Your Pregnancy Visit Timeline

You’ll typically have two visits during your first trimester.

• Confirmation visit: We’ll confirm your pregnancy with a test and review your medical history, current medications and any previous pregnancies. A physical exam, including a pelvic exam, is usually done at this visit. Your first pregnancy blood work may be done now or at your next visit.
• Initial OB visit: This visit is usually two to four weeks after your confirmation visit. We’ll review your lab results or complete your labs if they weren’t done earlier. You’ll also have an ultrasound and receive your final due date.
• Your due date: We calculate your due date from the first day of your last menstrual period. If your periods are irregular or you’re unsure of the date, we use your first trimester ultrasound.

These screenings are optional. Your provider will talk with you about the best options for you and your baby.

• Chromosomal screening: Checks for chromosomal abnormalities.
• Carrier screening: Checks whether you carry an inherited genetic condition you could pass to your baby, even if you don’t have the condition yourself.
• Neural tube screening: Checks for neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Visits are every four weeks. At each visit, we’ll listen to your baby’s heartbeat with a fetal doppler, measure your fundal height to check your baby’s growth and check your blood pressure and urine.

• Anatomy ultrasound (20 weeks): A detailed ultrasound checks your baby’s organs, spine, limbs and placenta. You can usually learn your baby’s sex at this ultrasound. If you have a high-risk pregnancy or are 35 or older, this ultrasound is done at our Maternal-Fetal Medicine clinic.
• Gestational diabetes screening (24 to 28 weeks): A one-hour glucose test. You don’t need to fast, but avoid high-sugar foods beforehand. If your results are abnormal, you’ll need a three-hour test.
• Third trimester labs: Done at your 28-week visit.
• Tdap vaccine (27 to 36 weeks): Recommended but optional.
• Rhogam injection: Given if you have a negative blood type.

Visits are every two weeks from 28 to 36 weeks, then every week until delivery. At each visit, we’ll continue checking your baby’s heartbeat, your fundal height, blood pressure and urine.

• RSV vaccine (32 to 36 weeks): Recommended but optional if you’re in this window between September and January.
• Group B strep swab (36 weeks): A vaginal and rectal swab. If the result is positive, you’ll receive antibiotics during labor and delivery.
• Cervical exams (36 weeks): May be offered to check dilation.

Your follow-up schedule depends on how you deliver. You’ll receive your schedule before you leave the hospital.

• Vaginal delivery: Follow-up visits at three and six weeks postpartum.
• Cesarean section: An incision check one week after surgery, then follow-up visits at three and six weeks postpartum.
• Pregnancy complications: If you had complications such as high blood pressure, you may be seen on a different schedule.