If you just found out that you’re expecting, congratulations! Finding out you’re pregnant can be an exciting time, but it can also leave you with a lot of questions — especially if this is your first pregnancy.
At Westover Hills Women's Health, we’re more than happy to answer all of your questions during your prenatal appointment, so don’t hesitate to bring a list of your questions to your appointment.
In the meantime, here’s one of the most common questions we hear: “How often do I need a checkup?”
The answer depends on how far along you are, if you have a high-risk or low-risk pregnancy, and if you have any underlying conditions.
Here are the general guidelines:
As soon as you receive a positive pregnancy test, give our office a call to schedule your first prenatal appointment. During your first trimester (weeks 4-12), you can expect monthly prenatal checkups.
These visits typically include:
Our team of midwives can also provide guidance on your nutritional needs and other lifestyle changes you may need to adopt throughout your pregnancy.
During your second trimester (weeks 13-26), expect the monthly checkups to continue. During your second-trimester prenatal appointments, you can expect:
During your second trimester, you’ll be scheduled for tests such as an anatomy scan, glucose screening, and routine blood work.
The frequency of your checkups increases throughout your third trimester (weeks 27-40). From weeks 27 to 36, checkups are biweekly, but once you hit week 36, you can expect weekly visits.
At these prenatal appointments, our team measures your belly, checks your baby’s position, takes your vitals (weight, blood pressure, urine), and starts to discuss your plans for labor. You may also need vaccines (such as the Tdap) or the rhoGAM shot.
Some expectant mothers may receive regular nonstress tests depending on their health and/or their baby’s needs.
These are just general guidelines, and you may benefit from more frequent checkups. If you have a high-risk pregnancy, are pregnant with multiples, or have certain underlying conditions such as diabetes, we may recommend additional appointments or tests.
In some pregnancies, you may start out with the standard schedule of visits, but if conditions develop (such as gestational diabetes or placenta previa), our team of board-certified fertility specialists and OBGYNs may pivot and recommend additional checkups or scans.
Do you need to schedule a prenatal checkup? Call one of our four San Antonio, Texas, offices or click here to get started.
