Throughout your pregnancy you will have many checkups and doctor visits so that you and your baby are protected and safe. This is the best way in which a healthcare provider can detect early problems in a pregnancy and provide the necessary treatments. It is important that you visit and discuss any changes to your midwife or doctor throughout the 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Typically you should see your healthcare provider every four weeks during the first and second trimester, followed by more frequent visits in the last trimester. After 36 weeks you should expect to see your doctor every week until the baby is born.
Your 1st Prenatal Visit
Your first prenatal appointment is an opportunity for your healthcare provider to access both the health of yourself and your fetus. Normally this takes place in order to confirm the pregnancy and get a general due date.
You can expect that you will get useful information about your baby’s development and how to take care of yourself.
Useful Tests
Second Trimester Visits
You’ve made it to the 2nd trimester and as such you will need to continue to see your doctor or midwife once every four weeks to continue the care for your unborn child. If you have developed any conditions or complications during the pregnancy so far, your practitioner may need to see you more frequently.
Common things that are discussed:
The Second trimester visits also include a longer ultrasound that is usually scheduled at your local hospital. It lasts approximately 45 minutes and includes many measurements of the fetus to check its rate of growth and for abnormalities. It is also at this point where you can choose to find out the sex of your baby. A very exciting time for both the mother and the father!
Third Trimester Visits
Congratulations, you’ve now made it to the 3rd (and last) part of your pregnancy. As such it is important for your healthcare provider to keep a closer eye on you and your baby during the days lead up to delivery. From about 28 weeks on, you should be seeing your doctor every 2 weeks. After 36 weeks you will be increasing those visits to once a week.
Each visit that you have with your healthcare practitioner is important to the well being of both yourself and your unborn child. If you need help finding an Obstetrician just as your doctor to recommend one.