If you just found out about your pregnancy, it’s essential to make your first prenatal appointment soon. What happens in prenatal appointments? How can you prepare to make the most of the time with your provider? In this post, we discuss what you can expect from prenatal care each trimester.
Why do I need prenatal care?
During pregnancy, you need regular checkups with a healthcare professional to monitor your health and your baby’s growth. According to the National Institute of Health, prenatal care reduces the risk of pregnancy complications, reduces your baby’s risk of complications, and ensures that your medications are safe for pregnancy.
(If you don’t have health insurance, you may be eligible for Pregnancy Medicaid, which will cover your prenatal care appointments; our team can help you begin the enrollment process.)
When should I find prenatal care?
As soon as you discover your pregnancy, you should start looking for a provider. If you’re unsure how to choose a provider, check out this blog post about considerations when selecting an OBGYN.
If you don’t have prenatal care yet, you can make an appointment for your first ultrasound at The Pregnancy Network. No insurance? No problem. All our services are free! (Ultrasounds are available based on how many weeks pregnant you are.)
How often will I have prenatal appointments?
You will meet with your provider once a month through the first and second trimesters, assuming you don’t have complications that require closer monitoring. You will have biweekly appointments during weeks 28-35. After week 36, you will have weekly appointments until you give birth.
What happens in first trimester prenatal appointments?
In your first prenatal appointment, your provider will give you a physical exam, check your weight and blood pressure, and request a urine sample. The Mayo Clinic advises that you should prepare to discuss medical history and any risk factors for pregnancy.. This might include past pregnancies, gynecological history, lifestyle habits like drugs or alcohol, travel to areas where infectious diseases are common, medications you’re currently taking, and more.
Be prepared to tell the first day of your last menstrual cycle. Your provider needs this to calculate your estimated due date!
Your provider will prescribe a prenatal vitamin at this appointment if you haven’t started taking one yet.
Your blood will be tested for Rh factor, according to Cleveland Clinic. If you are Rh-negative and your baby is Rh-positive, you’ll receive a shot to treat this in your third trimester.
Your first appointment will include an ultrasound. By week 8, you likely will see your baby’s heart beating on the screen! It’s essential to get an ultrasound within the first trimester to confirm and locate the pregnancy. According to the Journal of American Medical Association, about 2% of pregnancies are ectopic, meaning the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (usually in the fallopian tube). If an ectopic pregnancy is left untreated, it can rupture and risk your life. An ectopic pregnancy must be removed.
What happens in second trimester prenatal appointments?
In second trimester appointments, your provider will check your baby’s heartbeat, measure your abdomen, check your weight and blood pressure, and begin asking you about your baby’s movement, according to March of Dimes.
Around 20 weeks, you will have another ultrasound appointment, called the anatomy scan, where your provider will measure the baby to see if he or she is growing as expected. Many people find out the gender of their baby at this appointment! Around 24-28 weeks, you will be tested for gestational diabetes.
What happens in third trimester prenatal appointments?
At 36 weeks you’ll be tested for group B strep, an infection that can be passed to your baby. Your provider will monitor you for preeclampsia (very high blood pressure). If you develop preeclampsia at this time and you’re past 37 weeks, your provider will want you to induce to deliver the baby early, according to Baby Center. However, you develop this before 37 weeks, your provider will order an ultrasound and monitoring of your baby’s heartbeat.
Your provider will discuss your birth plan with you. This might include preferences about pain management options during labor, labor techniques, medical students in the room, skin-to-skin time with your newborn after delivering, time before cord cutting, and more.
Prenatal care is essential for your pregnancy.
Prenatal care sets you up for a safe, healthy pregnancy. It’s important to find a healthcare provider as soon as you discover your pregnancy.
Adrienne Bergmeier
Adrienne Bergmeier is a Communications Coordinator at The Pregnancy Network.