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Your Guide to Prenatal Appointments

From blood tests to glucose screening, here’s what you need to know to prep for your next prenatal appointment.

by: Sydney Loney

ver the course of your pregnancy, you’ll routinely find yourself being poked, prodded and pricked with needles, but you may not always know why. Because it’s easy to lose track of what you’re being tested for, here’s what to expect from prenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy.

Your first appointment

If you think you might be pregnant (many women take a couple of pregnancy tests on their own, just to be sure!), book an appointment with your doctor. She may do another pregnancy test to confirm your mom-to-be status and will probably give you a head-to-toe checkup. She’ll also conduct an extensive fact-finding mission to learn about your family’s medical history, says Susan Georgoussis, a perinatal nurse in Toronto.

Even something like back problems or a history of depression can be important information that can help your healthcare provider down the road, Georgoussis says. “This is a good time to put together a file of your family medical history. Even if you don’t think it’s relevant, it’s good to share as much information as you can.”

After that first appointment, you’ll probably visit your doctor every four to six weeks. Thirty weeks into your pregnancy, your visits increase to every two to three weeks and, after 36 weeks, you’ll be heading to the doctor’s office every one to two weeks until you deliver.