What To Expect During Prenatal Visits

During the months that you are pregnant you will need to take good care of yourself and the precious little package you are carrying. You need to schedule your first prenatal appointment the minute you know you are pregnant. During these visits your doctor will check your vitals and your babies vitals and monitor your progress. Prenatal care is very important to ensure that your health and the health of your baby is stable and on track.

A typical prenatal care schedule for a low-risk woman with a normally progressing pregnancy is:

Weeks 4 to 28: 1 visit per month (every 4 weeks)
Weeks 28 to 36: 2 visits per month (every 2 to 3 weeks)
Weeks 36 to birth: 1 visit per week

A woman with a chronic medical condition or a “high-risk” pregnancy may have to see her health care provider more often.

At the first visit your doctor will:

- Identify medical problems.
- Discuss with you any medications you are taking.
- Do a physical exam and a pelvic (internal) exam.
- Weigh you.- Check your blood pressure.
- Check a urine sample for infection.
- Do some blood tests to check for anemia and see if you have had certain infections. You will be asked if you want a test for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
- Do a Pap smear to check for cervical cancer and other tests for vaginal infections
- Figure out your due date: an estimate of the day your baby will be born. Most babies are born within two weeks (before or after) their due date.
- Make sure you’re taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid (600 micrograms per day).