months. After that, visits will increase to every two weeks, and in your last month or two, you’ll come in once a week.

These visits are important, so don’t miss them. They’re your best bet to assuring a safe, comfortable pregnancy and a healthy full-term baby.