Schedule your first prenatal visit as soon as you think or know you are pregnant.
The first visit takes longer than other visits as your provider will:
- Take a complete medical history
- Review your immunization history
- Discuss screenings based upon your personal history
- Review routine tests during pregnancy
- Do a urine and blood test to make sure you are healthy
- Do tests to make sure you do not have any sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Complete a physical and pelvic exam
- Review any medications and vitamins you are taking
- Discuss how you can take care of yourself while you are pregnant
- Determine your expected delivery date
After the first visit, you’ll have shorter visits about once a month. The frequency of your visits will depend on:
- Your medical history
- How your pregnancy is going
- Your provider’s advice
A common schedule for prenatal visits is:
First visit | Get prenatal care as soon as you know you are pregnant. |
6 to 28 weeks | Monthly |
28 to 36 weeks | Every 2-3 weeks |
36 to 40 weeks | Weekly |
Over 40 weeks | At least weekly |
Postpartum | 7 to 84 days after delivery |