Baby Steps: Your Guide to Every Prenatal Appointment

Content medically reviewed by Christy Woodard, RN

When you’re expecting a baby, regular prenatal appointments can help you keep an eye on your health and that of your little one. Even if you feel they aren’t always necessary, it’s important to prioritize these appointments.

Prenatal appointments are your provider’s opportunity to monitor your health and your baby’s growth and development. And they’re also your opportunity to ask questions and share concerns you have during pregnancy.

Knowing what to expect at each prenatal appointment can help ease your mind as you walk through pregnancy. We step through the basics below.

Prenatal Appointments: When & How Often

How often you will need to visit your provider during pregnancy depends on your specific health needs and other factors. Still, there’s a general schedule for those with low-risk pregnancies –

• Between weeks 0 and 27 of pregnancy, you should have monthly prenatal visits.
• Between weeks 28 and 35, you should have prenatal visits every two weeks.
• Beginning at 36 weeks, you should have weekly prenatal visits.

When will your first prenatal appointment be? Once you find out you’re pregnant and decide on a pregnancy provider, check in with the provider’s office about scheduling an appointment. Your provider may have a specific guideline about when the first prenatal visit should be done, but it often takes place between weeks 8 and 12.

What to Expect at Your First Prenatal Appointment

Your first prenatal appointment will be with a prenatal nurse and can be done via telehealth. The nurse will go through your medical history and first trimester education before you meet with your provider. During the nurse visit, you will –

• Review your health history. Your prenatal care team will ask you questions about your personal and family medical history to put together a complete medical history that will help guide your care.
• Determine an estimated due date. Your nurse will ask for the date of your last period.

Your first visit with a pregnancy provider will be scheduled between 8 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. At this appointment your provider will –

• Perform a thorough physical exam. You’ll have your blood pressure and weight checked, just as you would in a regular checkup. You may also have a pelvic exam at this time.
• Discuss genetic testing options. Your provider will counsel you on your genetic testing options.

During this first appointment, you can ask any questions you have about what to expect. This can include questions about everything from what type of prenatal vitamins you should be taking to whether your symptoms are normal or not.

What to Expect During Prenatal Appointments in the Second Trimester

The second trimester of pregnancy begins at week 13 and continues through week 26. During this time, you’ll see your pregnancy provider every four weeks.

These appointments will usually be shorter than your first prenatal visit. You’ll have your weight and blood pressure checked.

Your pregnancy provider will also listen to your baby’s heartbeat and measure your belly, which helps estimate baby’s size and growth. During the second trimester, each prenatal appointment may be slightly different and can include –

• Prenatal tests, including tests to check for gestational diabetes
• Ultrasound scans

Second Trimester Ultrasounds

While you won’t have an ultrasound during each appointment, most have an ultrasound scan between weeks 18 and 20 of pregnancy. This scan, often called the “anatomy scan,” looks at your baby’s growth and development, checks for structural abnormalities and birth defects, and can be used to determine the baby’s sex.

Because it’s possible to learn whether your baby is a boy or girl during this scan, be sure to let your care team ahead of time if you don’t want to know.

Gain Knowledge

During second trimester appointments, your provider will ask you about your baby’s movement and any symptoms you’ve been experiencing. Feeling a little antsy as your pregnancy progresses? Ask your provider any questions you have, including about potential signs of preterm labor you should know.

This is also a good time during your pregnancy to register for prenatal education classes, which can help you prepare for your baby’s arrival.

What to Expect During Prenatal Appointments in the Third Trimester

The third trimester begins at week 28. Between weeks 28 and 36, you’ll have prenatal visits every two weeks. Starting at week 36, you’ll see your provider weekly.

These appointments will be similar to what you had during the second trimester, only more frequent. Third trimester appointments can include –

• A RhoGAM injection if you have an Rh-negative blood type
• Glucose challenge screening to check for gestational diabetes, if not given during the second trimester
• Pelvic exams to check for cervical changes
• Prenatal testing, including a screening test for group B strep around weeks 35 to 37
• Ultrasound scans to check the baby’s positioning
• Vaccinations, such as the Tdap vaccination to protect against whooping cough, given between weeks 27 and 36

During third trimester visits, your pregnancy provider will talk with you about the importance of keeping track of your baby’s movements. You’ll also learn about the signs of labor and what to do when you experience them.

Take time during these final visits to ask any and all questions you have about what to expect during labor and delivery. If you have a birth plan, share your preferences with your provider and other members of your care team, both during a prenatal appointment and in a written form that can be put in your medical file.