There is a fairly set schedule that most OB’s see their OB patients by. Your provider generally sees people about every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks from 28-36 weeks and every week after 36 weeks. These are not exact weeks, so please don't be exact on scheduling depending on your schedule and your provider’s.
A quick history.....There are certainly more appointments than medically necessary during a typical pregnancy. We really need an appointment in the first trimester to identify risk factors or medical issues, date the pregnancy and do basic blood work. An optional appointment can be added at 12-16 weeks to offer genetic screening if this is desired. An appointment at about 20 weeks is needed to do a screening ultrasound on the fetus to identify abnormalities. An appointment is needed at 26-28 weeks to do a diabetes screening test. And then we need to see every week in the last month to check your blood pressure because this can go up to dangerous levels at the end of the pregnancy without warning. So we really need about 5-7 appointments and we see you for about 13. It turns out that the extra appointments are usually pretty useful to answer questions in this day and age where you have information overload and some the information you are getting is not valid.
What happens at each appointment? There is a written explanation below as well as links to spreadsheets you can personalize to your due date. The links will download a spreadsheet.
(link to excel) (link to numbers)
1st OB appointment-verify history, do u/s if far enough along, do blood work, review general pregnancy information
(possible extra appointment at 12-14 weeks for genetic screening ultrasound and bloodwork)
12-14 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler
16-18 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler
20-22 weeks- answer questions, check blood pressure
24-26 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler, measure fundal height, give instructions for diabetes screen coming up
28-30 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler, measure fundal height
32 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler, measure fundal height
34 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler, measure fundal height
36 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler, do a simple swab of the vagina and peri-rectal area for Group B Strep
37 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler, measure fundal height
38 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler
39 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler
40 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler, discuss post dates plan for surveillance and induction if necessary
41 weeks-answer questions, check blood pressure, verify baby heartbeat by doppler, discuss post dates plan for surveillance and induction if necessary
Twins
Add in weekly appointments at 33 and 35 weeks.Starting at 32 weeks you may need to come in twice per week for an NST. This will only be necessary if there something we need to keep an eye on. Please consolidate these appointments whenever possible.
Diabetes
You will need to add in extra testing starting at 32 weeks if you require medication to control your diabetes. This testing will be an NST twice/week and an AFI once per week from 32 weeks until your due date.