| Before Your First Visit Congratulations!!! You are PREGNANT! Make a note of your last menstrual period and symptoms, and get ready to bring this information to your first appointment. As soon as you get a positive home pregnancy test, call to schedule an appointment with the doctor. This first visit is called your “Confirm Pregnancy” visit, and is generally best done close to 8 weeks of pregnancy so we can make sure you are far enough along to confirm and match your due date by ultrasound. If you are having unusual symptoms or if you have specific high-risk concerns you may need to be seen earlier. |
First Trimester Confirm Pregnancy Visit This is done usually around 8 weeks gestation and is generally brief. Your provider will check your symptoms and history as well as collect a urine sample. It is important to discuss any potential problems of pregnancy or medical issues. Your provider may also choose to perform an ultrasound at this visit. The best time for this first early ultrasound is 7-9 weeks and is a great time to view your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. Sometimes you will be directed to return for the first ultrasound if it is better for matching the best timeframe to get a good view of your early pregnancy. 8-10 Weeks-Initial OB visit. This is your first real pregnancy exam and a more complete checkup. It is done after the pregnancy is confirmed in-office. This appointment will be 30-45 minutes and usually involve a blood draw, physical exam and extensive review of your history. You will also receive a goodie bag full of educational materials and guidelines. Prenatal vitamins and anti-nausea medication if you need them will be prescribed, if you did not get them on your first visit. This is a time to ask about Cord Blood Banking and to update any important health information and get details about care. With pregnancy comes the need for extra sleep, improved nutrition, and increased fluid intake. Remember to eat small frequent meals and consider over-the-counter, natural remedies or prescriptions for nausea. 12 weeks NT ultrasound. The 12 week visit provides a second look at your baby by ultrasound. The provider will discuss Genetic Counseling and the perform the Nuchal Translucency Ultrasound. You may need blood work and special testing at this visit. Depending on your age, history and obstetrical concerns other testing may be considered. |
Second Trimester 12 weeks. You can hear the baby’s heartbeat by Abdominal Doppler now. Hopefully most of your morning sickness is now gone and you are starting to feel a little better! 16 weeks. This is usually a quick and easy office visit. During this time you may receive additional blood work for genetic screening. We may be able to determine your baby’s gender by early ultrasound if you decide to do so, however it is too early to evaluate the anatomy by ultrasound. If you decide you want an early gender ultrasound let our staff know so they can get it scheduled for you. 20 weeks. This visit is usually a quick checkup with your provider. Most of your appointment time will be involved with the ultrasound to check your baby’s anatomy and to screen for any problems. By this time you are definitely showing and you can feel regular fetal movements 24 weeks. OB routine check-up. 28 weeks. Your provider will check the “1 hour glucose” (this is for gestational Diabetes Screening) and do a blood Hematocrit check for anemia. This is also when Rhogam is administered if you are RH- Negative. (Note that some patients may need glucose screening earlier in pregnancy depending on certain risk factors) The Second Trimester is the best time to schedule a 3D/4D ultrasound. You may bring family and friends to view a preview of your precious baby. These sessions are approximately a half-hour and include images and a USB drive to share with friends and family. |
Third Trimester 30-32 weeks You may need to start coming every two weeks by now depending on your OB risks and needs. However, after 32 weeks all patients need to be seen every two weeks. At this time you should consider the Tdap vaccine as well as your family and partner. Remember to keep track of your weight gain. Your weight gain should be approximately 25-35 lbs total. Fetal Kick Counts are important during this time. Your provider will ask you to keep track of your baby’s kicking inside the womb. This test is done at home and provides reassurance about the baby’s well-being. This is the time to Pre-Register at your delivery hospital. This is also a time to learn about labor and delivery. Childbirth classes are an option and are provided by all hospitals we participate with. During your Third Trimester you will also want to sign up for Cord Blood Banking. 36 weeks. You will receive a Group B Strep test and Cervical check at this appointment. Non Stress Testing with fetal monitoring is often started at this time if you are high-risk. 36-40 weeks— Weekly visits start during this time. Fetal Kick Count testing daily is needed at home and you will need to look and be aware for signs of labor, ruptured membranes and other concerns. Remember to discuss all your concerns with your doctor and discuss the birthing plan if needed. 40 weeks. Time to deliver! You may need Non-Stress testing if you go past 40 weeks and more monitoring and frequent visits. You may consider having an induction if the provider determines you have a favorable cervix. By 41 weeks we will strongly recommend induction. |