Prenatal Visits
What to expect during your routine prenatal visits
These visits allow us to check that your pregnancy is progressing properly.
We will monitor:
- Weight gain or loss
- Blood pressure
- Urine sample checks
- Fetal heart rate
During a typical normal pregnancy without risk factors prenatal visits are:
- Every 4 weeks until 28 weeks
- Every 2-3 weeks until 36 weeks
- Every week after 36 weeks
Every woman is unique and there may be exceptions to these guidelines based on your or your baby’s specific health. Additional tests may need to be performed based on your medical, pregnancy, or family history. If you have any questions, please discuss with your provider during your visit.
Weeks of gestation* | What to expect *Pregnancy is measured in weeks and a normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks. |
|---|---|
| 1st visit 6 – 9 weeks | In this visit an ultrasound will be performed to confirm an intrauterine pregnancy, weeks of gestation, positive fetal activity and estimate due date. Usually it is done within 6-9 weeks. You will also be asked for the first day of your last menstrual period to assist in determining weeks of pregnancy and to estimate your due date. |
| 2nd visit 10 – 13 weeks | A physical exam will conducted during this visit, which may include a pelvic exam. If this is your first pelvic exam, ask your provider to explain it to you. Tests may be performed to rule out and/or identify anemia deficiency, iron deficiency, immune disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, urinary tract infection, genetic disorders. If you are over the age of 21, a screening for cervical cancer is considered part of routine testing during pregnancy. |
| 3rd visit 14 - 18 weeks | Usually offered at 15-21 weeks, the MSAFP screening for neural tube defects is performed. This test checks for AFP (alpha-feto-protein), a protein secreted by the baby’s liver and excreted into the mother's blood. All pregnant women should be offered the AFP screening, but specifically for women who:
|
| 4th visit 19 – 23 weeks | Routine appointment to check weight, blood pressure, fetal heart tones and/or review any test results. You will have an opportunity to discuss any concerns with your provider. |
| 5th visit 24 - 28 weeks | Routine appointment to check weight, blood pressure, fetal heart tones and/or review any test results. You will have an opportunity to discuss any concerns with your provider. During this visit you will be having a glucose tolerance test, CBC and iron levels checked. Additionally, you will received educational materials about cord blood banking and fetal kick counts. |
| 6th visit 28 - 32 weeks | Routine appointment to check weight, blood pressure, fetal heart tones and/or review any test results. You will have an opportunity to discuss any concerns with your provider. During this visit RH-negative patients will receive a Rhogam injection. |
| 7th visit 32 – 34 weeks | Routine appointment to check weight, blood pressure, fetal heart tones and/or review any test results. You will have an opportunity to discuss any concerns with your provider. During this visit of your third trimester, CBC tests will be performed to check iron levels and identify any sexually transmitted infections. |
| 8th visit 34 – 36 weeks | Routine appointment to check weight, blood pressure, fetal heart tones and/or review any test results. You will have an opportunity to discuss any concerns with your provider. During this visit an ultrasound will be performed to estimate the baby’s weight. Vaginal cultures are collected to determine if you are Group B Streptococcus (GBS) positive in order to prevent any infections being passed onto the baby during vaginal delivery. GBS is one of the many bacteria that live in your body, but usually does not cause serious illness and it is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI). |
| After 37 weeks | Your sweet baby is almost here and your visits are now weekly until your baby arrives. |