Prenatal care involves a series of medical checkups throughout pregnancy designed to monitor the health of both the expectant parent and the developing baby. These consistent visits allow healthcare providers to proactively identify and manage potential health issues, contributing significantly to a healthy pregnancy outcome. The frequency of these appointments changes as the pregnancy progresses, based on how risks and monitoring needs shift from the early weeks to the final approach toward delivery.
Standard Schedule for Prenatal Visits
For a pregnancy progressing without complications, the schedule for obstetric appointments follows a standard progression. During the first two trimesters, visits are typically scheduled once every four weeks, or monthly, until the 28th week of gestation. This initial phase focuses on establishing a baseline for the parent’s health and tracking the baby’s early development.
The frequency increases to every two weeks once the 28-week mark is reached, continuing this bi-weekly pattern until the 36th week. This shift recognizes the accelerated pace of fetal growth and the need for closer observation as the pregnancy enters the third trimester. The transition to a weekly appointment schedule occurs around the 36th week of pregnancy and continues until the baby is born.
The Purpose of Increased Monitoring
The rationale behind the transition to weekly visits is the significantly increased risk profile during the final month of gestation. Conditions that can rapidly develop or worsen, such as preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, require immediate detection and management. Preeclampsia, characterized by new-onset high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, poses serious risks to both the parent and the baby.
A weekly examination allows the care team to track subtle changes, such as a consistent rise in blood pressure or the presence of protein in the urine, which are early markers of late-stage complications. The final weeks are also dedicated to confirming optimal fetal conditions. Monitoring ensures the baby is thriving, maintaining adequate growth, and has moved into the head-down (cephalic) position in preparation for labor and delivery.
Routine Procedures During Weekly Appointments
Weekly appointments are typically brief but highly focused, concentrating on key metrics to assess immediate health status. A primary step involves measuring and recording the expectant parent’s weight and checking blood pressure at every visit. A urine sample is also collected to screen for markers like protein or glucose, which can indicate preeclampsia or uncontrolled gestational diabetes.
The provider measures the fundal height—the distance from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus—to gauge the baby’s growth rate. This measurement should generally correspond to the number of weeks of gestation, helping to identify potential growth issues that might necessitate further testing. The baby’s heart rate is checked using a Doppler device to confirm fetal well-being.
Around the 36th week, a specific screening is performed for Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a common bacterium that is harmless to adults but can cause serious infection in newborns. This test involves swabbing the lower vagina and rectum to determine if antibiotics will be necessary during labor. As the due date approaches, the physician may also begin performing a pelvic examination to check the cervix for signs of effacement (thinning) and dilation (opening), indicating the body is preparing for labor.
When Weekly Visits Begin Earlier
While the 36-week mark is the standard for weekly appointments, certain circumstances may require the schedule to be accelerated. Any factor that increases the medical risk to the parent or the baby will prompt a more frequent visitation schedule. For instance, carrying multiple babies, such as twins or triplets, heightens the need for earlier, more frequent monitoring.
Pre-existing health conditions, such as chronic hypertension, kidney disease, or pregestational diabetes, often necessitate bi-weekly or weekly appointments starting earlier in the third trimester. A history of preterm birth in a previous pregnancy is another factor that leads to intensified observation to prevent recurrence. Ultimately, the precise timing of when weekly visits begin is tailored to the individual, determined by the obstetrician based on an assessment of all potential risk factors.