![]() ![]() If your earlier bloodwork tested Rh negative (meaning you’re among the 15 percent of the population whose red blood cells don’t carry a particular type of protein) your 28 weeks appointment is also when you’ll get the RhoGAM shot, to treat any Rh incompatibility with your baby (something that would really only affect a later pregnancy, because of the way your body would respond to your current delivery with a particular type of antibodies). Įven if you’ve never been pregnant before, you’ve probably heard about the glucose test-when you have to chug unnaturally colored sugar water before having your blood drawn in order to test for gestational diabetes. In the second half we start to get ready for the baby.” Your doc will assess fetal movement and begin the conversation about getting ready for the hospital, encouraging you to take classes, and look into cord blood banking. “The first half of the pregnancy we are just doing screening tests, lots and lots of screening tests, making sure everything's healthy. It also marks the second phase of prenatal appointments. "If everything looked normal at the 20 week ultrasound, this is usually just a quick check for heartbeat by Doppler machine,” Dr. If you haven’t done genetic blood testing, this is when you’ll be able to find out the baby’s sex (if you don’t want to know, be sure to tell your technician ahead of time!). This one is a full-body anatomy scan, and the ultrasound technician will measure every part of your growing baby. You’ve reached the halfway mark, which means it’s time for another ultrasound. Your 16 weeks appointment is also when you’ll have the Alpha-Fetoprotein (or AFP) blood test, which can detect neural tube defects (like spina bifida) and other abnormalities. You can probably expect a physical exam at this appointment as well as a pap smear. Your ultrasound technician will measure your baby to test for Down syndrome and other genetic abnormalities. ![]() Time for another ultrasound, which includes a nuchal translucency screening. They’ll also draw blood to determine blood type, hormone levels, red and white blood cell levels, and to screen for any STDs. Consider whether you want to do the genetic testing before your appointment, and raise any questions or concerns you have with your doctor-if you do want to do the testing, they’ll draw your blood that day. If you’re over 35, your doctor will probably highly recommend them, but those under 35 can get opt to have them done as well. Bloodwork tests for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities can be done as early as 10 weeks (they’ll also determine the sex of your baby!). The big talk at this appointment? Genetic testing. Your doctor will also take your blood pressure and test your urine for protein, two things that will happen at every single appointment. Your doc will go over the necessary prenatal vitamins you should be taking, whether you've had a miscarriage before, and will likely do bloodwork as well. You’ll have your first ultrasound and hear a heartbeat, and get a grainy pic of the babe in your belly. That’s typically when you call your OB/GYN and schedule your first appointment, for around 7 to 8 weeks. “Somewhere around 6 weeks is when people find out they’re pregnant, 1 or 2 weeks after the missed period,” Dr. Read on for the skinny on what’s covered at each appointment, and give yourself a head start on the questions you’ll want to have in mind. Jennifer Park at the Fair Oaks Women’s Center in Pasadena, CA, to walk us through a typical prenatal appointment schedule. over the course of your pregnancy, you’ll be seeing *a lot* of them. That's why it's super important to have an OB/GYN you like. Unlike finding the perfect outfit for your growing bump, spending a lot of time in a doctor’s office isn’t anyone’s first choice for fun. Let’s start with the obvious: prenatal care is vital to your and your baby’s health. ![]()
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