When I found out I was pregnant for the first time, the first thing I did was call my doctor and make an appointment.
I thought I would get an appointment within a week, but I was told that my first appointment would be around my eighth week of pregnancy.
I had so many questions running through my mind. I searched online for information and made a list of questions I wanted to ask my doctor. I wanted to know exactly how many weeks pregnant I was, what would happen during my first appointment, and when I would get to see my baby on the ultrasound for the first time.
I was so excited to see my baby and find out how everything was progressing.
As my pregnancy continued, I noticed that the appointments changed. The early appointments focused more on confirming the pregnancy and checking how it was developing. Later, the appointments included checking the baby’s growth, movements, and position, as well as preparing for labour and delivery.
In this article, I’ll share my experience of prenatal appointments and explain what you may generally expect at different stages of pregnancy.
If you are in your first trimester and trying to understand what is happening to your body, you may also find my First Trimester Pregnancy Guide: Week-by-Week Symptoms & Care Tips helpful.
A note about my experience: This article is based on my personal experience and is intended as general information about routine prenatal care. Every pregnancy is different, and appointment schedules and tests can vary. High-risk pregnancies, pregnancy complications, and early pregnancy losses may require different care. Always contact your healthcare provider with concerns and follow their individual advice.
When Is the First Prenatal Appointment?
The first prenatal appointment usually takes place during the first trimester, but the timing can vary depending on your doctor, your medical history, and how your pregnancy is progressing.
In my case, when I called my doctor after finding out I was pregnant, I was given an appointment around my eighth week of pregnancy. I was told to come in sooner if I experienced heavy bleeding.
I had so many questions and doubts. I found it helpful to write them all down so I wouldn’t forget anything when I met my doctor. You can do the same and take your list with you to your appointment.
If you are experiencing heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or other concerning symptoms, contact your healthcare provider promptly rather than waiting for your scheduled appointment.
If you are in early pregnancy and wondering whether the symptoms you are experiencing are common, you may also find my article 10 Early Pregnancy Symptoms Before a Missed Period helpful.
What Happens at the First Prenatal Appointment?
Before my first prenatal appointment, I had heard that the doctor might do a vaginal ultrasound. Honestly, I was a little scared because I didn’t know what to expect or whether it would hurt.
When I went for my appointment, I was excited to see my baby for the first time. I was around eight weeks pregnant, and although I hoped to get a good look at my baby, I knew the baby was still very small. The doctor performed the ultrasound and checked the pregnancy. For me, it wasn’t painful, although I felt a little discomfort. I was relieved when the doctor told me that the pregnancy looked good at that time.
Vaginal ultrasound is quite common in early pregnancy. Because the baby is still very small, it can help the doctor get a clearer view of the pregnancy than an ultrasound performed over the tummy.
If your doctor recommends one, don’t be afraid to ask what will happen before the examination starts. I was nervous because it was new to me, and knowing what to expect would have helped me feel more prepared.
What Blood Tests Are Done in Early Pregnancy?
At my first prenatal appointment, my midwife took some blood samples.
I remember having several blood tests, including checks related to my blood group, Rh factor, immunity and infections. The exact tests offered can vary, so I wouldn’t assume that another person’s first appointment will include exactly the same blood work.
The exact blood tests can be different from one woman to another and may also depend on your pregnancy, medical history, and where you receive your prenatal care. Your doctor or midwife can tell you which tests you need and explain your results.
Prenatal Vitamins During Pregnancy
At my first doctor visit, my doctor advised me to continue taking prenatal vitamins. I was already taking them because I had started taking prenatal vitamins while we were trying to conceive.
So I simply continued taking them during my pregnancy.
Prenatal vitamins contain several essential nutrients that can help support the mother’s nutritional needs during pregnancy and the baby’s development. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor or midwife about which prenatal vitamins and supplements are right for you.
I also wrote more about this in Prenatal Vitamins During Pregnancy: Benefits, Key Nutrients & How to Choose, where I share more about the nutrients and what to look for in prenatal vitamins.
Second Prenatal Appointment Around 10–12 Weeks
At my second prenatal appointment, my midwife again checked my weight, blood pressure, and urine. These became routine checks for me and were done at my later appointments too.
During this appointment, my doctor also did a vaginal swab to check for infections.
The most exciting part for me was the ultrasound. This time, the scan was done through my tummy. I could see my baby much better than during my first scan. I could actually see the shape of my baby, and I also heard the baby’s heartbeat.
Sometimes, if the doctor cannot get a clear enough view through an abdominal ultrasound, they may use a transvaginal ultrasound instead.
Prenatal Appointment at 15–16 Weeks
At my third prenatal appointment, my weight, blood pressure, and urine were checked again. The baby’s heartbeat was also checked.
By this point, I was entering my second trimester, and I noticed that most of my early pregnancy symptoms had started to ease. I was feeling better compared with the first few weeks of pregnancy.
If you are also entering your second trimester and wondering what changes to expect, you may find my When Does the Second Trimester Start? Body Changes, Symptoms & What to Expect helpful.
What Happens at the 18-Week Anatomy Scan?
The anatomy scan was my favourite scan during pregnancy. The doctor carefully checked different parts of my baby’s body and explained what they were looking at. They showed us things like the baby’s ears, nose, eyes, and other parts of the body. They also measured the baby and checked how the baby was developing.
The scan took around 40–45 minutes, so I got to see my baby on the screen for much longer than during my earlier scans. I was really excited to watch the baby moving and see all those little details.
I also asked if they could give me a 3D scan of my baby. I was so curious to see what my baby looked like.
Of course, the most important part of this appointment was the detailed medical examination. The doctor checked the baby’s anatomy and development carefully to make sure everything that could be assessed at this stage looked as expected.
But for us, there was another exciting part of this scan—we could find out whether we were having a boy or a girl.
Before the appointment, we decided that we wanted to know the baby’s sex, but we wanted to make a little celebration out of it. So during the scan, we asked the doctor to write it down on a piece of paper instead of telling us.
When we opened the paper later, we found out that we were having a baby girl. It was such a happy moment for us and made the anatomy scan even more memorable.
Whether the baby’s sex can be seen during an ultrasound can depend on the baby’s position, the stage of pregnancy, and how clearly the relevant anatomy can be seen.
22-Week Prenatal Appointment: What to Expect
By my 22-week prenatal appointment, the routine checks continued. My weight, blood pressure, and urine were checked, and the baby’s heartbeat was also checked.
My doctor asked me how I was feeling and whether the symptoms I had experienced during the first trimester had improved.
By this point, my nausea and morning sickness had gone away, which I was very happy about. But I had started experiencing some other pregnancy discomforts, including back pain, ligament pain, and leg cramps.
My doctor recommended magnesium for the leg cramps.
One thing I want to be clear about is that I wouldn’t recommend taking magnesium or any other supplement simply because it helped me or because it was recommended to me. Always ask your doctor or midwife before taking any supplement during pregnancy.
I had back pain for much of my pregnancy, especially during the early weeks and again in the third trimester. I also shared my experience in Back Pain in Early Pregnancy: Is It Normal? Causes, Relief & Warning Signs if you are experiencing back pain during pregnancy.
At this appointment, my doctor also told me that at my next appointment I would have a gestational diabetes test.
Gestational Diabetes Test Around 24-28 Weeks
The gestational diabetes test is commonly done around 24–28 weeks of pregnancy. Some women may be tested earlier depending on their medical history or other risk factors.
When I had my test, the result came back positive, and I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during both of my pregnancies.
After my diagnosis, I was referred to a diabetes specialist. They gave me a glucose monitor and showed me how to check my blood sugar at home.
Thankfully, I was able to keep my blood sugar under control through my diet and the changes I made to what I was eating.
I have already shared my full experience in Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy: What I Learned From Having It Twice if you would like to read more about what it was like for me.
30–32 Week Prenatal Appointment: What to Expect
As my pregnancy was getting closer to delivery, my prenatal appointments became more frequent.
My usual checks were done, including my weight, blood pressure, and urine. Because I had gestational diabetes, I also had some additional monitoring during my appointments.
During the ultrasound, my doctor checked my baby’s growth and position. He also estimated the baby’s weight.
Everything looked good at the time. My blood sugar readings were under control, and the baby’s growth was progressing normally. My doctor advised me to continue with the same diet I was following.
By this stage, I was well into my third trimester and getting closer to meeting my baby.
If you are also entering your third trimester, you may find my Third Trimester Pregnancy Guide: Symptoms, Baby Development & What to Expect helpful.
What Happens at the 34-Week Prenatal Appointment?
Around 34 weeks, my prenatal appointments became more frequent. By this time, I was having appointments every week.
At my appointments, my usual checks were done, including my weight, blood pressure, urine, and the baby’s heartbeat.
My doctor was also checking for problems that can become important later in pregnancy, including signs associated with pre-eclampsia.
My urine was checked for things such as protein and possible infections. Around this time, my doctor also gave me urine test strips and explained how to use them at home. I was asked to use my early-morning urine to check for protein and keep an eye on the results. This was part of the monitoring I was given during my pregnancy, so your provider may use a different approach.
35-Week Prenatal Appointment
At around 35 weeks, I continued with my weekly prenatal appointments.
I had my usual checks, including my weight, blood pressure, urine, and the baby’s heartbeat.
I also had another ultrasound. My doctor checked the baby and assessed things such as the baby’s growth and the amniotic fluid.
By this point, my baby was already quite big, so it was harder to get a really clear view of the baby on the ultrasound compared with the earlier scans.
Even though I couldn’t see every little detail anymore, I was still happy to see my baby moving on the screen.
At this stage, I was getting very close to the end of pregnancy, and the weekly appointments made me realise how quickly the weeks were passing.
36-Week Prenatal Appointment: What to Expect
At my 36-week prenatal appointment, I continued to have my usual pregnancy checks, including my weight, blood pressure, urine, and the baby’s heartbeat.
My doctor also checked the baby’s position to see how the baby was positioned as I was getting closer to delivery.
During this appointment, my doctor also examined my cervix. He was checking for any cervical changes as my body was getting closer to delivery.
A cervical examination is not necessarily done at every routine prenatal appointment, so your provider may approach this differently.
By this point, I was very close to the end of my pregnancy, and every appointment made me feel that delivery was getting closer.
My 37-Week Prenatal Appointment and Birth
My 37-week appointment was on 10 November. Everything was still being monitored as usual, and I was getting very close to the end of my pregnancy.
Two days later, on 12 November, my water broke. I went into labour, but after around 32 hours of labour, I eventually had an emergency C-section. My daughter was born on 13 November.
I have shared the complete story in My First Baby Birth Story: From 37 Weeks to an Emergency C-Section.
My second pregnancy and birth experience was very different. This time, I had a planned C-section.
You can read My Second Birth Story: Planned C-Section, NICU Stay & Newborn Jaundice to see how different my two birth experiences were.
How Often Are Prenatal Appointments During Pregnancy?
Prenatal appointments are not scheduled exactly the same way for every pregnant woman.
The timing can depend on your medical history, previous pregnancies, healthcare system, healthcare provider, and whether there are any pregnancy complications.
In my case, my appointments became more frequent toward the end of my pregnancy. Because I had gestational diabetes, I also had additional monitoring to keep an eye on my blood sugar and my baby’s growth.
So, if you notice that your appointment schedule is different from someone else’s, it doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong. Every pregnancy and every woman’s care can be different.
I found it more helpful to follow the appointment schedule given to me by my doctor rather than compare my appointments with other people’s experiences.
Questions to Ask at Your Prenatal Appointment
When I went to my prenatal appointments, I often had several questions in my mind. Writing them down beforehand helped me remember what I wanted to ask.
Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor or midwife:
- Which week of pregnancy am I currently in?
- How is my pregnancy progressing?
- Is my baby growing as expected?
- Are the medicines and supplements I am currently taking appropriate?
- What should I expect at my next appointment?
- Which symptoms should I contact you about?
- What should I do if I have a concern outside of normal hospital or clinic hours?
Final Thoughts
Prenatal appointments gave me a chance to see how my pregnancy and baby were progressing and to ask questions whenever I had concerns.
My appointments also changed as my pregnancy progressed. Towards the end, they became more frequent, and because I had gestational diabetes, I had additional monitoring as well.
I found it helpful to attend my scheduled appointments, keep track of my questions, and follow the advice given by my doctor.
Every pregnancy is different, so your appointments and tests may not be exactly the same as mine. I found it helpful to follow the prenatal care schedule recommended for me and speak with my healthcare provider whenever I had concerns.
About the Author
I’m Bhavana, a mom of two and the creator of Happy Mama Ideas. I share my personal pregnancy, birth, and motherhood experiences along with helpful, research-based information for other moms.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is based on my personal pregnancy experience and includes general pregnancy information. It is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Every pregnancy is different, and prenatal care can also vary between individuals and healthcare systems. Always talk to your doctor or midwife about your own pregnancy, symptoms, tests, and treatment.
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