Pregnancy Appointments Timeline – What Happens at Each Visit?

Written By Andre Nye, MD – Congratulations on becoming pregnant! So, what’s next? Celebrate, tell your partner, and think of how life will change forever in a most beautiful way. So many questions instantly flash through your mind, which can be overwhelming. This article looks at pregnancy appointments and their timeline and gives you an idea of what happens during each one.
Pregnancy Appointments Timeline – What Happens at Each Visit?
This new chapter of life comes with many questions.
- Am I having a boy or girl?
- What about baby names?
- Will I be able to breastfeed?
- Can I deliver naturally?
Take it slowly, talk with friends, or join a blog for expectant moms. This will help tremendously and reduce anxiety.
The First Appointment
The first appointment with your OB-GYN is usually the longest and most comprehensive. You will be asked many questions about your health. This includes prior medical history and determining a due date. This is also an opportunity to ask questions. Make a list of your questions or concerns; remember, there are no silly questions.
Lab work and screening tests are done to check your blood for:
- Blood type and Rh factor
- Iron levels
- Genetic diseases
Your provider may perform a physical exam to rule out any health issues, as well as a pelvic exam.
You may also get an ultrasound to confirm the due date. You may be able to hear the baby’s heartbeat at this point, but it’s not always possible.
Ensure your health care provider knows what is going on in your life at all stages of pregnancy. As a doctor who has delivered thousands of babies, I pay special attention to a woman who is unhappy at home for any reason. These women have a greater incidence of preterm labor and other pregnancy complications, so be open with your doctor.
First and Second-Trimester Appointments
If all is well, your appointments will come every month in the first and second trimesters. In addition to your prenatal testing and lab work, you will get a genetic screen at about 12 weeks. This will also tell if you are having a boy or a girl.
At 18 weeks, you will get another blood test (quad screen) to assess if you are at high risk for other anatomic problems such as spina bifida.
As you move through your pregnancy experience, your doctor will teach you what to expect next. They will monitor the baby’s growth and do an ultrasound to check its anatomy and amount of amniotic fluid at about 18 to 20 weeks.
By the time you get to 30 weeks, you will be checked for gestational diabetes which can occur in some women at this time.
Third Trimester Pregnancy Appointments
You will have prenatal appointments more frequently in your last trimester, typically from weeks 28 to 36 weeks and up until delivery. This happens because most pregnancy complications happen at this time. In rare cases, the placenta may start to work less efficiently, or you may experience high blood pressure.
Your doctor’s job is to spot these changes if they occur so that something can be done before it threatens you or your baby.
Finally, at 36 weeks of pregnancy, you are approaching the end of your pregnancy. A group B strep test will likely be done to determine if antibiotics are needed during delivery.
Make sure you and your doctor plan for your delivery expectations. For example:
- Who will be in the delivery room when the baby is born?
- Do you want an epidural?
- Do you want baby skin to skin immediately after birth?
- Are you planning to breastfeed your baby?
- If you are having a boy, are you planning a circumcision?
The overwhelming majority of pregnancies are routine. Your doctor’s job is to ensure this journey is safe for you and your baby. Keep an open mind and ask lots of questions. Enjoy the journey and form a solid team with your doctor.
Additional Source: Stages of Pregnancy
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