Planning & Tracking
Prenatal Appointment Schedule
Typical prenatal appointment and testing schedule throughout pregnancy.
Best to start: As soon as you confirm pregnancy
Overview
Regular prenatal care is essential for monitoring your health and baby's development. This guide shows the typical appointment and testing schedule.
Your specific schedule may vary based on your health, pregnancy complications, or your provider's protocols.
First Trimester (Weeks 1-13)
- Initial prenatal visit (around 8-10 weeks): Full medical history, physical exam, confirm pregnancy
- First prenatal labs: Blood type, Rh factor, CBC, STD screening, immunity testing
- First ultrasound (7-13 weeks): Dating scan to confirm due date and detect heartbeat
- Genetic counseling if indicated
- Optional: First trimester combined screening (10-13 weeks): Blood test + nuchal translucency ultrasound
- Optional: NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing) for genetic conditions (after 10 weeks)
- Optional: CVS (chorionic villus sampling) if high-risk (10-13 weeks)
- Appointments typically every 4 weeks
Second Trimester (Weeks 14-27)
- Monthly appointments (every 4 weeks) to check: weight, blood pressure, urine, fetal heart rate, fundal height
- Anatomy scan ultrasound (18-22 weeks): Detailed look at baby's development, can learn sex
- Optional: Quad screen blood test (15-20 weeks) if didn't do first trimester screening
- Optional: Amniocentesis if indicated (15-20 weeks)
- Glucose tolerance test (24-28 weeks): Screening for gestational diabetes
- Rh antibody screen if Rh negative (around 28 weeks)
- Tdap vaccine (between 27-36 weeks)
- Discuss kick counting
Third Trimester (Weeks 28-40+)
- Appointments every 2 weeks (weeks 28-36)
- Weekly appointments starting at 36 weeks
- Each visit: weight, blood pressure, urine, fetal heart rate, fundal height
- Group B Strep test (35-37 weeks)
- Pelvic exam to check cervical changes (usually after 36 weeks)
- Discuss birth plan and labor signs
- Review when to go to hospital
- Possible: Additional ultrasounds if concerns about growth, fluid, or position
- If past due date (40+ weeks): Non-stress test and biophysical profile, discuss induction
Optional Tests
- Cell-free fetal DNA (NIPT) - screens for chromosomal abnormalities
- First trimester combined screening - assesses risk for Down syndrome and trisomy 18
- Quad screen - second trimester blood test for genetic conditions
- CVS or amniocentesis - diagnostic tests for genetic conditions
- Additional ultrasounds for monitoring concerns
- Fetal echocardiogram if heart concerns
- Growth scans if baby measuring large or small
High-Risk Additional Monitoring
You may need more frequent appointments if you have:
- Gestational diabetes
- Preeclampsia or chronic hypertension
- Multiples (twins, triplets)
- History of preterm birth
- Advanced maternal age (35+)
- Certain medical conditions
- Previous pregnancy loss
- Baby measuring large or small
💡 Helpful Tips
- ✓Schedule appointments in advance
- ✓Bring a list of questions to each appointment
- ✓Request first or last appointment of the day for shorter waits
- ✓Bring your partner to ultrasounds and important appointments
- ✓Keep a pregnancy journal to track symptoms to discuss
- ✓Don't skip appointments - they're crucial for monitoring
- ✓If something feels wrong between appointments, call your provider
- ✓Take photos of ultrasound screen if allowed
- ✓Ask about anything you don't understand
💾 Tip: Use your browser's print function (Ctrl/Cmd + P) to save or print this checklist for easy reference.
This checklist is a general guide. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized recommendations based on your specific situation.