Obstetrics

Schedule of Visits

At each visit you are weighed, blood pressure is checked, a urine sample is checked, uterus is measured, and fetal heartones are heard.

• 4– 8 weeks – Initial Visit – pregnancy confirmation; complete history & physical; initial vaginal ultrasound to confirm due date and confirm viability.
• 9 – 10 weeks – Routine Visit – if you began prenatal care early this visit is necessary such that we see you every month.  A brief ultrasound is done to see the baby’s heartbeat.
• 12 weeks –  Ultrasound Visit – measure nuchal translucency (a marker for Down’s Syndrome and heart defects), count limbs, view central nervous system.
• 16 weeks –  Normal visit - there is no ultrasound performed at this visit.  The baby's heart beat is heard through the abdomen.  A blood test is done to look for Down's Syndrome and spina bifida.
• 20 weeks – Ultrasound Visit – evaluate heart, chest, central nervous system, stomach, kidneys, bladder, and genitalia (determination of sex).
• 24 weeks – Routine visit
• 28 weeks – Glucose tolerance test; one hour in office as a screening test for diabetes.  Hospital consent forms are also reviewed at this visit.  Rhogam is administered if mommy is Rh- and daddy is Rh+
• 30 weeks – Routine visit
• 32 weeks – Ultrasound Visit - fetal growth is evaluated
• 34 weeks – Routine visit
• 36 weeks – Routine visit; screening test for group B strep (a bacteria that can live in the vagina that only causes problems at the time of delivery) is performed
• 37 weeks  – Routine visit
• 38 weeks – Routine visit
• 39 weeks – Routine visit
• 40 weeks – Routine visit – You're Due!
• 41 weeks – Routine visit – We prefer all patients deliver by 41 weeks