A very high percentage of pregnant women do not have all the necessary information needed to have a healthy and successful pregnancy. Unfortunately, there are also many different sources providing information that is not always accurate, and by doing so, they just add pressure on the already stressed out future mothers.
To be on the safe side and avoid stress, it is essential to plan. A pregnancy appointment timeline is one of the most important parts of pregnancy planning because it gives the parents necessary information about the development or potential issues with the fetus. It is of the utmost importance to get acquainted with what this additionally entails and how to create an efficient prenatal visit schedule.
When it comes to pregnancy care in Pembroke Pines, there are different options to consider, and ACE OBGYN LLC is definitely one of the places to visit and discover all the services they offer when it comes to protection and pregnancy.
Prenatal Appointment Schedule
Prenatal care is a crucial part when it comes to the future health of your unborn baby. Many different aspects of a woman’s life change after becoming pregnant, and visits to the doctor’s office definitely become more frequent than usual.
To be as successful as possible when taking care of yourself and your baby during pregnancy, it is advised to create a prenatal care schedule.
It is essential first to mention what prenatal appointments offer to pregnant women and why they are so important. Below we are bringing you a list of factors that make these visits crucial for the health of both you and your baby:
- The doctor gives an estimated due date for your baby’s arrival
- You can hear your baby’s heartbeat
- The doctor can monitor the health of both you and the baby
- Early signs of issues with the health of your infant can be spotted
- This is a chance for the doctor to advise you on nutrition and activities
- Explanations about labor and delivery process can be given
- Doctors and nurses can give you guidelines on how to take care of the newborn baby
Now that you can better understand why it is essential to visit your doctor frequently while pregnant, in the continuation of this blog, we will discuss the pregnancy appointments timeline in more detail to help you create one for yourself.
The recommended prenatal visit schedule looks like this:
- Between the weeks four to 28, it is recommended to visit your caretaker at least once every four weeks
- Between the weeks 28 to 36, you will need to see your chosen medical practitioner once every two to three weeks
- Between the weeks 36 to 40, it is necessary to pay a visit to your medical practitioner once every week
Every appointment has a goal, and specific progress markers are evaluated by the medical professional. The overall goal is to aid you in carrying out the pregnancy successfully and to assess, educate and support you through the process. The number of visits might be slightly different and more frequent if you carry twins.
The prenatal appointment schedule might also include ultrasounds, extra tests, and other actions to be taken in order to check on your baby’s growth and the status of the amniotic fluid. It is at these prenatal appointments that the doctor can spot any potential issues with the infant and work on resolving them. Women who do not attend such checkups are at a more considerable risk of jeopardizing their own and the baby’s health and development.
So, What Do I Do When I Come to My First Appointment?
For first-time mothers, it can be pretty nerve-wracking and stressful to schedule their first appointments and even to start the creation of their prenatal care schedule. For this reason, below you can find explanations on what to expect for every appointment so that you can prepare yourself in the best way possible.
When it comes to the first appointments, they need to be scheduled every four weeks between the fourth and 28th week of your pregnancy. The first visit you go to can last longer than all others because the medical professionals want to collect as much information about you as possible to maximize their efficiency concerning your pregnancy in the future.
The questions you will be asked will be in connection to your health and your family’s health history. The doctors will also do a physical examination, including a pelvic exam. After this, an ultrasound is usually done to check the baby’s growth and status. One critical piece of information will be given to you at your first prenatal appointment, and that is your baby’s estimated date of confinement or the due date of its arrival.
All other monthly visits to the doctor will be much shorter than the first one. Multiple tests will be performed at each visit, such as:
- Weight check
- Urine test
- Blood pressure reading
- Measuring the stomach bump
Some tests are scheduled for particular weeks, so:
- NIPT test for genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, trisomy, etc. is to be done after week ten and the result will be back in 10-14 days
- A blood test called a AFP is done between 15 weeks to 20 weeks used to assess potential fetal neural tube defect risks and pregnancy complications
- An 1 hour glucose test is usually done between 24 weeks to 28 weeks or sometimes earlier if you are at risk of having gestational diabetes
Also, the appointments after week ten will have a component that you will definitely enjoy – the doctors will be able to let you hear your infant’s heartbeat. Isn’t that amazing?
What Happens From the 28TH to the 40TH Week?
The period between weeks 28 and 36 is part of the third trimester and during this period, the visits to the doctor are more frequent, and as previously stated, you will need to see your doctor once every two to three weeks.
The regular tests will continue to be performed at every appointment, but some additional actions are recommended:
- Taking a vaccine against pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria called Tdap
- Taking an Rh immune globulin shot for blood protein compatibility and to stop the production of antibodies in case your blood type is RH Negative
- Also you will need to have a blood drawn to check for anemia and
The last phase of the pregnancy starts from week 36 and lasts until the delivery day. During this period, you are advised to visit your medical practitioner once per week for several reasons. Firstly, the doctor will be able to check the baby’s position frequently, as well as the dilation of your cervix. At this time, you will be asked about your contractions, fluids, bleeding, and some additional tests are usually done.
One of the routine tests done at this stage is a test for group B strep, which can be a threatening infection in a newborn, transmitted from the parent to the baby.
Until the end of the pregnancy, the doctor will check on you to ensure you are your baby are healthy and ready for the big day.
Changes in the Prenatal Visits Schedule
Certain factors can influence your created schedule, and the doctors might advise you to have checkups more frequently than initially planned. Because of this, it is vital to be aware of potential complications and what they entail.
- If you over 35 years of age (chances for gestational diabetes and preeclampsia are higher as well as for congenital anomalies in the baby or fetal chromosomal abnormalities)
- If you are expecting twins, triplets, etc. (higher risks of complications such as premature labor)
- If you are of poor health (conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, anemia, obesity, etc.)
- Medical issues developed during the pregnancy (preeclampsia, high blood pressure, etc.)
Call Us!
You should not be scared or stressed out when it comes to your pregnancy appointment timeline. This is such a wonderful period in a woman’s life, and the visits to the doctor should be more of a joy and much less of a dreaded event. Because of this, we offer the best possible environment for you to create your prenatal care schedule and enjoy your appointments. Call us!