Prenatal appointments
Now that you’re pregnant, you’ll have many appointments.
The doctor visits during your pregnancy are known as “prenatal care”. You need these periodic checkups so your practitioner can help ensure you and your baby stay healthy.
Make sure you go to each checkup, even if you feel good. These visits help your doctor find any problems early on and are a great time for you to ask questions.
Prenatal Care
As long as you are healthy, you can expect 8 to 10 prenatal care appointments, timed to match important milestones in your pregnancy.
Each prenatal visit serves a specific purpose, but there are some things we’ll do at all of your appointments:
- Collect urine samples. (Bring your water bottle!)
- Weigh you and have your belly measured.
- Listen for your baby’s heartbeat.
Your first prenatal care appointment will most likely be between weeks 7 and 12. After that, as long as your pregnancy is going as expected, we’ll see you at:
- 16 to 20 weeks
- 21 to 27 weeks
- 28 to 31 weeks
- 32 weeks
- 36 weeks
- 38 weeks
- 40 weeks
Other medical care
Even if you are going to all your pregnancy-related visits, you should still continue appointments for other medical and dental care. Most dental care can be safely performed during pregnancy. But be sure to tell your dentist you’re pregnant. Getting your teeth cleaned can help if you’re experiencing bleeding gums — a common symptom in pregnancy!
First prenatal visit
This first visit will probably be the longest because there’s a lot to cover! Even though some of this information may already be in your medical record, it is important to verify and update it to assess your current state of health and any risk factors for pregnancy complications.
To make sure you and your baby are off to a healthy start, we’ll:
- give you a physical exam, including a breast exam, pelvic exam, and a Pap test, if you’re due for one
- take an ultrasound to see how far along you are in the pregnancy
- discuss your medical history, family history, and health habits
- ask about the medications or supplements you are currently taking
- explain the benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby
- talk with you about how you’re feeling physically and emotionally
During your follow-up visits, your practitioner will monitor your health as well as the development of your baby.
Your first ultrasound
The most exciting part of this visit will be seeing your baby for the first time. At Kaiser Permanente, we do ultrasounds early so, we can give you a more accurate estimate of your baby’s due date.
If you come in when you’re less than 6 weeks pregnant, you won’t be able to see much yet. But after that, we should be able to see your little one’s developing ears and mouth, and black dots where the eyes and nostrils will be.
The short stubs that will become your baby’s arms and legs might also be visible.
We’ll also listen to your baby’s heartbeat together!
At 100 to 160 beats per minute, it beats about twice as fast as yours.
Another thing we’ll do at this stage is talk to you about how you’re feeling. Many people have heard about postpartum depression, but depression is also very common during pregnancy. We’ll check in with you about your emotional health often — if you need help, we’ll connect you with the right care.
Getting your pregnancy ultrasound
To start planning your prenatal care journey, we’ll talk to you about screening tests for common birth defects. Depending on your family health history, you may choose to have no tests, one test, or several tests — it’s up to you and your partner.
Speaking of your partner — bring your partner! We’re here to support him or her, too. This is an exciting milestone that’s not to be missed.
How to reach us
Need to make an appointment with your care provider? Feeling something unusual or like you’re going into labor? Want advice about breastfeeding? We’re here for your call.
