After you have selected your practitioner most people want to know what their prenatal care will entail. There are some variances.
A typical schedule for prenatal care appointments is as follows:
Generally the first appointment will take place around 8 weeks, some practitioners like to wait until 10-12 weeks for several reasons, which vary. This is usually your longest appointment because of the prenatal and medical history that is taken. You will be asked questions about your health, your medical history, your menstrual history, your lifestyle, and your family's medical history. This is also a time to ask more questions. A lot of people want to know about nutrition, sexual relations, exercise, what limitations they have. Always feel free to ask your practitioner these questions. You may also ask if they have a question line, or have a certain time of day set aside to answer questions that will likely come up between visits.
Here are some of the clinical tests that maybe performed at the first visit:
- Pelvic Exam (Pap Smear, bimanual exam, GC)
- Blood Work (Rubella titer, Hematocrit/Hemoglobin, HIV/AIDS)
- Blood pressure
- Urine Screen
- Weight
- Breast Exam
You will have some of these done at every visit (blood pressure, urine screen, weight, and later they will add a fundal height check and listening for the baby heartbeat (About 12 weeks is average to hear the heartbeat with a Doppler.)). Generally you will not have a vaginal exam done every visit. If you do, you might inquire as to the reason, because this is not generally necessary.
Taking a list of questions with you is also important. Not only will a list help you remember what you wanted to ask, but it will give you a place to write the answers, which you will may forget as well. Your practitioner should give you plenty of time to ask questions, if this is not happening try to explain to them that you have questions that you need to be answered. If that fails you might try asking to be scheduled for extra time to include the questions. Sometimes it is helpful to bring another person with you to hear the answers. You both may interpret the answer differently or they can be there for morale support if you are fearful to ask questions, and they can help you remember the answers.
Your appointments will be scheduled, generally, as follows:
- Every 4 weeks until 28 weeks of pregnancy
- Every 2 weeks until 36 weeks of pregnancy
- Every week until 41 weeks
- Every few days until you give birth
1st Trimester Appts. | 2nd Trimester Appts. | 3rd Trimester Appts.
For some women there will be a reason to do further testing to help ensure a healthy outcome. These may include, but are not limited to:
- Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) & Triple Screen
- Glucose Tolerance Testing (GTT)
- Amniocentesis
- Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)
- Non Stress Testing (NST)
- Biophysical Profile
- Ultrasound (This is not routinely done for all pregnant women.)
- Nuchal Fold Translucency Screening
The most important thing in your prenatal care is that you and your partner feel comfortable and assured by the care you are receiving. If you do not believe that you are getting the medical or emotional care and support that you need a change of practitioners is not out of the question. A healthy pregnancy is the result of teamwork.
Have a happy, healthy pregnancy!
