Prenatal visits

Written By Christelle Reeves

First prenatal visit

  • Accurately date your pregnancy. Get a history of your last period or perform an ultrasound if pregnancy is far enough along

  • Bloodwork to test for infection, blood type

  • Vaginal swab for infection

  • PAP smear to screen for cervical cancer, if not up to date

  • Screen for anything in your history that could complicate your pregnancy

Visits every 4 weeks until 28 weeks

18-22 weeks

  • Anatomy ultrasound to ensure baby’s anatomy is normal (detailed ultrasound of heart, lungs, brain, face)

24-28 weeks

  • Screen for gestational diabetes. Drink a controlled amount of sugar in a sugary drink (tastes like flat soda). Blood drawn an hour after to check how your body is processing sugar.

Visits every 2 weeks until 36 weeks

32-36 weeks

  • Growth ultrasound to ensure baby is growing well

Visits every week until delivery

36 weeks

  • Testing for GBS (Group B Strep) colonization. Some women are positive, some are negative. If positive, you will receive antibiotics in labor.

Christelle Reeves
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