Your pregnancy: A complete timeline of prenatal visits

A full nine months might seem like a long time to wait for your newborn to arrive, but doctors divide the time up into three-month chunks called trimesters. Although your prenatal visits will be tailored to the way your baby develops during each trimester, there are some common milestones every pregnant woman should expect.

Mark your calendar with these key dates.     

The first trimester: Weeks 1-13

During this time, your body and baby alike are going through big changes. Day by day, baby’s heart, lungs, and other organ systems are quickly developing.

With such rapid development, naturally, your monthly prenatal visits will be jam packed. “Early on, you’ll get a sense of who your provider is,” says Dr. Abby Dennis, MD, an obstetrician in Baltimore, Maryland. “At the very beginning of pregnancy, we’re starting to form that relationship that’s so critical at the end.”

Here’s your first-trimester timeline:

• Week 5: This is the average time women learn about—or confirm—their pregnancy. Congratulations!
• Week 8: This will likely be your first prenatal appointment. While you’re there, your provider will:
  • Review your complete medical history
  • Perform a comprehensive exam, including weight, blood pressure, cardiovascular check, pap, and pelvic
  • Determine how far along your pregnancy is and provide your due date
  • Draw blood for routine labs screening for blood type, anemia, STDs
  • Suggest optional genetic screenings, if applicable
  • Perform a monthly urine screening to monitor kidney function
• For the rest of the first trimester: You’ll continue to visit your provider every four weeks. Expect to have your weight and blood pressure checked, and your urine screened monthly.

The second trimester:  Weeks 14-26

Morning sickness may disappear during this period and the fatigue of early pregnancy often turns into a burst of energy. “Most women feel a lot better during the second trimester,” explains Dr. Dennis. “So much information has been collected from your first prenatal visits, and now it’s time for watching and waiting.”

She notes that the dialogue with your provider might also become more fluid, as you grow more comfortable with them. “Women start to think about the birth and talk with their provider about their wishes and go over things they’re scared about.” You’ll continue to see your provider monthly.

Here are some key second trimester highlights:

• Week 18-21: Expect an anatomy ultrasound. Your provider will send you for a sonogram to check out baby from head to toe. You can also learn your baby’s sex during this time, if you choose.
• Week 14-16: Your pregnancy will start to “show.” At each visit, your provider will measure your fundal height (your baby bump) to monitor baby’s growth and listen to the heartbeat.
• Week 24-28: You’ll have a glucose blood test to screen for gestational diabetes.
• For the rest of the trimester: Expect to have monthly weight and blood pressure tests, plus urine screenings.

The third trimester:  Weeks 27-40

As you begin your final trimester, your uterus is about the size of a soccer ball and your baby is kicking up a storm. Expect monthly visits to continue until about week 28. Soon thereafter, you’ll switch to biweekly and then weekly appointments as your due date comes closer.

“Your last few visits are super-important,” says Dr. Dennis. “We keep measuring the baby to make sure your pregnancy is on target, and we’re always listening to the heartbeat and doing lots of education.”

Here’s what you can expect from the final stretch:

• You’ll be screened for iron-deficiency anemia, which can be common during pregnancy.
• Your provider will monitor your blood pressure and check for swelling in your face and hands to make sure you’re not developing preeclampsia or other conditions.
• You’ll be tested for a strain of bacteria called Group B Strep, which is present in the vagina in roughly one-third of pregnant women. This can sometimes cause problems for baby during delivery. The good news: It’s easily treatable with an antibiotic given during labor. Urine screenings also continue.