pregnant ob visit

Pregnancy Classes

pregnant-woman-doctor-stethoscope-first-prenatal-visit | American Pregnancy Association

Your First Prenatal Visit

If you did not meet with your health care provider before you were pregnant, your first prenatal visit will generally be around 8 weeks after your LMP (last menstrual period ). If this applies to you, you should schedule a prenatal visit as soon as you know you are pregnant!

Even if you are not a first-time mother, prenatal visits are still important since every pregnancy is different. This initial visit will probably be one of the longest. It will be helpful if you arrive prepared with vital dates and information. This is also a good opportunity to bring a list of questions that you and your partner have about your pregnancy, prenatal care, and birth options.

What to Expect at Your First Pregnancy Appointment

Your doctor will ask for your medical history, including:.

Medical and/or psychosocial problems
Blood pressure, height, and weight
Breast and cervical exam
Date of your last menstrual period (an accurate LMP is helpful when determining gestational age and due date)
Birth control methods
History of abortions and/or miscarriages
Hospitalizations
Medications you are taking
Medication allergies
Your family’s medical history

Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical exam which will include a pap smear , cervical cultures, and possibly an ultrasound if there is a question about how far along you are or if you are experiencing any bleeding or cramping .

Blood will be drawn and several laboratory tests will also be done, including:

Hemoglobin/ hematocrit
Rh Factor and blood type (if Rh negative, rescreen at 26-28 weeks)
Rubella screen
Varicella or history of chickenpox, rubella, and hepatitis vaccine
Cystic Fibrosis screen
Hepatitis B surface antigen
Tay Sach’s screen
Sickle Cell prep screen
Hemoglobin levels
Hematocrit levels
Specific tests depending on the patient, such as testing for tuberculosis and Hepatitis C

Your healthcare provider will probably want to discuss:

Recommendations concerning dental care , cats, raw meat, fish, and gardening
Fevers and medications
Environmental hazards
Travel limitations
Miscarriage precautions
Prenatal vitamins , supplements, herbs
Diet , exercise , nutrition , weight gain
Physician/ midwife rotation in the office

Possible questions to ask your provider during your prenatal appointment:

Is there a nurse line that I can call if I have questions?
If I experience bleeding or cramping, do I call you or your nurse?
What do you consider an emergency?
Will I need to change my habits regarding sex, exercise, nutrition?
When will my next prenatal visit be scheduled?
What type of testing do you recommend and when are they to be done? (In case you want to do research the tests to decide if you want them or not.)

If you have not yet discussed labor and delivery issues with your doctor, this is a good time. This helps reduce the chance of surprises when labor arrives. Some questions to ask include:

What are your thoughts about natural childbirth ?
What situations would warrant a Cesarean ?
What situations would warrant an episiotomy ?
How long past my expected due date will I be allowed to go before intervening?
What is your policy on labor induction?

Want to Learn More?

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter
Bonding With Your Baby: Making the Most of the First Six Weeks
7 Common Discomforts of Pregnancy

Share this post:

Leg Cramps During Pregnancy

Prenatal Vitamin Limits

Skin Changes During Pregnancy

Track your baby’s development, subscribe to our week-by-week pregnancy newsletter.

The Bumpy Truth Blog
Fertility Products Resource Guide

Pregnancy Tools

Ovulation Calendar
Baby Names Directory
Pregnancy Due Date Calculator
Pregnancy Quiz

Pregnancy Journeys

Partner With Us
Corporate Sponsors

Set My Location

Providing your location allows us to show you nearby providers and locations.

The Ultimate Pregnancy Appointment Guide: What to Expect Week by Week at Your Prenatal Visits

Central to ensuring the health and well-being of you and your growing baby is seeing your care team regularly for touchpoints and milestones that are part of your pregnancy appointment schedule. Diana Kaufman, MD , UnityPoint Health, shares the recommended timeline for prenatal visits, and the importance of each test and discussion that’ll prepare you for a safe pregnancy and delivery.

Confirming Your Pregnancy

Every woman’s body is unique, but it’s a good idea to visit a doctor to confirm a pregnancy when you’re experiencing early symptoms, such as a missed period or you’ve received a positive home pregnancy test. Typically, this visit happens at 6-8 weeks of pregnancy.

Your doctor may confirm your pregnancy through urine tests, blood tests or ultrasounds.

Initial Prenatal Appointment: 5-12 Weeks

Your first prenatal visit consists of important screenings and discussions, so your healthcare team can create a care plan that ensures you and baby stay healthy throughout your pregnancy. Prepare a few things for this visit, including:

Complete medical history: It’s important for your doctor to know your past and present health conditions or concerns, medications and any history of disease, substance abuse or known genetic conditions in your family.
Insurance information: This includes consents for care, your insurance carrier and other paperwork

Here’s what to expect at your first pregnancy appointment

A physical, which will likely include a breast and pelvic exam.
A urine sample is collected to check for certain infections and conditions that can occur during pregnancy. Urine tests may be taken at your following prenatal visits as well. Urine drug screening tests are also recommended for women, or their partners, with a history of substance use — including smoking.
Routine testing that includes blood draws to check your blood type and complete blood count (CBC) and look for specific diseases including hepatitis, HIV, syphilis and checking for immunity against rubella. Other testing that may occur includes genetic screening and testing for diabetes.

Your care team will review prenatal educational materials with you and remedies for any unpleasant pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting . Your team also will provide an estimated due date for baby.

It’s also important to take good care of your teeth and gums during pregnancy. Changing hormone levels make your gums more sensitive to disease, which increases your risk for a low-birth weight or premature baby. Consider making an appointment to see your dentist during your first trimester.

Prenatal Appointment: Second Trimester (13 – 26 Weeks)

During weeks 13-26, you’ll see your doctor every four weeks. It’s a good idea to write down questions or concerns before your appointments to ensure they’re addressed.

At each appointment throughout the rest of your pregnancy, your care team will check the following:

Blood pressure
Position of baby
Baby’s heartbeat

Here are some additional things to expect.

Prenatal genetic testing: There are many different options for prenatal genetic testing. Your care team will review these with you.
Pregnancy blood tests: These are tailored to your specific needs. Most patients are tested for anemia and diabetes of pregnancy between weeks 24-28. Other recommended tests will be reviewed with you.
Ultrasound: It’s common to have an ultrasound in the first trimester to confirm the estimated due date. Ultrasound is also common at 20 weeks to check on baby's growth and development. Further ultrasounds could be needed if changes in your pregnancy make it necessary, such as concerns about baby’s growth or to see if baby is head down.
Discuss preterm labor signs: Preterm labor refers to labor that begins before the 37th week of pregnancy and requires medical attention. Knowing what to look for — such as contractions, changes in vaginal discharge — is important for preventing potential complications.
Childbirth classes: It’s a good idea to register for a class to help you prepare for baby’s arrival.

When to Call Your Doctor

Pregnancy creates new and unfamiliar symptoms in many women. However, some symptoms need attention. Here’s when to call your doctor in the second trimester:

Vaginal bleeding, even a small amount
Leg pain with numbness or leg weakness
Pain or tenderness in one of both calves that doesn’t go away
Thoughts of hurting yourself or others
Severe headaches that don’t go away with Tylenol
Persistent changes in vision such as blurriness or floaters
More than five contractions in an hour

Now, your visits to your care team become more frequent — happening every two weeks until you’re 36 weeks pregnant. Your care team continues to monitor you and baby. Here’s what else to expect:

Prenatal Appointments: Third Trimester (27 Weeks – Baby’s Arrival)

Check fetal movement: It’s important to be aware of your baby's movements. If you notice a sudden change or absence of fetal movement, let you care team know.
Rhogam injections: If an Rh-negative blood type was found during your initial prenatal visit, you’ll receive an injection to prevent immune system complications for future pregnancies. This usually happens at 28 weeks.
Additional prenatal testing: Around 35-37 weeks, you’re checked to see if you carry group B streptococcus bacteria . This is one of many bacteria that can live on our skin and typically does not cause problems. However, it can infect a newborn when you deliver. Antibiotics are given during delivery to prevent infection in a newborn if you test positive.

Prenatal Appointments: 36 Weeks – End of Pregnancy

Once you’ve reached 36 weeks, you’ll see your doctor every week until you deliver. These visits are essential for ensuring the well-being of both you and your little one, as well as preparing for a safe and smooth delivery. In addition to routine physical examinations and checking baby’s heartbeat and movement, here’s what else you can expect:

Cervical exams: If you’re having frequent contractions or preparing to be induced, your doctor will likely need to perform this exam.
Discuss labor signs: You’ll likely discuss signs of labor with your doctor and when to go to the hospital.
Discuss birth preferences: It’s not necessary to have a birth plan. Your care team has that covered. Our goal is to keep you and your baby healthy throughout the entire pregnancy and delivery process. However, if you have strong desires or needs for delivery, please discuss those during a prenatal appointment. It’s also helpful to write these things down and bring them to the hospital, since you may not be able to fully express your wishes during labor.

Postpartum Visits

After delivering baby, but before you leave the hospital, call your doctor to make your postpartum appointment, if it hasn’t been scheduled yet. This visit typically occurs around 6 weeks after you deliver. Other visits are scheduled based on your individual needs.

These visits are a time for your doctor to check on your healing , discuss normal or abnormal postpartum bleeding, talk about your well-being and any signs of postpartum depression or anxiety , discuss when it’s safe to start exercising again and address other questions or concerns you may have .

Our UnityPoint Health care team is here to care for you and baby throughout the entirety of your pregnancy and beyond. Call us to schedule your first appointment or if you have questions about any future appointments.

Group B Strep in Pregnancy: Understanding Risks, Testing and Treatment

Second Time Mom Gets Wish of Vaginal Birth After C-Section

An OBGYN Answers 17 Questions to Help You Prepare for Postpartum

Getting Pregnant
Registry Builder
Baby Products
Birth Clubs
See all in Community
Ovulation Calculator
How To Get Pregnant
How To Get Pregnant Fast
Ovulation Discharge
Implantation Bleeding
Ovulation Symptoms
Pregnancy Symptoms
Am I Pregnant?
Pregnancy Tests
See all in Getting Pregnant
Due Date Calculator
Pregnancy Week by Week
Pregnant Sex
Weight Gain Tracker
Signs of Labor
Morning Sickness
COVID Vaccine and Pregnancy
Fetal Weight Chart
Fetal Development
Pregnancy Discharge
Find Out Baby Gender
Chinese Gender Predictor
See all in Pregnancy
Baby Name Generator
Top Baby Names 2023
Top Baby Names 2024
How to Pick a Baby Name
Most Popular Baby Names
Baby Names by Letter
Gender Neutral Names
Unique Boy Names
Unique Girl Names
Top baby names by year
See all in Baby Names
Baby Development
Baby Feeding Guide
Newborn Sleep
When Babies Roll Over
First-Year Baby Costs Calculator
Postpartum Health
Baby Poop Chart
See all in Baby
Average Weight & Height
Autism Signs
Child Growth Chart
Night Terrors
Moving from Crib to Bed
Toddler Feeding Guide
Potty Training
Bathing and Grooming
See all in Toddler
Height Predictor
Potty Training: Boys
Potty training: Girls
How Much Sleep? (Ages 3+)
Ready for Preschool?
Thumb-Sucking
Gross Motor Skills
Napping (Ages 2 to 3)
See all in Child
Photos: Rashes & Skin Conditions
Symptom Checker
Vaccine Scheduler
Reducing a Fever
Acetaminophen Dosage Chart
Constipation in Babies
Ear Infection Symptoms
Head Lice 101
See all in Health
Second Pregnancy
Daycare Costs
Family Finance
Stay-At-Home Parents
Breastfeeding Positions
See all in Family
Baby Sleep Training
Preparing For Baby
My Custom Checklist
My Registries
Take the Quiz
Best Baby Products
Best Breast Pump
Best Convertible Car Seat
Best Infant Car Seat
Best Baby Bottle
Best Baby Monitor
Best Stroller
Best Diapers
Best Baby Carrier
Best Diaper Bag
Best Highchair
See all in Baby Products
Why Pregnant Belly Feels Tight
Early Signs of Twins
Teas During Pregnancy
Baby Head Circumference Chart
How Many Months Pregnant Am I
What is a Rainbow Baby
Braxton Hicks Contractions
HCG Levels By Week
When to Take a Pregnancy Test
Am I Pregnant
Why is Poop Green
Can Pregnant Women Eat Shrimp
Insemination
UTI During Pregnancy
Vitamin D Drops
Best Baby Forumla
Postpartum Depression
Low Progesterone During Pregnancy
Baby Shower
Baby Shower Games

Prenatal visits: What to expect and how to prepare

Regular prenatal visits are an important part of your pregnancy care. Find out how often you'll see a healthcare provider, what to expect at each appointment, and smart ways to prepare.

When to schedule a prenatal visit

Prenatal visitation schedule, how should i prepare for a prenatal visit, what happens during prenatal visits, how can i make the most of my pregnancy appointments.

Make an appointment for your first prenatal visit once you're aware you are pregnant – when you receive a positive home pregnancy test, for example. Booking it around week 8 of pregnancy is typical.

You'll come back regularly in the weeks and months following that initial appointment. Most people have between 8 and 14 prenatal visits throughout the course of their pregnancy.

During this time, you'll see a lot of your healthcare practitioner. That's why it's so important to choose someone you like and trust. If you're not comfortable or satisfied with your provider after your first visit or visits, don't be afraid to find someone with whom you have a better connection.

Typically, a pregnant woman will visit their doctor, midwife , or nurse practitioner every four weeks during the first and second trimesters. In the third trimester, you'll be seen more often – usually every other week until 36 weeks, and then every week until the baby is born.

For more information on what happens at these visits, see:

Your first prenatal visit

Second trimester prenatal visits (14 weeks to 27 weeks)

Third trimester prenatal visits (28 weeks through the end of pregnancy)

The specific number of scheduled appointments you'll have depends on if your pregnancy is considered to be high-risk. This is determined by your medical history and whether you have any complications or conditions that warrant more frequent checkups, such as gestational diabetes , high blood pressure , or a history of preterm labor . If you've had any medical problems in the past or develop any new problems during this pregnancy, you may need more prenatal visits than the average pregnant woman.

In the weeks before each visit, jot down any questions or concerns in a notebook or a notes app on your smartphone. This way, you'll remember to ask your practitioner about them at your next appointment. You may be surprised by how many questions you have, so don't miss the opportunity to get some answers in person.

For example, before you drink an herbal tea or take a supplement or an over-the-counter medication , ask your provider about it. You can even bring the item itself – or a picture of the label – with you to your next appointment. Then, your doctor, midwife, or nurse practitioner can read the label and let you know whether it's okay to ingest.

Of course, if you have any pressing questions or worries, or develop any new, unusual, or severe symptoms , don't wait for your appointment – call your practitioner right away.

In addition to your list, you may want to bring a partner, friend, family member, or labor coach with you to some or all of your prenatal visits. They can comfort you, take notes, ask questions, and help you remember important information.

The goal of prenatal visits is to see how your pregnancy is proceeding and to provide you with information to help keep you and your baby healthy. It's important that you go to all of your prenatal appointments, even if you're feeling just fine and believe that everything is progressing perfectly.

Your practitioner will start by asking how you're feeling physically and emotionally, whether you have any complaints or worries, and what questions you may have. They'll also ask you about your baby's movements once you begin to feel them, typically during the second trimester. Your practitioner will have other questions as well, which will vary depending on how far along you are and whether there are specific concerns.

Your midwife, doctor, or nurse practitioner will also:

Check your weight , blood pressure , and urine
Check for swelling
Measure your abdomen
Check the position of your baby
Listen to your baby's heartbeat
Perform other exams and order tests, as appropriate
Give you the appropriate vaccinations
Closely monitor any complications you have or that you develop, and intervene if necessary

Near the end of your pregnancy, your provider may also do a pelvic exam to check for cervical changes. You will also discuss your delivery plan in more depth.

At the end of each visit, your practitioner will review their findings with you. They'll also explain the normal changes to expect before your next visit, warning signs to watch for, and the pros and cons of optional tests you may want to consider. Lifestyle issues will likely be a topic of discussion, as well. Expect to talk about the importance of good nutrition , sleep, oral health, stress management, wearing seatbelts, and avoiding tobacco , alcohol , and illicit drugs.

Many people look forward to their prenatal appointments but are disappointed to find that, with the exception of the first visit, they're in and out of the office in 10 minutes. A quick visit is typical and is usually a sign that everything is progressing normally. Still, you want to make sure your concerns are addressed – and that you and your baby are being well cared for.

Here are some things you can do to ensure that your prenatal visits are satisfying:

Speak up. Your practitioner isn't a mind reader and won't be able to tell what you're thinking just by performing a physical exam. So, if anything is bothering you, say your piece. Are you having trouble controlling your heartburn ? Managing your constipation ? Suffering from headaches ? This is the time to ask for advice. Consult the notebook of questions you've been compiling. In addition to physical complaints, let your practitioner know if you have emotional concerns or fitness or nutrition questions.
Ask the staff about the administrative stuff. Save your questions about things like insurance and directions to the hospital for the office staff so your practitioner has more time to answer your health-related questions. Go to the admin staff with any inquiries about payments, scheduling, office policies, and your contact information.
Be open-minded. When talking with your doctor, midwife, or nurse practitioner, you should feel comfortable speaking freely. But remember to listen, too. Take notes if you find it helpful.

Keep in mind, too, that some days are busier than others. This is especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic. That doesn't mean your practitioner doesn't have to answer your questions, but sometimes a discussion can be continued at the next visit if it's a really busy day or if your practitioner needs to head to the hospital to deliver a baby.

At the same time, don't tolerate a healthcare practitioner who won't give you thorough answers, doesn't show reasonable compassion, or barely looks up from your chart. You and your baby deserve more than that.

Now that you know what to expect during all those prenatal visits, you might like a sneak peek at what else is in store. Here's an overview of the next nine months .

Learn more:

The ultimate pregnancy to-do list: First trimester
12 steps to a healthy pregnancy
When will my pregnancy start to show?
Fetal development timeline

Was this article helpful?

What happens at second trimester prenatal appointments

Pregnant woman getting blood pressure checked

Advanced maternal age: What pregnancy after 35 is like

pregnant woman standing in front of colorful tile wall

What to expect at your first prenatal appointment

A young woman talking to a healthcare provider

Routine blood tests during the first trimester of pregnancy

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies .

MedlinePlus. (2021). Prenatal care in your first trimester. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000544.htm Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

March of Dimes. (2017). Prenatal Care Checkups. https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/prenatal-care-checkups.aspx Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

Office on Women’s Health. (2019). Prenatal Care and Tests. https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/youre-pregnant-now-what/prenatal-care-and-tests Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2017). What happens during prenatal visits? https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/preconceptioncare/conditioninfo/prenatal-visits Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2017). What is a high-risk pregnancy? https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pregnancy/conditioninfo/high-risk Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

NIH: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (2018). What are some factors that make a pregnancy high-risk? https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/high-risk/conditioninfo/factors Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

March of Dimes. (2020). Over-the-Counter Medicine, Supplements, and Herbal Products During Pregnancy. https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/over-the-counter-medicine-supplements-and-herbal-products.aspx Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

Associates in Women’s Healthcare (2021). Preparing for Your First Prenatal Visit. https://www.associatesinwomenshealthcare.net/blog/preparing-for-your-first-prenatal-visit/ Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

National Health Service (UK). (2018). Your baby’s movements. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/your-babys-movements/ Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

MedlinePlus. (2021). Prenatal care in your third trimester. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000558.htm Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

UCLA Health. (2021). Schedule of prenatal care. https://www.uclahealth.org/obgyn/workfiles/Pregnancy/Schedule_of_Prenatal_Care.pdf Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

UCR Health. (2021). Healthy Pregnancy: The Importance of Prenatal Care. https://www.ucrhealth.org/2018/07/healthy-pregnancy-the-importance-of-prenatal-care/ Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

Mayo Clinic. (2020). Prenatal care: 1 st trimesters visits. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/prenatal-care/art-20044882 Opens a new window [Accessed September 21, 2021.]

Where to go next

Trying to Conceive
Signs & Symptoms
Pregnancy Tests
Fertility Testing
Fertility Treatment
Weeks & Trimesters
Staying Healthy
Preparing for Baby
Complications & Concerns
Pregnancy Loss
Breastfeeding
School-Aged Kids
Raising Kids
Personal Stories
Everyday Wellness
Safety & First Aid
Immunizations
Food & Nutrition
Active Play
Pregnancy Products
Nursery & Sleep Products
Nursing & Feeding Products
Clothing & Accessories
Toys & Gifts
Ovulation Calculator
Pregnancy Due Date Calculator
How to Talk About Postpartum Depression
Editorial Process
Meet Our Review Board

Your Prenatal Care Appointments

If you're pregnant, especially if it's for the first time, you may be wondering what will happen at your prenatal care appointments with your doctor or midwife . Here's a rundown of everything you can expect at each appointment, including tests and exams.

Your First Prenatal Care Appointment

Your first prenatal appointment will probably be your longest one. Here you will give your doctor, midwife, or nurse your complete health and pregnancy history. This information is important because it will give your practitioner a good idea of how healthy you are and what type of problems you are most likely to experience during your pregnancy. You will learn what your estimated due date is as well.

There are many areas that may be checked during your physical exam, including:

Blood pressure
Breast exam
Pelvic exam
Pregnancy test
Ultrasound (if you're having pain or bleeding or underwent fertility treatments)
Urine screen for protein and sugar

You will probably be seen for your first appointment between 8 and 10 weeks gestation, though you may be seen earlier if you're having problems or if it's your doctor or midwife's policy.

Your Second Appointment

Your second prenatal appointment usually takes place about a month after your first appointment, unless you're having problems or need specific prenatal testing that is best performed in a specific time range. Here is what will most likely happen during this visit:

Blood pressure check
Listen to a fetal heartbeat using a Doppler
Record your weight
Urine screen for sugar and protein

Your baby's first heartbeat can usually be heard with a Doppler between 8 and 12 weeks gestation. If you have trouble hearing the baby's heartbeat, you will probably be asked to wait until your next visit when your baby is a bit bigger. Sometimes an ultrasound will be ordered as well.

Additional Testing

Additional testing may be performed at this appointment as needed. There are some optional tests you, your doctor, or your midwife may request:

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) (diagnostic test for many genetic diseases)
Early amniocentesis (diagnostic test for many genetic diseases)
Nuchal fold test (screening for Down syndrome)

Be sure to discuss all of your options regarding these tests, including the risks and benefits, how the test results are given, and whether the test is a screening test or a diagnostic test.

Your Third Appointment

Towards the third prenatal visit, you're most likely around 14 to 16 weeks pregnant. You're probably feeling better and the most dangerous part of pregnancy is over. You are now probably feeling more confident in your pregnancy and sharing your good news .

It has been about a month since you've seen the midwife or doctor. Here's what this appointment may look like:

Check your blood pressure
Listen for baby's heartbeat
Measure your abdomen, called "fundal height," to check baby's growth
Urine sample to screen for sugar and protein

Optional Testing

You may also have the following prenatal testing done if you request it:

Amniocentesis (diagnostic test for many genetic diseases)
Neural tube defect (NTD)/Down syndrome screening by way of maternal blood work (several tests can be used including alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), triple screen, and quad screen)

Your Fourth Appointment

You are most likely between 16 to 20 weeks at this point, and it has been about a month since your last appointment. You probably feel like you've grown a lot since your last appointment and you may now be wearing maternity clothes and possibly even feeling your baby move . Here's what this visit may involve:

Measure your fundal height to check baby's growth

You may also have a mid-pregnancy ultrasound screening if you request it or if it's your doctor or midwife's policy.

Your Fifth Appointment

Between 18 to 22 weeks you'll likely have your fifth prenatal care visit. Here's what this appointment may involve:

Check for swelling in your hands and feet
Listen to the baby's heartbeat

Your Sixth Appointment

Your next prenatal care appointment will likely be between 22 to 26 weeks of pregnancy . You are probably still being seen monthly. Here's what this appointment may look like:

Listen to the baby's heartbeat
Measure your fundal height to check baby's growth
Questions about baby's movements

Your Seventh or Eighth Appointment

Between 26 to 28 weeks of pregnancy , you'll likely have another prenatal care appointment. Here's what may happen:

Check blood pressure
Questions about baby's movements

Other Testing and Information

You may have other tests or procedures ordered, like the glucose tolerance test (GTT) used to screen for gestational diabetes or the RhoGam , shot around 28 weeks of gestation for women who are Rh-negative. Your doctor or midwife may also give you information on screening for preterm labor on your own.

Your Eighth, Ninth Appointments and Beyond

Your next appointment will likely be between 28 to 36 weeks of pregnancy. In fact, you're likely to have at least two prenatal visits during this period because you're now being seen every other week. Here's what these appointments may involve:

Palpate to check baby's position (vertex, breech, posterior, etc.)

Screening for Group B strep (GBS) will normally be done between weeks 34 to 36. This involves rectal and vaginal swab. You will continue to be seen every other week until about the 36th week of pregnancy. At this point, your visits will likely be fairly routine with very few extra tests being performed.

Weekly Visits

Between 36 to 40 weeks of pregnancy, you're usually seen every week. Here's what these visits may entail:

You will continue to be seen every week until about the 41st week of pregnancy, at which point you may be seen every few days until your baby is born. Your visits are most likely fairly routine, with very few extra tests being performed.

You may also have an ultrasound to determine what position the baby is in at this point. Your doctor will also try to predict the size of your baby , but this is usually not very accurate. Because of this tendency for inaccuracy, it's not a great idea to have an induction of labor based on the predicted size of your baby.

If you're having a home birth , you may have a home visit during this time frame if your midwife doesn't do her normal prenatal visits there. You will be able to give her a tour of your home and answer questions she may have about where everything is located.

Overdue Pregnancy Visits

At 40 or 41 weeks of pregnancy, you may begin to see your midwife or doctor every few days. Here is what these visits may look like:

Since you are officially past your due date, your midwife or doctor may want to watch you and your baby more carefully until labor begins. This may include the following tests:

Non-stress test (NST)
Biophysical profile (BPP)

These tests will help determine if your practitioner needs to intervene with an induction of labor for the health of your baby or let your pregnancy continue.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What Happens During Prenatal Visits ?

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. What are some common complications of pregnancy ?

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. How Your Fetus Grows During Pregnancy .

Mayo Clinic Staff. Prenatal Care: 1st Trimester Visits . Mayo Clinic.

By Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH Robin Elise Weiss, PhD, MPH is a professor, author, childbirth and postpartum educator, certified doula, and lactation counselor.

Appointments at Mayo Clinic

Pregnancy week by week

Prenatal care: 3rd trimester visits

During the third trimester, prenatal care might include vaginal exams to check the baby's position.

Prenatal care is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, especially as your due date approaches. Your health care provider might ask you to schedule prenatal care appointments during your third trimester about every 2 or 4 weeks, depending on your health and pregnancy history. Starting at 36 weeks, you'll need weekly checkups until you deliver.

Repeat routine health checks

You'll be asked if you have any signs or symptoms, including contractions and leakage of fluid or bleeding. Your health care provider will check your blood pressure and weight gain, as well as your baby's heartbeat and movements.

Your health care provider might ask you to track of how often you feel the baby move on a daily basis — and to alert your health care team if the baby stops moving as much as usual.

Also, talk to your health care provider about any vaccinations you might need, including the flu shot and the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Ideally, the Tdap vaccine should be given between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.

Test for group B strep

Expect to be screened for group B streptococcus (GBS) during the third trimester. GBS is a common bacterium often carried in the intestines or lower genital tract that's usually harmless in adults. But babies who become infected with GBS from exposure during vaginal delivery can become seriously ill.

To screen for GBS , your health care provider will swab your lower vagina and anal area. The sample will be sent to a lab for testing. If the sample tests positive for GBS — or you previously gave birth to a baby who developed GBS disease — you'll be given intravenous antibiotics during labor. The antibiotics will help protect your baby from the bacterium.

Check the baby's position

Near the end of pregnancy, your health care provider might check to see if your baby is positioned headfirst in the uterus.

If your baby is positioned rump-first (frank breech) or feet-first (complete breech) after week 36 of pregnancy, it's unlikely that the baby will move to a headfirst position before labor. You might be able to have an external cephalic version. During this procedure, your health care provider will apply pressure to your abdomen and physically manipulate your baby to a headfirst position. This is typically done with ultrasound guidance by an experienced doctor. If you prefer not to have this procedure, or if your baby remains in a breech position, your health care provider will discuss planning a C-section delivery.

Keep asking questions

You will likely have plenty of questions as your due date approaches. Is it OK to have sex? How will I know when I'm in labor? What's the best way to manage the pain? Should I create a birth plan? Ask away! Feeling prepared can help calm your nerves before delivery.

Also, be sure to discuss signs that should cause you to call your health care provider, such as vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking from the vagina, as well as when and how to contact your health care provider once labor begins.

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

Error Email field is required

Error Include a valid email address

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

Thank you for subscribing!

You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.

Sorry something went wrong with your subscription

Please, try again in a couple of minutes

Frequently asked questions. Pregnancy FAQ079. If your baby is breech. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/If-Your-Baby-Is-Breech. Accessed July 13, 2018.
Prenatal care and tests. Office on Women's Health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/youre-pregnant-now-what/prenatal-care-and-tests. Accessed July 9, 2018.
Cunningham FG, et al., eds. Prenatal care. In: Williams Obstetrics. 25th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education; 2018. https://www.accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed July 9, 2018.
Hofmeyr GJ. External cephalic version. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 10, 2018.
Lockwood CJ, et al. Prenatal care: Second and third trimesters. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed July 9, 2018.
AskMayoExpert. Vaccination during pregnancy. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2018.

Products and Services

A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
3rd trimester pregnancy
Fetal development: The 3rd trimester
Fetal presentation before birth
Overdue pregnancy
Pregnancy due date calculator

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

Opportunities

Mayo Clinic Press

Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press .

Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Incontinence
The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press The Essential Diabetes Book
Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance
FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment
Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book
Healthy Lifestyle
Prenatal care 3rd trimester visits

Double your impact on fighting cancer

Make a gift before July 31 and it can go twice as far to fight cancer.

A pregnant woman and a man looking at an ultrasound.

Copy/Paste Link Link Copied

What happens during prenatal visits?

What happens during prenatal visits varies depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Schedule your first prenatal visit as soon as you think you are pregnant, even if you have confirmed your pregnancy with a home pregnancy test. Early and regular prenatal visits help your health care provider monitor your health and the growth of the fetus.

The First Visit

Your first prenatal visit will probably be scheduled sometime after your eighth week of pregnancy. Most health care providers won't schedule a visit any earlier unless you have a medical condition, have had problems with a pregnancy in the past, or have symptoms such as spotting or bleeding, stomach pain, or severe nausea and vomiting. 1

You've probably heard pregnancy discussed in terms of months and trimesters (units of about 3 months). Your health care provider and health information might use weeks instead. Here's a chart that can help you understand pregnancy stages in terms of trimesters, months, and weeks.

Because your first visit will be one of your longest, allow plenty of time.

During the visit, you can expect your health care provider to do the following: 1

Answer your questions. This is a great time to ask questions and share any concerns you may have. Keep a running list for your visit.
Check your urine sample for infection and to confirm your pregnancy.
Check your blood pressure, weight, and height.
Calculate your due date based on your last menstrual cycle and ultrasound exam.
Ask about your health, including previous conditions, surgeries, or pregnancies.
Ask about your family health and genetic history.
Ask about your lifestyle, including whether you smoke, drink, or take drugs, and whether you exercise regularly.
Ask about your stress level.
Perform prenatal blood tests to do the following:
Determine your blood type and Rh (Rhesus) factor. Rh factor refers to a protein found on red blood cells. If the mother is Rh negative (lacks the protein) and the father is Rh positive (has the protein), the pregnancy requires a special level of care. 2
Do a blood count (e.g., hemoglobin, hematocrit).
Test for hepatitis B, HIV, rubella, and syphilis.
Do a complete physical exam, including a pelvic exam, and cultures for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
Do a Pap test or test for human papillomavirus (HPV) or both to screen for cervical cancer and infection with HPV, which can increase risk for cervical cancer. The timing of these tests depends on the schedule recommended by your health care provider.
Do an ultrasound test, depending on the week of pregnancy.
Offer genetic testing: screening for Down syndrome and other chromosomal problems, cystic fibrosis, other specialized testing depending on history.

Prenatal Visit Schedule

If your pregnancy is healthy, your health care provider will set up a regular schedule for visits that will probably look about like this: 1

Later Prenatal Visits

As your pregnancy progresses, your prenatal visits will vary greatly. During most visits, you can expect your health care provider to do the following:

Check your blood pressure.
Measure your weight gain.
Measure your abdomen to check your developing infant's growth—"fundal height" (once you begin to "show").
Check the fetal heart rate.
Check your hands and feet for swelling.
Feel your abdomen to find the fetus's position (later in pregnancy).
Do tests, such as blood tests or an ultrasound exam.

Talk to you about your questions or concerns. It's a good idea to write down your questions and bring them with you.

Several of these visits will include special tests to check for gestational diabetes (usually between 24 and 28 weeks) 3 and other conditions, depending on your age and family history.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics released new vaccine guidelines for 2013 , including a recommendation for pregnant women to receive a booster of whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine. The guidelines recommend the shot be given between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. 4

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Updated recommendations for use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (TDAP) in pregnant women―Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6207a4.htm

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Call the OWH HELPLINE: 1-800-994-9662 9 a.m. — 6 p.m. ET, Monday — Friday OWH and the OWH helpline do not see patients and are unable to: diagnose your medical condition; provide treatment; prescribe medication; or refer you to specialists. The OWH helpline is a resource line. The OWH helpline does not provide medical advice.

Please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Prenatal care and tests

Medical checkups and screening tests help keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy. This is called prenatal care. It also involves education and counseling about how to handle different aspects of your pregnancy. During your visits, your doctor may discuss many issues, such as healthy eating and physical activity, screening tests you might need, and what to expect during labor and delivery.

Choosing a prenatal care provider

You will see your prenatal care provider many times before you have your baby. So you want to be sure that the person you choose has a good reputation, and listens to and respects you. You will want to find out if the doctor or midwife can deliver your baby in the place you want to give birth , such as a specific hospital or birthing center. Your provider also should be willing and able to give you the information and support you need to make an informed choice about whether to breastfeed or bottle-feed.

Health care providers that care for women during pregnancy include:

Obstetricians (OB) are medical doctors who specialize in the care of pregnant women and in delivering babies. OBs also have special training in surgery so they are also able to do a cesarean delivery . Women who have health problems or are at risk for pregnancy complications should see an obstetrician. Women with the highest risk pregnancies might need special care from a maternal-fetal medicine specialist .
Family practice doctors are medical doctors who provide care for the whole family through all stages of life. This includes care during pregnancy and delivery, and following birth. Most family practice doctors cannot perform cesarean deliveries.
A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) and certified professional midwife (CPM) are trained to provide pregnancy and postpartum care. Midwives can be a good option for healthy women at low risk for problems during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. A CNM is educated in both nursing and midwifery. Most CNMs practice in hospitals and birth centers. A CPM is required to have experience delivering babies in home settings because most CPMs practice in homes and birthing centers. All midwives should have a back-up plan with an obstetrician in case of a problem or emergency.

Ask your primary care doctor, friends, and family members for provider recommendations. When making your choice, think about:

Personality and bedside manner
The provider's gender and age
Office location and hours
Whether you always will be seen by the same provider during office checkups and delivery
Who covers for the provider when she or he is not available
Where you want to deliver
How the provider handles phone consultations and after-hour calls

What is a doula?

A doula (DOO-luh) is a professional labor coach, who gives physical and emotional support to women during labor and delivery. They offer advice on breathing, relaxation, movement, and positioning. Doulas also give emotional support and comfort to women and their partners during labor and birth. Doulas and midwives often work together during a woman's labor. A recent study showed that continuous doula support during labor was linked to shorter labors and much lower use of:

Pain medicines
Oxytocin (ok-see-TOHS-uhn) (medicine to help labor progress)
Cesarean delivery

Check with your health insurance company to find out if they will cover the cost of a doula. When choosing a doula, find out if she is certified by Doulas of North America (DONA) or another professional group.

Places to deliver your baby

Many women have strong views about where and how they'd like to deliver their babies. In general, women can choose to deliver at a hospital, birth center, or at home. You will need to contact your health insurance provider to find out what options are available. Also, find out if the doctor or midwife you are considering can deliver your baby in the place you want to give birth.

Hospitals are a good choice for women with health problems, pregnancy complications, or those who are at risk for problems during labor and delivery. Hospitals offer the most advanced medical equipment and highly trained doctors for pregnant women and their babies. In a hospital, doctors can do a cesarean delivery if you or your baby is in danger during labor. Women can get epidurals or many other pain relief options. Also, more and more hospitals now offer on-site birth centers, which aim to offer a style of care similar to standalone birth centers.

Questions to ask when choosing a hospital:

Is it close to your home?
Is a doctor who can give pain relief, such as an epidural, at the hospital 24-hours a day?
Do you like the feel of the labor and delivery rooms?
Are private rooms available?
How many support people can you invite into the room with you?
Does it have a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in case of serious problems with the baby?
Can the baby stay in the room with you?
Does the hospital have the staff and set-up to support successful breastfeeding?
Does it have an on-site birth center?

Birth or birthing centers give women a "homey" environment in which to labor and give birth. They try to make labor and delivery a natural and personal process by doing away with most high-tech equipment and routine procedures. So, you will not automatically be hooked up to an IV. Likewise, you won't have an electronic fetal monitor around your belly the whole time. Instead, the midwife or nurse will check in on your baby from time to time with a handheld machine. Once the baby is born, all exams and care will occur in your room. Usually certified nurse-midwives, not obstetricians, deliver babies at birth centers. Healthy women who are at low risk for problems during pregnancy, labor, and delivery may choose to deliver at a birth center.

Women can not receive epidurals at a birth center, although some pain medicines may be available. If a cesarean delivery becomes necessary, women must be moved to a hospital for the procedure. After delivery, babies with problems can receive basic emergency care while being moved to a hospital.

Many birthing centers have showers or tubs in their rooms for laboring women. They also tend to have comforts of home like large beds and rocking chairs. In general, birth centers allow more people in the delivery room than do hospitals.

Birth centers can be inside of hospitals, a part of a hospital or completely separate facilities. If you want to deliver at a birth center, make sure it meets the standards of the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, The Joint Commission, or the American Association of Birth Centers. Accredited birth centers must have doctors who can work at a nearby hospital in case of problems with the mom or baby. Also, make sure the birth center has the staff and set-up to support successful breastfeeding.

Homebirth is an option for healthy pregnant women with no risk factors for complications during pregnancy, labor or delivery. It is also important women have a strong after-care support system at home. Some certified nurse midwives and doctors will deliver babies at home. Many health insurance companies do not cover the cost of care for homebirths. So check with your plan if you'd like to deliver at home.

Homebirths are common in many countries in Europe. But in the United States, planned homebirths are not supported by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). ACOG states that hospitals are the safest place to deliver a baby. In case of an emergency, says ACOG, a hospital's equipment and highly trained doctors can provide the best care for a woman and her baby.

If you are thinking about a homebirth, you need to weigh the pros and cons. The main advantage is that you will be able to experience labor and delivery in the privacy and comfort of your own home. Since there will be no routine medical procedures, you will have control of your experience.

The main disadvantage of a homebirth is that in case of a problem, you and the baby will not have immediate hospital/medical care. It will have to wait until you are transferred to the hospital. Plus, women who deliver at home have no options for pain relief.

To ensure your safety and that of your baby, you must have a highly trained and experienced midwife along with a fail-safe back-up plan. You will need fast, reliable transportation to a hospital. If you live far away from a hospital, homebirth may not be the best choice. Your midwife must be experienced and have the necessary skills and supplies to start emergency care for you and your baby if need be. Your midwife should also have access to a doctor 24 hours a day.

Prenatal checkups

During pregnancy, regular checkups are very important. This consistent care can help keep you and your baby healthy, spot problems if they occur, and prevent problems during delivery. Typically, routine checkups occur:

Once each month for weeks four through 28
Twice a month for weeks 28 through 36
Weekly for weeks 36 to birth

Women with high-risk pregnancies need to see their doctors more often.

At your first visit your doctor will perform a full physical exam, take your blood for lab tests, and calculate your due date. Your doctor might also do a breast exam, a pelvic exam to check your uterus (womb), and a cervical exam, including a Pap test. During this first visit, your doctor will ask you lots of questions about your lifestyle, relationships, and health habits. It's important to be honest with your doctor.

After the first visit, most prenatal visits will include:

Checking your blood pressure and weight
Checking the baby's heart rate
Measuring your abdomen to check your baby's growth

You also will have some routine tests throughout your pregnancy, such as tests to look for anemia , tests to measure risk of gestational diabetes , and tests to look for harmful infections.

Become a partner with your doctor to manage your care. Keep all of your appointments — every one is important! Ask questions and read to educate yourself about this exciting time.

Monitor your baby's activity

After 28 weeks, keep track of your baby's movement. This will help you to notice if your baby is moving less than normal, which could be a sign that your baby is in distress and needs a doctor's care. An easy way to do this is the "count-to-10" approach. Count your baby's movements in the evening — the time of day when the fetus tends to be most active. Lie down if you have trouble feeling your baby move. Most women count 10 movements within about 20 minutes. But it is rare for a woman to count less than 10 movements within two hours at times when the baby is active. Count your baby's movements every day so you know what is normal for you. Call your doctor if you count less than 10 movements within two hours or if you notice your baby is moving less than normal. If your baby is not moving at all, call your doctor right away.

Prenatal tests

Tests are used during pregnancy to check your and your baby's health. At your fist prenatal visit, your doctor will use tests to check for a number of things, such as:

Your blood type and Rh factor
Infections, such as toxoplasmosis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including hepatitis B , syphilis , chlamydia , and HIV
Signs that you are immune to rubella (German measles) and chicken pox

Throughout your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife may suggest a number of other tests, too. Some tests are suggested for all women, such as screenings for gestational diabetes, Down syndrome, and HIV. Other tests might be offered based on your:

Personal or family health history
Ethnic background
Results of routine tests

Some tests are screening tests. They detect risks for or signs of possible health problems in you or your baby. Based on screening test results, your doctor might suggest diagnostic tests. Diagnostic tests confirm or rule out health problems in you or your baby.

Understanding prenatal tests and test results

If your doctor suggests certain prenatal tests, don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. Learning about the test, why your doctor is suggesting it for you, and what the test results could mean can help you cope with any worries or fears you might have. Keep in mind that screening tests do not diagnose problems. They evaluate risk. So if a screening test comes back abnormal, this doesn't mean there is a problem with your baby. More information is needed. Your doctor can explain what test results mean and possible next steps.

Avoid keepsake ultrasounds

You might think a keepsake ultrasound is a must-have for your scrapbook. But, doctors advise against ultrasound when there is no medical need to do so. Some companies sell "keepsake" ultrasound videos and images. Although ultrasound is considered safe for medical purposes, exposure to ultrasound energy for a keepsake video or image may put a mother and her unborn baby at risk. Don't take that chance.

High-risk pregnancy

Pregnancies with a greater chance of complications are called "high-risk." But this doesn't mean there will be problems. The following factors may increase the risk of problems during pregnancy:

Very young age or older than 35
Overweight or underweight
Problems in previous pregnancy
Health conditions you have before you become pregnant, such as high blood pressure , diabetes , autoimmune disorders , cancer , and HIV
Pregnancy with twins or other multiples

Health problems also may develop during a pregnancy that make it high-risk, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia . See Pregnancy complications to learn more.

Women with high-risk pregnancies need prenatal care more often and sometimes from a specially trained doctor. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist is a medical doctor that cares for high-risk pregnancies.

If your pregnancy is considered high risk, you might worry about your unborn baby's health and have trouble enjoying your pregnancy. Share your concerns with your doctor. Your doctor can explain your risks and the chances of a real problem. Also, be sure to follow your doctor's advice. For example, if your doctor tells you to take it easy, then ask your partner, family members, and friends to help you out in the months ahead. You will feel better knowing that you are doing all you can to care for your unborn baby.

Paying for prenatal care

Pregnancy can be stressful if you are worried about affording health care for you and your unborn baby. For many women, the extra expenses of prenatal care and preparing for the new baby are overwhelming. The good news is that women in every state can get help to pay for medical care during their pregnancies. Every state in the United States has a program to help. Programs give medical care, information, advice, and other services important for a healthy pregnancy.

Learn more about programs available in your state.

You may also find help through these places:

Local hospital or social service agencies – Ask to speak with a social worker on staff. She or he will be able to tell you where to go for help.
Community clinics – Some areas have free clinics or clinics that provide free care to women in need.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program – This government program is available in every state. It provides help with food, nutritional counseling, and access to health services for women, infants, and children.
Places of worship

More information on prenatal care and tests

Explore other publications and websites

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) (Copyright © March of Dimes) - Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that can diagnose or rule out certain birth defects. The test is generally performed between 10 and 12 weeks after a woman's last menstrual period. This fact sheet provides information about this test, and how the test sample is taken.
Folic Acid (Copyright © March of Dimes) - This fact sheet stresses the importance of getting higher amounts of folic acid during pregnancy in order to prevent neural tube defects in unborn children.
Folic Acid: Questions and Answers - The purpose of this question and answer sheet is to educate women of childbearing age on the importance of consuming folic acid every day to reduce the risk of spina bifida.
For Women With Diabetes: Your Guide to Pregnancy - This booklet discusses pregnancy in women with diabetes. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and you are pregnant or hoping to get pregnant soon, you can learn what to do to have a healthy baby. You can also learn how to take care of yourself and your diabetes before, during, and after your pregnancy.
Genetics Home Reference - This website provides information on specific genetic conditions and the genes or chromosomes responsible for these conditions.
Guidelines for Vaccinating Pregnant Women - This publication provides information on routine and other vaccines and whether they are recommended for use during pregnancy.
How Your Baby Grows (Copyright © March of Dimes) - This site provides information on the development of your baby and the changes in your body during each month of pregnancy. In addition, for each month, it provides information on when to go for prenatal care appointments and general tips to take care of yourself and your baby.
Pregnancy Registries - Pregnancy registries help women make informed and educated decisions about using medicines during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and currently taking medicine — or have been exposed to a medicine during your pregnancy — you may be able to participate and help in the collection of this information. This website provides a list of pregnancy registries that are enrolling pregnant women.
Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Bone Health - This publication provides information on pregnancy-associated osteoporosis, lactation and bone loss, and what you can do to keep your bones healthy during pregnancy.
Prenatal Care: First-Trimester Visits (Copyright © Mayo Foundation) - This fact sheet explains what to expect during routine exams with your doctor. In addition, if you have a condition that makes your pregnancy high-risk, special tests may be performed on a regular basis to check the baby's health.
Ten Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy (Copyright © Lamaze International) - This easy-to-read fact sheet provides 10 simple recommendations to help mothers have a healthy pregnancy.
Ultrasound (Copyright © March of Dimes) - This fact sheet discusses the use of an ultrasound in prenatal care at each trimester.

Connect with other organizations

American Academy of Family Physicians
American Association of Birth Centers
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Dona International
March of Dimes
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, HHS
National Association for Down Syndrome
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC
Public Information and Communications Branch, NICHD, NIH, HHS
HHS Non-Discrimination Notice
Language Assistance Available
Accessibility
Privacy Policy
Disclaimers
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Use Our Content
Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
Kreyòl Ayisyen

A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

1101 Wootton Pkwy, Rockville, MD 20852 1-800-994-9662 • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET (closed on federal holidays).

First Trimester
OB-GYN & Prenatal Care

Everything to Know About Your Prenatal Appointment Schedule

Over the course of your pregnancy, you might start to feel like you live at your provider’s office—and that’s actually a good thing. Studies show that moms-to-be and pregnant people who visit their providers regularly during pregnancy deliver much healthier babies on average. Your prenatal appointment schedule will of course vary depending on your provider and your own physical state, but these general guidelines should give you an idea of what to expect. Read on to learn from experts what a typical prenatal visit schedule looks like and how you can prepare.

Prenatal Appointment Schedule

It’s no secret that you’ll see your provider frequently during pregnancy and go through all types of tests and screenings. But exactly how often are prenatal visits scheduled? At a glance, you’ll likely have pregnancy appointments once every month (so every four weeks), between your first prenatal visit and 28 weeks of pregnancy, says Stephanie Hack , MD, ob-gyn and host of the Lady Parts Doctor podcast. Between 28 and 36 weeks, you’ll see your provider twice a month. After 36 weeks, as you get closer to delivery, that will increase to weekly—and may increase to bi-weekly after 40 weeks, Hack explains. Read on for an in-depth breakdown of the types of tests and routines to expect at each prenatal visit.

Pregnancy Appointment Schedule for First Trimester

During the first (and second) trimester, there will be optional testing to look for chromosomal and genetic abnormalities. Keep in mind that these tests aren’t mandatory and may not even be recommended, depending on your individual circumstances. It’s always best to discuss what prenatal tests are beneficial specifically for you with your provider.

First prenatal appointment

When you’ll have your first prenatal appointment can vary, as it’ll depend on when you get a positive pregnancy test . Hack says the first prenatal appointment usually takes place between 8 and 12 weeks. “By this point, an ultrasound can reveal a clear image of your developing baby, showing a healthy fetus and confirming the sound of its heartbeat,” says Cary Dicken , MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at RMA of NY–Long Island. Along with a possible transvaginal ultrasound, the first visit will also include:

A full workup of your medical and family history
A thorough physical examination
Blood work to test for infections and anemia
Urine analysis
Blood pressure check
Pap smear, depending on when your last one was

Additional tests may also be recommended, depending on your personal history and risk for complications. These include:

First trimester screen

This noninvasive optional screening is usually time sensitive and completed between weeks 11 and 13. It includes the nuchal translucency ultrasound and a blood test. Your provider will evaluate the results from both of these screenings along with your age to assess baby’s risk for certain chromosomal issues and conditions, such as Down syndrome. This screening is usually recommended in conjunction with other noninvasive testing, detailed below.

Cell-free DNA test

Also known as noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) or NIPS, this test is optional. Blood tests look for the most common chromosomal abnormalities that can affect pregnancy. While you can get NIPT at any age, experts usually recommend it for those over age 35. If you do opt for the testing, you can also use it to find out baby’s sex.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is another optional test that occurs between 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, this one is invasive, as it takes tissue samples from the placenta to analyze genetic information about the pregnancy, Johns Hopkins Medicine notes. The test is usually recommended for those over 35, those with a family history of genetic conditions or those with positive high-risk results from their other noninvasive prenatal screenings.

Prenatal Appointment Schedule for Second Trimester

During your prenatal appointments in the second trimester, “the focus will primarily be on monitoring your ongoing progress, the growth of your baby and their development,” Dicken says. “Your provider will closely monitor key indicators such as weight and blood pressure.” You can also expect some more testing, as well as the mid-pregnancy anatomy scan. Below, what to know about your pregnancy appointments timeline for the second trimester.

Week 14 prenatal visit

During the second trimester, you’ll see your provider about every four weeks. At every appointment, you’ll have to provide a urine sample for analysis, do a weigh-in and get your blood pressure taken.

Amniocentesis

This test is optional, but it’s an almost definitive way to assess the genetic abnormalities that may be affecting your pregnancy. It’s usually done between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. Like the others, amniocentesis is recommended for women over age 35 or those with a family history of genetic conditions. It’s also recommended for those with abnormal results from their quad or sequential screening, which, according to Penn Medicine , uses a subsequent blood test, combined with the results from the first trimester screening to asses overall risk of chromosal and genetic conditions.

Triple/Quad screen test

Also conducted between weeks 15 and 22, this is another optional prenatal screening that looks at the risk of the pregnancy being affected by any of the three most common genetic disorders: Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and neural tube defects , the American Pregnancy Association notes. The screening can also look at the risk of complications such as fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia .

Mid-pregnancy anatomy scan

This scan is also sometimes called the 20-week ultrasound, but it’s important to note it can occur anytime between weeks 18 and 22, Dicken says. As the name would suggest, it tells expectant parents baby’s sex, as well as evaluates baby’s growth; the formation of baby’s internal organs; amniotic fluid levels and the location of the placenta.

Week 24 prenatal visit

You’ll have your next visit following the anatomy scan around 24 weeks. This will be a routine check-up with a weigh in, monitoring of your blood pressure and a urine analysis.

Glucose challenge screening

The glucose challenge screening occurs between weeks 24 and 28 and is used to assess the risk of gestational diabetes . During this screening, your provider will have you drink a very sweet beverage and draw your blood an hour later to check your blood glucose levels.

Glucose tolerance test

This test is normally only given if your one-hour glucose screening result is abnormal. The glucose tolerance test is longer and requires fasting for a few hours prior to your appointment. Your provider will offer you another extremely sweet drink and then draw your blood an hour later, two hours later and three hours later to assess whether or not you have gestational diabetes. If the results are positive, know the condition can be managed through diet , exercise and, if needed, medication.

Pregnancy Appointment Schedule for Third Trimester

You’ve reached the home stretch! As mentioned, your prenatal appointments will be a bit more frequent in the third trimester, as you’ll see your provider every two to three weeks and then weekly as you get closer to meeting baby. These appointments may also involve some new tests to monitor baby’s heart rate and overall well-being.

Week 28 prenatal visit

Your first prenatal appointment in the third trimester will be around week 28. At this visit, your provider will conduct a urine analysis, do a weigh-in, check your blood pressure and chat with you about any questions, concerns or symptoms you may have.

Nonstress test

The nonstress test is a way for your provider to assess baby’s well-being, Hack says. Not everyone gets this test though. It’s generally recommended if there’s ever decreased fetal movement or for high-risk pregnancies. You’ll have sensors attached to your belly with soft belts. These allow your provider to listen to baby’s fetal heart rate and see how it responds to baby’s movement. While the first nonstress test occurs around 28 weeks, your provider may want to repeat it later on, depending on how the pregnancy is progressing.

Week 30, 32 and 34 prenatal visits

Because your provider will be checking in with you every two to three weeks, you’ll likely have visits at weeks 30, 32 and 34. At these appointments, you’ll get weighed, do a urine test and have your blood pressure taken.

Group B strep test

Group B strep (GBS) is a bacteria that can naturally occur in the body, including the vaginal and rectal areas. While it’s typically not harmful to you, it can be harmful to baby if they’re exposed to it during a vaginal birth. For this reason, between 36 and 37 weeks, your provider will swab your vagina and rectum to screen for GBS, Dicken says. If it’s positive and you’re hoping for a vaginal birth, you may need antibiotics.

Weeks 37, 38 and 39 prenatal visit

After 36 weeks, your prenatal appointments will increase to at least weekly until childbirth. As with previous visits, you’ll get a urine test, your blood pressure checked and do a weigh-in. Hack and Dicken note your provider may also:

Do any necessary repeat testing for sexually transmitted infections
Perform an in-office ultrasound to look at baby’s positioning (i.e. head down, breech , etc.)
Do a pelvic exam to evaluate cervical effacement and dilation
Discuss your birth plan and pain management preferences

“It’s also a valuable time for you to receive guidance and information about labor, postpartum care and life with a newborn, to help you feel more prepared,” Dicken says.

Week 40 prenatal visit

By this point, you’ll no doubt be pretty eager to meet baby. You’ll get the routine examination at this visit, including a urine test, blood pressure check and weigh-in. For high-risk pregnancies, your provider may also discuss increasing your visits to monitor baby’s health with weekly or biweekly nonstress tests and ultrasounds (otherwise known as a biophysical profile . Or, they may ask you to do kick counts at home to get a sense of baby’s well-being.

Reasons Why Your Prenatal Appointment Schedule Might Change

How frequently you have prenatal appointments will depend on how you and baby are progressing. If there are any complications that arise, like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or other high-risk factors, you may need to come in more frequently. “Sometimes, things might change in your pregnancy that require more attention from your healthcare provider,” Dicken says. “It could be something like a complication, or maybe just needing a bit more monitoring as you get closer to your due date.

Questions to Ask About Your Prenatal Appointment Schedule

With all the phrases, tests and symptoms thrown at you during pregnancy, it’s natural to have some (a lot) of questions—and these questions may change as your pregnancy progresses, depending on personal symptoms, circumstances and concerns. Below, some topics to keep in mind as you head into your pregnancy appointments each trimester:

Questions for the first trimester: Hack recommends asking about nutrition, supplements and any lifestyle changes that should be made. “Make sure to discuss any pre-pregnancy health conditions you may have, or previous pregnancy complications, so you understand how they may impact your current pregnancy,” she adds. Dickens agrees, noting that you’ll also want to ask about any aspect of prenatal care you don’t understand, as well as how to manage early pregnancy symptoms .
Questions for the second trimester: As pregnancy moves into the second trimester, experts recommend asking questions about fetal development, childbirth classes and staying active.
Questions for the third trimester: Experts recommend asking questions about labor signs , pain management, birth plans, breastfeeding and postpartum care .

Regardless of what questions you have, Dickens stresses the importance of open and honest communication. “Ask questions that address your concerns, help you understand the progress of your pregnancy and prepare you for childbirth and postpartum.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you do virtual prenatal visits.

While some visits may be done over the phone or video chat, both Hack and Dicken note that when physical exams are required, the pregnancy appointments will need to be in-person.

How often do you go to the doctor when pregnant?

You’ll have monthly prenatal appointments during weeks 4 to 28, and bi-monthly appointments between weeks 28 and 36. After that, as you get closer to delivery, your provider will want to see you weekly or even more frequently. Ultimately, how often you go to your provider during pregnancy will depend on how you and baby are progressing.

When do prenatal appointments become weekly?

Prenatal appointments become weekly towards the end of pregnancy, typically after 36 weeks, Hack says.

How many postpartum visits will I have?

According to Dickens, you can expect to have at least one, but the frequency will depend on your personal circumstances surrounding birth and postpartum. Your provider should ideally contact you via phone shortly after birth, Hack notes, but the first in-person postpartum visit may not happen until 4 to 6 weeks after birth for someone without complications. For women with more complicated medical histories or birth experiences, your initial postpartum visit may be sooner. “For example, you may have a visit at two weeks postpartum after a cesarean section so that your incision may be evaluated, and then come back for your postpartum visit two to four weeks later,” Hack explains. During the postpartum visits, your provider will check in on your physical and emotional health, as well as discuss your postpartum recovery, birth control options, breastfeeding and newborn care.

While this is a good cheat sheet of what a prenatal appointment schedule typically looks like, know it “differs from person to person and even pregnancy to pregnancy,” Hack says. One of the best things you can do for your health and baby’s? “Maintain a good line of communication with your healthcare provider throughout your pregnancy,” she adds. This includes asking for clarifications, expressing concerns and raising your hand whenever something feels off.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Cary L. Dicken , MD, is a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at RMA of NY–Long Island. She earned her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her residency at Columbia University.

Stephanie Hack , MD, MPH, is board certified ob-gyn and host of the Lady Parts Doctor podcast. She obtained her medical degree from Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, as well as a masters degree in public health. She completed her residency at Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center.

Science and Babies: Private Decisions, Public Dilemmas, Prenatal Care: Having Healthy Babies , 1990

Johns Hopkins Medicine, Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Penn Medicine, Sequential Screening (Combined First and Second Trimester Screening)

American Pregnancy Association, Triple Screen Test

Learn how we ensure the accuracy of our content through our editorial and medical review process .

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Next on Your Reading List

pregnant mom sitting with toddler daughter at home

Learn how UpToDate can help you.

Select the option that best describes you

Medical Professional
Resident, Fellow, or Student
Hospital or Institution
Group Practice
Find in topic

I was sent to L&D after my prenatal visit!

You may also like, planning visitors during hospital stay, you’re pregnant how these moms reacted, help keep our community safe, to create a safe place, please, on our end, we will, about what to expect, popular articles, tools & registry.

Open access
Published: 11 July 2024

Assessment of women’s needs and wishes regarding interprofessional guidance on oral health in pregnancy – a qualitative study

Merle Ebinghaus 1 ,
Caroline Johanna Agricola 1 ,
Janne Schmittinger 1 ,
Nataliya Makarova 1 &
Birgit-Christiane Zyriax 1

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth volume 24 , Article number: 471 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

72 Accesses

Metrics details

Poor oral and dental health due to oral dysbiosis during pregnancy increases the risk for negative pregnancy outcomes. Communicating the importance of oral health is therefore essential in reducing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Professional guidance could substantially support women’s positive perception of their own competence. Information on oral health should be provided by healthcare professionals such as midwives, obstetricians and dentists. The aim of this study was to assess the needs, wishes and preferences of pregnant women in Germany, regarding interprofessional collaboration and guidance on oral health during pregnancy.

Sources of information, preferences regarding information supply as well as the need for interprofessional collaboration of involved healthcare professions were investigated in six online focus groups with pregnant women. In addition, three expert interviews with a midwife, an obstetrician and a dentist were conducted. The focus groups and interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis according to Kuckartz.

25 pregnant women participated in focus groups. Pregnant women in all trimesters, aged 23 to 38 years, were included. Many women did not receive any or received insufficient information on oral health during pregnancy and wished for more consistent and written information from all involved healthcare providers. The extent of oral health counselling women received, heavily relied on their personal initiative and many would have appreciated learning about the scientific connection between oral health and pregnancy outcomes. An overall uncertainty about the timing and safety of a dental visit during pregnancy was identified. Interviews with experts provided additional insights into the working conditions of the involved healthcare professionals in counselling and emphasised the need for improved training on oral health during pregnancy in their respective professional education as well as thematic billing options in relation to this topic.

Guidance of women on oral health during pregnancy appears to be insufficient. Providing information adapted to the needs, wishes and preferences of women during pregnancy as well as the implementation of this topic in the education of involved healthcare professionals could contribute to an improved prenatal care for pregnant women and subsequently a reduced risk of negative pregnancy outcomes.

Peer Review reports

The importance of oral and dental health during pregnancy has been described by multiple studies in recent years [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The unique physiological state of pregnancy is concurrent to changes in the immune system and differences in hormone levels, leading to swollen gums and altering the composition of the oral microbiome, making women more susceptible to oral diseases through local inflammation [ 1 ]. Periodontal diseases (PD) and microbial dysbiosis have been shown to trigger systemic inflammation leading to an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) such as preeclampsia, low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB) and miscarriages [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Oral health in pregnancy is influenced by factors beyond general oral hygiene, including nutrition and changes in eating behaviour, contributing to the development of caries and PD [ 6 , 7 ] as well as the frequent contact with gastrointestinal acid due to maternity sickness, which can additionally lead to dental erosion [ 6 ]. This is complicated by the fact that pregnancy related nausea and emesis can make the brushing of teeth difficult and the visit to the dentist daunting, consequently affecting oral health [ 7 ]. German studies of recent years observed that many women do not appear to be aware of risks associated with poor oral health, and that individual dental care and frequency of dental visits are associated with educational level [ 8 , 9 ]. Enhanced oral health literacy through behavioural and educational counselling can however improve women’s oral hygiene and even reduce gingival inflammation [ 10 ]. In Germany, prenatal care givers should provide medical advice to pregnant women on oral health as stipulated by the maternity guidelines, which should be checked off in their maternity log, a document owned by every pregnant woman in Germany [ 11 ]. Oral and dental health prevention is covered through Germany’s statutory health insurance for every insured citizen (> 99,9%) [ 12 ], allowing for a free, but not mandatory, oral health consultation by a dentist during pregnancy as well. Limited research has shown that knowledge in relation to oral health and APOs is somewhat prevalent in healthcare professionals, differs however in levels of awareness between midwives, obstetricians, dentists and general practitioners [ 13 , 14 ]. In improving healthcare and pregnancy outcomes, a collaborative approach with multiple healthcare workers from different professional backgrounds, working together in providing comprehensive services and increasing the quality of care that women receive, has been shown to have a positive impact [ 15 ]. Especially pregnant women with limited health literacy might benefit from redundancy of educational counselling in multiple settings and the involved healthcare professionals working closely together [ 16 ]. For oral health, the main professions involved in guiding pregnant women are midwives, obstetricians as well as dentists. While most pregnancies in Germany are accompanied by obstetricians, women are also entitled to prenatal care by midwives and women can choose their model of care to be alternating or primarily by one of the professions [ 11 ]. The training of midwives recently underwent academisation in Germany, offering the opportunity to implement novel contents and introduce interprofessional collaboration with other medical professions. It has been highlighted by multiple studies that midwives play a significant role in encouraging positive health behaviour in pregnant women, attributed to their oftentimes close bond and trusting relationship [ 17 ]. The quality of interprofessional collaboration in Germany remains to be investigated however, and focusing on the impactful topic of guidance on oral health in pregnancy is a research gap yet to be closed. When examining this topic, considering the collaboration between all involved professions is only consequential and best determined when knowing the needs of those who are experiencing prenatal care. Identifying women’s sources for information and evaluating their wishes constitutes an important insight in implementing a clear benefit for pregnant women regarding their pregnancy outcomes. The combination of pregnant women’s apparent unawareness, healthcare providers’ possible lack of knowledge and the severity of associated APOs makes the education on the topic of oral and dental health all the more important. This study gathered the collective perspectives of women in different phases of pregnancy, using the qualitative research approach of focus groups, as well as the viewpoints of three involved healthcare experts through interviews with a midwife, an obstetrician and a dentist. The aim of the study was to assess the current state of care, to identify areas in need of improvement and synthesise ideas for directions of future research in implementing interprofessional and demand-oriented prenatal healthcare in terms of oral health.

Study design and participants

This study followed a qualitative approach, aiming at the exploration of individual needs, wishes and preferences through focus group discussions and interviews. The methodology is described in detail in our companion manuscript, Ebinghaus et al., 2024, which focuses on nutrition guidance during pregnancy [ 18 ]. The study was structured into two parts. Firstly, six semi-structured focus groups [ 19 ] with pregnant women in all trimesters were conducted. Additionally, a semi-structured one-on-one interview [ 19 ] was conducted at the request of one participant, who did not feel comfortable in a focus group setting. Secondly, three professional healthcare providers were interviewed in semi-structured one-on-one interviews, including a midwife, an obstetrician and a dentist. In preparation for both, written guidelines were developed for focus group discussions and expert interviews, respectively (Supplement S1 ). 25 pregnant women participated in six focus groups during the months of September and October of 2022, which were conducted via the online-platform Zoom. Three healthcare professionals were interviewed over the phone, two interviews took place in November of 2022 and one in January of 2023. Data was collected via focus groups until no new ideas emerged and saturation was apparent, meaning that recruitment of participants continued in parallel to the conduct of focus groups. Using the MAXQDA software, the transcripts were categorised into a code system and thematically analysed according to Kuckartz [ 20 ]. The study was approved by the Local Psychological Ethics Committee of the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (LPEK-0507) and registered at Open Science Framework (OSF) on 12.09.2022 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YP7BR ).

Women at any stage of pregnancy, who experienced their pregnancy within the German healthcare system, who were able to join a focus group online, speak German and to give informed consent, were included. Pregnant women who themselves worked as a midwife, obstetrician or dentist were excluded, to avoid bias in their judgement of the German healthcare system and other participants in the focus group feeling uncomfortable expressing their opinions on involved professions. Following the focus groups, one representative of each profession was recruited for expert interviews. The term “expert” in this context was defined as a healthcare professional with the appropriate professional education completed in Germany and at least ten years of experience working in their respective field within the German healthcare system.

Data management and analysis

The management and analysis of the obtained data was performed using the 2022 version of MAXQDA. Prior to participating in the study, all participants signed a written informed consent form and were assigned a pseudonym, which was saved in combination with the participant’s contact information on a password-protected excel sheet. To obtain an understanding and general view of the collected data, it was analysed using a concept-driven combined with a data-driven approach, reflecting the systematic approach to qualitative content analysis for a deductive-inductive analysis by Kuckartz [ 20 ]. The applied framework method was described by Gale et al. [ 21 ] and entails the organisation of codes into categories. The resulting category system was then revised by multiple researchers experienced in qualitative research, ensuring a clear structure and comprehensibility. To gain scientific validity, a second researcher independently applied the developed category system for one focus group transcript. Aiming for agreement of coding and inter-coder consistency, existing disagreements were discussed between the researchers until consensus was reached. The final category system for the focus groups was subsequently applied to the interview transcripts, to allow comparison between the statements of the involved pregnant women and healthcare professionals. Translation from German to English was performed as closely to the original categories as possible, to ensure their meaning reflects the expressed views of the participants. Direct quotes from the focus groups and interviews presented in the results section were translated in a literal manner from German into English.

Sample characteristics

Six focus groups and one interview were conducted with pregnant women, as well as three expert interviews with healthcare professionals. A total of n = 25 pregnant women participated in the study. Women were between the ages of 23 and 38, with a mean age of 30.9 (SD: 3.4). At the time of their respective focus group, n = 2 participants were in their first trimester of pregnancy, while n = 10 were in their second and n = 13 in their third trimester of pregnancy. The week of pregnancy ranged from 8 to 40 weeks. Six women had one child prior to their current pregnancy, the other 19 women were expecting their first child. All participants had a high school diploma (“Abitur”) and n = 13 completed college education. The places of residence at the time of the study were located in seven different federal states of Germany, most participants lived in Northern Germany ( n = 16). The participating women had chosen three different models of care for their pregnancy, with n = 10 receiving prenatal care exclusively from their obstetrician and n = 11 choosing an alternating model between midwife and obstetrician. The midwifery-led model of care was chosen by n = 4 women. The second part of this study consisted of three expert interviews with healthcare providers. The interview participants completed their professional education in Germany and had multiple years of experience in their field. At the time of the interviews, the obstetrician and dentist worked in a joint practice, respectively. This is a common concept in the German health care system, where multiple doctors of the same specialty manage a practice together. The midwife was self-employed in prenatal care, independently from a practice, which is also common in pre- and postnatal midwifery care in Germany. Table 1 summarises the socio-demographics of the focus group participants, and Table 2 those of the interview participants.

Category system

The development of the category system followed a deductive-inductive approach [ 20 ]. The deductive categories were determined using the focus group and interview guidelines to cover the main aspects the study participants were asked about. Those are the categories “source and type of information”, “oral and dental health related concerns in pregnancy”, “timing of consultation”, “prenatal oral health services in demand”, “interprofessional collaboration”, and “professional education of experts”. The subsequent inductive approach, working with the focus group and interview transcripts, resulted in the subcategories. One main category was included after inductive coding, which was the observed “lack of guidance”. The final category system is shown in Supplement S2 .

Guidance and education on oral and dental health during pregnancy

Source and type of information, perspectives of pregnant women.

The focus group participants named healthcare providers as their main source of information on oral and dental health in pregnancy. Some women stated they were reminded by their obstetrician or in some cases their midwife to visit the dentist and got recommended a professional dental cleaning during pregnancy, usually without any further explanation as to why this is important. A more comprehensive consultation was sometimes provided by dentists, which was appreciated by the women and described as helpful. However, the participant’s experiences were very heterogeneous, with many receiving no information at all on the topic. Many women pointed out, had they not visited the dentist for their annual appointment, independently from their pregnancy or personal initiative, they would have had no knowledge of the relevance of this topic at all.

“I already have an increased risk of periodontitis , so I regularly go for dental cleanings. But , [the dentist] was the one who told me that I should pay special attention now. Neither the midwife nor the obstetrician said anything about it.” (36 years, 2nd child).

Women generally voiced the wish to be better or even at all informed about oral and dental health during pregnancy and would like more detailed information to be offered by both obstetrician and midwife. Those who had not received any further counselling by their dentist directly expressed their wish to be informed by that profession as well.

“I think it’s important that the obstetrician mentions this as well. I mean , they can’t assume that pregnant women know about this. So , I think it’s important that it’s addressed with everyone , and ultimately , it would be good to be addressed by the midwife as well. And then I can also say that I will make an appointment with the dentist and get further advice.” (31 years, 1st child).

Some women stated they had only received an education on oral health verbally by their healthcare providers, resulting in the loss of a lot of information due to the sheer amount and many women feeling nervous or excited.

“And in this consultation , even if someone , which we haven’t heard so far , would have taken really extensive time for the education , it’s also a question of how much actually sticks , because sometimes you are simply , yes , maybe excited or whatever. Therefore , I think something in writing is helpful in any case.” (26 years, 1st child).

There was an overall agreement about the importance of one-on-one conversations and verbally conveying the relevant information. However, the focus group participants consistently emphasised the importance of written information, to take home and to be able to read up on it again, providing them with more in detail information. This would help to avoid forgetting about important information or appointments, such as dental visits, but also leave women with a reliable source they can trust and would also give women the opportunity to think of questions they would then be able to clarify during their next appointment.

“I would also find it nice to have something , like , that you get a booklet put together and receive it at the first appointment , and then maybe go over it again at the next appointment and see if there are any questions. But that you can also look at it again at home in peace.” (28 years, 1st child).

One idea that emerged throughout focus group discussions was the benefit of a new information sheet women would receive by their midwife or obstetrician in each trimester, summarising important aspects and things to consider during this particular time. Positively perceived by those who received it, was the so-called children’s dental passport, reminding them about dentist appointments during pregnancy and their future child’s dental health. This led other women to express their wish to have received this by their midwife or obstetrician as well.

“I received a brochure at my first appointment with the obstetrician where I also got a little booklet on children’s teeth , where you can write down when the child gets its first tooth and other such milestones. I thought it was quite sweet and useful to have a reminder like that.” (34 years, 1st child).

Additionally, a list of internet links, where women could obtain information from reliable sources was appreciated by focus group participants. One woman proposed a link to a video, for example by the German Federal Ministry of Health, targeting every population group in Germany, to also cater to any language barriers or difficulties to understand complex medical topics.

“And that’s why I think something like a video from the Ministry of Family Affairs or Health or something approved , even on certain social media platforms , or anything else , should be available to provide prenatal care for all groups in Germany. Perhaps also for people with a migration background.” (30 years, 1st child).

Perspectives of experts

The need for written information was reflected by the interviews with midwife, obstetrician and dentist, stating written material would facilitate the education on oral health. Just as the focus group participants they recognised the amount of information that pregnant women are confronted with as overwhelming, however emphasised the importance of them.

“So these flyers really make it easier , and things to take with you. Because there is a lot of information at the first appointment , but also important. So we usually say , this is a lot of information , that’s why you get all these flyers and let it sink in first.” (Obstetrician).

They appreciated flyers predesigned by German Federal Centre for Health Education (BZGA) or the German Nutrition Society (DGE), providing pregnant women with reliable sources and preventing them from extensively researching online. Both the obstetrician and dentist referred to the children’s dental passport they like to hand out.

“Well , sometimes what facilitates it is the children’s dental passport that they can take home and look at more carefully , and if they have any questions or doubts , they can come back and ask them at the next appointment.” (Dentist).

Oral and dental health related concerns in pregnancy

The oral and dental health related topics that women were concerned with throughout their pregnancy included the worry about tooth decay, sensitivity of their gums, general oral hygiene and the dental health of their future child. Focus group participants also discussed pregnancy-related issues that make dental cleaning difficult and their need to be better informed on a tooth-friendly diet as well as about the scientific background of changing oral health in pregnancy. A pressing issue for many women seemed to be the sensitivity of their gums, describing bleeding of the gums, gingivitis and problems with their wisdom teeth. They reported to have received some albeit very limited education on this, in most cases only upon inquiring about it themselves.

“I was also irregular with my dental appointments and then I said , I keep having bleeding gums , what’s going on? And my wisdom tooth started acting up all of a sudden. And then they said it’s completely normal , but no one had told me that before.” (33 years, 1st child).

One woman reported having received a list of products she should buy and another would have liked this as well, after hearing about it.

“I find it really interesting what you said about the different products , because for example with mouthwash , there is often alcohol in it , so I think a list like that would be really helpful.” (26 years, 1st child).

Those who had not received any counselling on oral and dental hygiene in general voiced the wish to be better informed.

“But otherwise , regarding dental hygiene , there wasn’t much information provided. Now that I hear this from others , I think it would have been useful to be advised on that.” (30 years, 1st child).

A few focus group participants mentioned how they try to implement a tooth-friendly nutrition, avoiding lemonades or coffee and drinking a lot of water. Some women expressed the wish to be informed by their midwife or obstetrician on vitamins that might benefit dental health. Others would have liked to be more extensively informed by their dentist on dietary supplements, what would be beneficial for gums and teeth, and how to avoid caries.

“I would have also appreciated it if my obstetrician had talked about it right away , because the topic of nutrition and teeth and vitamins are kind of interconnected. I would have liked to know a little more from the dentist about what can be done about it , besides a professional dental cleaning. Like , which vitamins can you take to support from that side? What would be good for the gums? Or what is generally important for your teeth? Because apparently you are also quite prone to cavities.” (26 years, 1st child).

An overall wish by many women was to have the scientific backgrounds of oral health in pregnancy explained to them, to better understand, why a dental visit is recommended, how the two topics are related and what would happen if they did not practice oral care. Women were also interested to learn why their oral hygiene behaviour is connected to the development of caries in their future child.

“I actually would have liked to know why. I still haven’t quite figured out what the background is. Why teeth are so important. What can happen in the worst case if I don’t pay attention to them. I just think I would have liked to know more.” (35 years, 1st child).

Some women experienced difficulties in maintaining their oral and dental health due to maternity sickness, describing the brushing of teeth and using dental floss as a challenge, due to a heightened gag reflex.

“And then my dentist said that it’s especially important to use dental floss and such. And I really thought , phew , brushing my teeth was already a big challenge.” (36 years, 2nd child).

Maternity sickness also led to the fear of being sick during the dentist appointment on the dental chair. The dentist’s soothing reaction and offering to not do an examination as long as there are no apparent dental problems was appreciated.

“I made an appointment , went there and I was so scared. I had really sweaty hands because I was afraid that I might throw up at the dentist’s office. I don’t really have a fear of dentists , but I was afraid that I would vomit due to my gag reflex. And lying on that chair was my absolute nightmare.” (34 years, 1st child).

The uncomfortableness of a dentist appointment during pregnancy was an issue for many women, especially in early pregnancy, due to maternity sickness and in the third trimester due to inferior vena cava syndrome (IVCS).

The interviews with midwife, obstetrician and dentist in some parts mirrored the pregnant women’s experiences and the topics they were concerned with regarding oral health in pregnancy. The dentist saw a special need for consultation in pregnancy regarding the sensitivity of gums, as many women experience this in their pregnancy. She considered this the most important aspect in her consultation and treatment and recommends a professional dental cleaning early in pregnancy. The midwife and obstetrician also named the bleeding of gums as the most frequent issue for pregnant women regarding their oral health.

“It is also quite common for patients to come back in between appointments because gum bleeding has become so severe and they have sensitivities there , and there is a need for counselling and treatment. So I would say that this is probably the most important pillar that is also the most in demand.” (Dentist).

The dentist also deemed consultation on periodontitis and its association with preterm birth as very important, which is something the obstetrician said she addresses in the first appointments with pregnant women as well.

“Basically , the bacteria in the oral cavity , that you just say , the risk of preterm birth , the topic of periodontitis , that it is really important that the oral cavity is healthy , that plaque is removed accordingly , and such things.” (Dentist).

A tooth-friendly nutrition was discussed only by the dentist, stating that in her experience, the regular consumption of sugary beverages is the biggest problem and many women do not know about the importance of nutrition for dental health.

“But what really wakes everyone up , because what I have noticed , is not necessarily the nutrition itself. It is often drinking habits. And that is of course much more catastrophic for the teeth , every half hour , hour , sugar and acid are constantly coming into the mouth and that is catastrophic.” (Dentist).

As also discussed by the focus group participants, a major pregnancy-related issue making oral hygiene more difficult is maternity sickness and a heightened gag reflex. Both the midwife and the dentist reported women’s worry to not be able to sufficiently practice oral hygiene and their need for information regarding an adjusted dental care routine.

“That is a big topic , actually. Of course , I’ve tried to list or identify alternatives , such as the timing of brushing teeth , or rinsing with a plaque-dissolving solution for the mouthfeel first. And even if you can’t put the entire toothbrush in your mouth , you can already achieve a lot with dental floss or interdental brushes. (Midwife)

According to the dentist’s experience, these pregnancy-related issues can in some cases make the treatment impossible and not all preferable procedures can be carried out. This is aggravated by IVCS, complicating treatment late in pregnancy.

“Based on experience , factors such as gag reflex and nausea make treatment completely impossible. There are some patients who feel unwell at the beginning , and then treatment becomes unthinkable.” (Dentist).

Adding to women’s uncertainty about dental treatments in pregnancy is the potential use of anaesthetics as pointed out by both the dentist and the midwife. Pregnant women are hesitant and want to limit treatments to the absolute necessary, according to the dentist. The midwife reported, she oftentimes witnessed the uncertainty of women regarding a dental visit due to inconclusive information in literature and on the internet.

“Pregnant women also find it difficult to visit the dentist because they keep hearing from literature and the internet that they are not allowed to lie on their backs on the dental chair and that they should not undergo dental treatment during pregnancy because they are not allowed to receive local anaesthesia. And this is actually an insecurity that I have frequently observed.” (Midwife).

Timing of consultation

For many women, the time they received the advice to pay a visit to the dentist was their first appointment with the obstetrician early in their pregnancy. However, this advice was oftentimes the extent of oral health information during pregnancy by any healthcare provider. Most women considered the timing of consultation on oral and dental health to be ideal early on in their pregnancy. Even though many women felt overwhelmed by the amount of information at the beginning of their pregnancy, they emphasised the need to be informed about oral health early in their pregnancy.

“In general , all the information was overwhelming to me during the beginning of the pregnancy. But still , I think it makes sense to receive this information at the beginning.” (27 years, 1st child).

This was especially important regarding the reminder to make a dentist appointment by their obstetrician or midwife, giving women the possibility to schedule a dentist appointment in a timely manner. Some women pointed out, it gives them peace of mind to be able to check this off their list and knowing they will receive the relevant information later on.

“Especially with dental hygiene , it’s important right at the beginning so that you have a bit of lead time with appointments. It’s good to just tick that off the list and know that you will definitely get the information you need in the coming weeks. You don’t have to worry until then , or look back and say , oh man , I should have done that three months ago. So I would have preferred a really thorough consultation right at the beginning.” (30 years, 1st child).

Women also saw the need to be reminded multiple times by their prenatal care providers to make a dentist appointment, on the one hand to avoid forgetting about it and on the other hand to lay additional emphasis on the importance of the topic.

“Because I also forget to make regular dental appointments. And then they only have a free slot in three months. In hindsight , I think they could have mentioned it.” (30 years, 1st child).

The timing of a dental visit left many women confused, as some dentists refused to treat women outside the second trimester, failed however to explain their reasoning behind this.

“ [The dentist] said , I also don’t need to come a second time and that it’s definitely not done in the third trimester. It’s way too risky , you don’t do it. I got curious again and actually wanted to know why. But he had to move on already.” (32 years, 1st child).

Therefore, many study participants wished for clearer instructions and reasoning on the ideal timing in pregnancy to visit the dentist and to be given the opportunity to schedule an appointment for their second trimester in a timely manner.

In their respective interviews, the midwife, obstetrician and dentist all briefly touched upon the topic of timing of the consultation. The obstetrician described a brief consultation during the first prenatal visit with a pregnant woman and that she hands out the dental passport with a reminder to visit the dentist. This is also something the dentist gives pregnant women, mentioning that she is, especially in the beginning, reliant on the women disclosing their pregnancy to her. Interestingly, the midwife somewhat mirrored the experiences many women described during the focus group discussions, stating that oral health is a topic she has neglected during prenatal visits and has only consulted on when women specifically addressed any relating issues during these visits, such as nausea induced by tooth brushing or bleeding gums. Similarly, the dentist described her experience that many pregnant women seek education when they have issues with sensitive gums in the first or second trimester of pregnancy.

“And at that point , it’s a consultation. But only if the woman describes a problem to me. If she then says , yeah , I’ll manage somehow , I haven’t pursued it any further. So , I haven’t really included it as a consultation topic , but more as something , only if it comes up.” (Midwife).

Regarding the topic of pregnancy-related issues affecting the dental visit, the dentist very similarly to the focus group discussions, reflected on the uncertainty regarding the right timing of a dentist appointment during pregnancy. She explained this by the dividedness among dentists in general, with some refusing to treat pregnant women altogether, deeming it too risky. However, she stated treatment is possible throughout the entire pregnancy, while many dentists agree on the second trimester as the most convenient time, due to pregnancy-related issues of maternity sickness and IVCS being most apparent in the first and third trimester, respectively.

“I also know of many colleagues who actually refuse to treat pregnant women. It has happened to me in other practices where I worked , where they really said , no , I don’t treat pregnant women , it’s too risky for me. If something happens to the child afterwards , I don’t want to be responsible.” (Dentist).

Prenatal oral health services in demand

Regarding medical services in oral healthcare, the topic of professional dental cleaning was addressed as well as the overall wish to be proactively offered more extensive guidance and information by healthcare professionals. Many focus group participants criticised that professional dental cleaning is cost-intensive and therefore not feasible for every pregnant woman. The women agreed on the need for professional dental cleaning to be covered by their health insurance for pregnant women, pointing out the fact that it is recommended during pregnancy while most insurance companies do not offer cost coverage.

“But I have to say , that is of course again a cost factor. And if the health insurance company says , it is proven that pregnant women have a higher risk or are more susceptible to this and that. That maybe within these ten months of pregnancy a professional dental cleaning for pregnant women is free , or something. I believe that would make it much more attractive to make use of it.” (32 years, 2nd child).

Regarding services that include the offer to consult and provide information, many women did not feel adequately informed on the topic of oral and dental health during pregnancy by their professional healthcare providers. The focus group participants voiced the wish to be asked about their general oral health status and potential problems that arose during pregnancy by their midwife and obstetrician.

“I would have wished for more in that regard. Maybe even from the midwives , if there’s already so much talk about nutrition and such , to bring [oral health] up as well. If it’s already in the maternity log , as we’re talking about now , to make it a topic of conversation , like , hey , do you have any problems with your teeth or not? And the background behind why that’s actually important.” (35 years, 1st child).

Many women felt like the discussion point of oral health was checked off in their maternity log by a prenatal care provider but not actually adequately executed. They see the responsibility with their midwife or obstetrician to only check off this item when it is accompanied by a complete and comprehensive consultation.

“So , basically , it should be mandatory for healthcare professionals. That means if they advise a woman on this , they should do it comprehensively.” (28 years, 2nd child).

Regarding cost-coverage by health insurance, the dentist pointed out that some insurance companies reimburse the expenses of professional dental cleaning, regardless of pregnancy, at least in parts. She determined this as being sufficient, while also noting that she believes many women do not know about this.

“However , it is also the case that nowadays prophylaxis , periodontal treatment , is well supported by health insurance. Many people do not know this , but with most statutory insurances , you can submit the bill and get a portion reimbursed. Therefore , I would say that the important things are actually covered.” (Dentist).

The obstetrician saw potential in offering pregnant women a budget that they can use for different medical services, as already offered by some health insurance companies, which could include a professional dental cleaning. She proposed that financial reliefs for pregnant women would improve the implementation of oral healthcare in pregnancy.

“Some health insurance companies have a budget specifically for pregnant women , where they can use up to 500 euros for medical expenses. Things like that are very helpful. This could actually help ease the financial burden on pregnant women.” (Obstetrician).

Exchange and cooperation between healthcare professionals

Many pregnant women would appreciate a cooperation between midwives and obstetricians, consulting each other and communicating about the women they attend to. While some women did not see the need to also include dentists in an interprofessional collaboration, others saw benefits in their incorporation as well and would consider an all-round medical team in their pregnancy as ideal.

“I think it would be utopian to really have such a complete team , but I think it would really be the absolute dream and luxury for every pregnant woman. One would only benefit from it.” (30 years, 1st child).

They outlined this with the idea that dentists could pay attention to pregnant women’s oral health and be part of the prenatal education on this topic, as they might be able to better explain the connection between oral health and pregnancy. Multiple women outlined their idea of an ideal process, where they get basic information and backgrounds by their obstetrician and midwife and a more extensive education by the dentist, as they feel those are the experts on oral health topics. Through revisiting these topics and multiple reminders by midwives, obstetricians and dentists, oral health could be better incorporated in prenatal care, as pointed out by multiple women.

“What might make sense is if the obstetrician refers to a dental appointment among all the documents and information that come with it. And you can simply get the information from the dentist , as that is their area of expertise , I think.” (26 years, 1st child).

The interprofessional exchange was generally perceived as positive by the three interviewees as well, with the obstetrician emphasising the redundancy this can establish for pregnant women in their education on oral health.

“I think the collaboration is good because it creates redundancy. So if the pregnant woman has heard it not only once , but also from the midwife , it reinforces the message.” (Obstetrician).

The dentist considered the guidance on oral health in pregnancy to be interprofessional as well, stating the benefit of dentists being able to notice other issues in oral health than midwives or obstetricians could. On the other hand, the midwife noted that she might be able to mitigate fears or uncertainties that pregnant women have towards a dental visit.

“I see great advantages , because there are always patients who fall through the cracks. And depending on where the patient first ends up , we can refer them better , or point out certain problems or complications. And it makes sense for everyone to be on the same page and work together towards a common goal.” (Dentist).

The interviewed dentist also recognized inconsistency of information as an issue and empathised with pregnant women feeling irritated by different statements by multiple healthcare professionals. She proposed a joint summary of recommendations for pregnant women, pointing out the most important information for them.

“And it makes sense that everyone is pulling together in the same direction and not the obstetrician saying one thing , the dentist saying another , and the midwife saying something different. Then of course the patients are confused and don’t know what is important and how it is meant. And it would make sense if we could formulate together what the important things are.” (Dentist).

Professional education

The preparation to consult pregnant women on oral and dental health was different depending on the respective professional education the interviewees received. The dentist reported that pregnancy was discussed during her medical training, added however that much information was obtained through additional training.

“It was indeed discussed that , for example , the second trimester is ideal for treatments. Things like the vena cava compression syndrome are discussed. Of course , which treatments are not allowed during pregnancy are also discussed. So , in this respect , quite a few things are addressed that I found to be quite relevant in practice. Everything else , I have to say , was covered through further training , where the topic was also included.” (Dentist).

Neither the midwife nor the obstetrician had received information on oral and dental health during their medical training. The obstetrician reported she obtained all information through her professional association and while she does not see the necessity to implement this specific topic during medical studies, she would have appreciated an education during her specialist medical training when studying to become an obstetrician.

“Only through the professional association and such things. Dental health wasn’t really a topic when I started with obstetrics over 20 years ago.” (Obstetrician).

This study assessed women’s needs, wishes and preferences regarding the interprofessional guidance on oral health in pregnancy and aimed to identify pregnant women’s preferences regarding sources for information and consultation on this topic. Women’s perceived importance of oral health related topics was compared to the perspectives of three involved healthcare providers, a midwife, an obstetrician and a dentist. The key results of this study revealed the need for improvement of consultation on oral health in prenatal care. As stipulated by the German maternity log, oral health should be addressed by prenatal healthcare providers [ 11 ]. However, as this study shows, the execution of that does not necessarily meet the expectations of pregnant women and from their perspective could be improved in many ways. Most notably, we observed a lack of thorough information provided by the involved healthcare professionals, beyond a reminder to visit the dentist by obstetricians. Focus group participants expressed a variety of needs directed at prenatal care providers, encompassed by the general wish to be offered consultation and information on oral health in pregnancy proactively. Women wished for a personalised consultation catering to their individual knowledge and coping abilities. For information on oral and dental health, the involved healthcare providers were women’s key source, due to the general unawareness of women regarding the relevance of this topic as was previously observed by multiple studies in Germany [ 8 , 9 , 22 ] and other countries as well [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. The lack of adequate counselling is especially concerning when considering the fact that the women in this study had a relatively high level of education and showed a strong willingness to educate themselves independently from their healthcare providers. The heightened health awareness of the study participants did not however suffice to attribute any significance to the topic of oral health in pregnancy, meaning that not necessarily health literacy but the primary prenatal care providers, midwife and obstetrician, are the essential components in the guidance on this topic. An improved guidance and more comprehensive information on oral health in pregnancy by both midwife and obstetrician could therefore emphasise its importance. Additionally, many women voiced their interest in learning about the scientific background of the connection between oral health and pregnancy as part of their prenatal care, coinciding with the positive effect an adequate health education has on health literacy, which has been demonstrated in multiple studies, showing enhanced knowledge and better implementation of beneficial health practices [ 24 , 26 ].

While the interviewed obstetrician in this study recognised a primary responsibility of her profession in informing pregnant women on oral health, the ability to do so extensively is significantly limited due to time pressure in everyday practice. Midwives might be able to compensate this through their, in terms of time, more flexible approach in prenatal care [ 27 , 28 ], and dentists with a more in-depth consultation on oral health. However, this might be challenging due to two aspects, one being midwives and dentists both seeing the primary responsibility with the obstetrics profession, as the interviewees stated similarly to the interviewed obstetrician herself. Secondly, this approach requires every pregnant woman to have an alternating care model, which is currently far from the reality in Germany [ 16 ], might however reinforce adequate guidance on oral health. However, in this study, the model of care did not influence the extent of women’s guidance on this topic, which might be explained by an insufficient professional education prenatal care providers receive in their respective studies regarding oral health in pregnancy [ 9 , 13 ]. This results in the necessity for healthcare professionals to proactively obtain information through their professional association, which strongly depends on their personal commitment.

There was an agreement throughout focus groups as well as expert interviews regarding the importance of an early insistence to make a dental appointment by midwife and obstetrician, followed by reminders in subsequent visits. This suggests the ideal process of both midwife and obstetrician being responsible to inform women about the significance of oral health in pregnancy early on and the importance of a dental visit preferably in the second trimester, due to decreasing maternity sickness and IVCS not yet being an issue. Dentists should then present the opportunity to women for a consultation focused on their pregnancy and scientific backgrounds regarding its connection to oral health. Clear instructions on the timeline and safety of dental visits should be available to all involved healthcare providers, implemented in their respective professional education and passed on to the women in their care. A wish voiced by both focus group participants and interviewed experts alike was the implementation of a free-of-charge professional dental cleaning at least once in every pregnancy, which would give women an incentive to implement this medical service, and has been discussed by previous studies as well [ 23 , 29 ]. Many German health insurance companies partly reimburse a professional dental cleaning independently from pregnancy, the results of this study show however that this is not necessarily a sufficient motivation for women to take the offer and a free-of-charge implementation in prenatal care would therefore be beneficial.

The results of this study furthermore demonstrate the overall agreement on the need for more written material providing women with information, importantly not as a substitute but in addition to a comprehensive verbal education. Written information comprised of an explanation as to the connection between oral health and pregnancy as well as the most important check-ups for mother and future child were proposed. The German children’s dental passport usually encompasses all those aspects [ 30 ] and has been positively perceived by those women in this study who received it. This result suggests the need for obstetricians to hand out the children’s dental passport, potentially as an extension to the maternity log, to all pregnant women in their care, which would guarantee the accessibility to the most important oral and dental health information for every pregnant woman.

The use of the children’s dental passport might also benefit from an integration into health insurance apps, which is also congruent with the wish of many participants for websites by governmental sources which they can trust and wish to be forwarded by their healthcare providers. The potential of utilising new media in health promotion and healthcare providers’ implementation of them in education settings has also been pointed out by other recent studies, which outlined the positive effect this can have in improving health awareness [ 31 , 32 ].

The different approaches and practical settings present at the same time an opportunity for the multiple involved healthcare professionals to collaborate interprofessionally. This would open up the possibility for women to inquire about oral health-related topics in multiple settings and on different occasions, catering to their need of addressing certain topics at appropriate times when they become relevant or answer questions that have arisen over time. There was an agreement in this study between pregnant women and healthcare professionals that an interprofessional collaboration between midwife, obstetrician and dentist has the advantage of repeating and reinforcing important information. It also creates the opportunity to encounter pregnant women in different environments and the dentist can enable a consultation setting where women are able to focus on the issue of oral and dental health, without being preoccupied by the multitude of other pregnancy-related concerns. Women’s fears regarding dental visits might be mitigated by midwives or obstetricians, while dentists could take on the responsibility of a comprehensive oral health consultation and in turn, midwives could ensure the at home implementation of recommended oral hygiene practices. The ability of dental professionals to notice other oral health related issues than midwives or obstetricians was outlined by the interviewed dentist, who furthermore pointed out the advantage of interprofessional collaboration in preventing any pregnant women from slipping through the cracks in the healthcare system.

While there is a general lack of corresponding research conducted in Germany, one recent German study by Oechsle et al. questioned pregnant women on their knowledge of lifestyle-related risks, which included oral health [ 33 ]. The results of that study show a certain awareness of existing risks but a lack of knowledge regarding associated adverse effects. The authors also outline the impact of women’s socioeconomic status, concluding that women with a lower household net income had a higher risk of misjudging lifestyle-related risk factors during pregnancy [ 33 ]. Considering the importance of oral health and severity of associated APOs, a guaranteed guidance should be available to every pregnant woman, regardless of her socioeconomic status. Providing women with comprehensible, easy to navigate, evidence-based oral health information could ease the already high responsibility of being pregnant and at the same time increase the empowerment for self-decision-making and the health literacy of pregnant women. Communicating the importance of oral health in pregnancy is additionally an essential step towards a reduced risk of APOs.

While the obtained data of this study does not allow any immediate conclusion about the perspectives of pregnant women from other socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds than the study participants, it can be assumed that those who have limited health literacy might also be the ones who are affected most by the adverse effects of poor oral hygiene. Studies have shown that a lower sociodemographic as well as oral health status are associated with lower oral health literacy [ 34 , 35 ]. Additionally, oral health literacy in pregnant women is associated with knowledge about oral health behaviours in young children [ 35 , 36 ]. Less knowledge about offered prenatal care models might reduce access to care and limit provision of important health information, placing these women at a higher risk for APOs. This underscores the importance of improving health literacy, in order to improve oral health status in pregnant women. Future studies should therefore expand on the perspective of needs, wishes and preferences of women in prenatal care, who have lower income and educational levels, with language barriers also possibly playing a role in the quality and access to care. A recent study by Spinler et al. investigated barriers that exist for migrants in Germany towards dental treatment and prevention, and has demonstrated the need for higher cultural sensitivity in oral healthcare and the integration of migrant-specific items in the collection of health data [ 37 ]. Including a more diverse study sample could therefore be beneficial in future research assessing the needs, wishes and preferences of different population groups receiving prenatal care in Germany.

Strengths and limitations

A bias was potentially introduced by the relatively high educational status and health literacy of study participants, who worked however in a very heterogeneous range of professional fields, which in turn is a strength of this study. A limitation might be the high number of participating women living in Northern Germany as compared to Western and Southern Germany, with no participants from Eastern Germany. Experiences in prenatal care might differ between federal states of Germany and perspectives from other states that are not covered by the place of residency of this study’s participants could not be assessed. The three interviewed healthcare experts also practiced in Northern Germany, which increased comparability with experiences of focus group participants, however, did not allow any insights into specific working conditions in other federal states. While the study sample was not diverse in terms of educational level and cultural background, it did however cover a large range in age, with women between the ages of 23 and 38. The study participants furthermore were cared for in all possible models, from exclusively obstetrics or midwifery care to an alternating care model between the two professions.

As the goal of healthcare research is encompassed by the perspectives of and benefits for its recipients, results of this study could be utilised to further develop quantitative tools, such as the Patient Benefit Index (PBI). This questionnaire reports the ratio between defined individual treatment needs and the subsequent degree of achievement of those treatment goals [ 38 ]. Such measurements could be used in reporting the benefit of interprofessional oral health counselling. Furthermore, standardised recommendations for action, specific wishes and proposed improvements to prenatal care could be directly implemented in medical and midwifery education. While the recent academisation of midwifery in Germany presents an opportunity to integrate these topics in their training, the specific wishes of women regarding the way and form of receiving information as well as the timing of consultation provide the knowledge on how to do so.

At the current state of research this is the first study considering oral health in the context of interprofessional guidance in German prenatal care. The information women received on oral and dental health in pregnancy has been shown to be insufficient and the awareness regarding the health-related relevance of this issue to be lacking. Healthcare professionals are pregnant women’s key source for oral health information, which emphasises the need for an implementation of this topic in the professional education of all involved healthcare providers, especially considering the impact oral health has on pregnancy outcomes. Counselling adapted to the needs, wishes and preferences of women during pregnancy and the implementation of this topic in the education of involved healthcare professionals could contribute to improved prenatal care for pregnant women in Germany and subsequently a reduced risk of negative pregnancy outcomes as well as better long-term oral and dental health.

Data availability

The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on request.

Abbreviations

Adverse pregnancy outcome

Low birth weight

Preterm birth

Local psychological ethics committee of the

Open science framework

University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf

Standard deviation

Inferior vena cava syndrome

Patient Benefit Index

Saadaoui M, Singh P, Al Khodor S. Oral microbiome and pregnancy: a bidirectional relationship. J Reprod Immunol. 2021;145:103293.

Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar

Xu B, Han YW. Oral bacteria, oral health, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Periodontol 2000. 2022;89(1):181–9.

Article PubMed Google Scholar

Jang H, Patoine A, Wu TT, Castillo DA, Xiao J. Oral microflora and pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):16870.

Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Nannan M, Xiaoping L, Ying J. Periodontal disease in pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes: Progress in related mechanisms and management strategies. Front Med. 2022;9:963956.

Article Google Scholar

Lieske B, Makarova N, Jagemann B, Walther C, Ebinghaus M, Zyriax BC, et al. Inflammatory response in oral biofilm during pregnancy: a systematic review. Nutrients. 2022;14(22):4894.

Gondivkar SM, Gadbail AR, Gondivkar RS, Sarode SC, Sarode GS, Patil S, et al. Nutrition and oral health. Dis Mon. 2019;65(6):147–54.

Cho GJ, Kim SY, Lee HC, Kim HY, Lee KM, Han SW, et al. Association between dental caries and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):5309.

Kuhle AM, Wacker J. Sociodemographic Differences in Health Awareness and Oral Health in pregnant women. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2020;80(8):834–43.

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar

Odermatt T, Schotzau A, Hoesli I. [Oral health and pregnancy - patient survey using a Questionnaire]. Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol. 2017;221(4):180–6.

PubMed Google Scholar

Liu P, Wen W, Yu KF, Gao X, Lo ECM, Wong MCM. Effectiveness of a family-centered behavioral and educational counselling approach to improve periodontal health of pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):284.

Gemeinsamer-Bundesausschuss. Mutterschafts-Richtlinien 2021 [15.04.2024]. https://www.g-ba.de/downloads/62-492-2676/Mu-RL_2021-09-16_iK-2022-01-01.pdf .

Statistisches-Bundesamt. Press release No. 365 of 15 September 2020 - Fewer people without health insurance 2020 [15.04.2024]. https://www.destatis.de/EN/Press/2020/09/PE20_365_23.html .

George A, Dahlen HG, Reath J, Ajwani S, Bhole S, Korda A, et al. What do antenatal care providers understand and do about oral health care during pregnancy: a cross-sectional survey in New South Wales, Australia. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16(1):382.

Wagner Y, Heinrich-Weltzien R. Midwives’ oral health recommendations for pregnant women, infants and young children: results of a nationwide survey in Germany. BMC Oral Health. 2016;16:36.

Green BN, Johnson CD. Interprofessional collaboration in research, education, and clinical practice: working together for a better future. J Chiropr Educ. 2015;29(1):1–10.

Mattern E, Lohmann S, Ayerle GM. Experiences and wishes of women regarding systemic aspects of midwifery care in Germany: a qualitative study with focus groups. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2017;17(1):389.

Baron R, Heesterbeek Q, Mannien J, Hutton EK, Brug J, Westerman MJ. Exploring health education with midwives, as perceived by pregnant women in primary care: a qualitative study in the Netherlands. Midwifery. 2017;46:37–44.

Ebinghaus M, Agricola CJ, Schmittinger J, Makarova N, Zyriax BC. Assessment of women’s needs, wishes and preferences regarding interprofessional guidance on nutrition in pregnancy - a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024;24(1):154.

Gill P, Baillie J. Interviews and focus groups in qualitative research: an update for the digital age. Br Dent J. 2018.

Kuckartz U. Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse: Methoden, Praxis, Computerunterstützung. 4. Auflage ed. Weinheim: Beltz Juventa; 2018.

Gale NK, Heath G, Cameron E, Rashid S, Redwood S. Using the framework method for the analysis of qualitative data in multi-disciplinary health research. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2013;13:117.

Altun E, Walther C, Borof K, Petersen E, Lieske B, Kasapoudis D, et al. Association between Dietary Pattern and Periodontitis-A cross-sectional study. Nutrients. 2021;13(11):4167.

Liu PP, Wen W, Yu KF, Gao X, Wong MCM. Dental Care-seeking and Information Acquisition during pregnancy: a qualitative study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(14):2621.

Nagi R, Sahu S, Nagaraju R. Oral health, nutritional knowledge, and practices among pregnant women and their awareness relating to adverse pregnancy outcomes. J Indian Acad Oral Med Radiol. 2016;28(4):396.

Togoo RA, Al-Almai B, Al-Hamdi F, Huaylah SH, Althobati M, Alqarni S. Knowledge of pregnant women about pregnancy gingivitis and children oral health. Eur J Dent. 2019;13(2):261–70.

Blondin JH, LoGiudice JA. Pregnant women’s knowledge and awareness of nutrition. Appl Nurs Res. 2018;39:167–74.

Lindvall K, Koistinen S, Ivarsson A, van Dijken J, Eurenius E. Health counselling in dental care for expectant parents: a qualitative study. Int J Dent Hyg. 2020;18(4):384–95.

De Vivo M, Mills H. They turn to you first for everything: insights into midwives’ perspectives of providing physical activity advice and guidance to pregnant women. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2019;19(1):462.

Thompson TA, Cheng D, Strobino D. Dental cleaning before and during pregnancy among Maryland mothers. Matern Child Health J. 2013;17(1):110–8.

Petrou MA, Santamaria RM, Romasew A, Splieth CH. Dissemination and use of the children’s dental pass in Germany. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2015;13(2):129–34.

Stellefson M, Paige SR, Chaney BH, Chaney JD. Evolving Role of Social Media in Health Promotion: updated responsibilities for Health Education specialists. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(4):1153.

Ghahramani A, de Courten M, Prokofieva M. The potential of social media in health promotion beyond creating awareness: an integrative review. BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):2402.

Oechsle A, Wensing M, Ullrich C, Bombana M. Health Knowledge of Lifestyle-related risks during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study of pregnant women in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(22):8626.

Sun Y, Sun J, Zhao Y, Cheng A, Zhou J. A new comprehensive oral health literacy scale: development and psychometric evaluation. BMC Oral Health. 2021;21(1):429.

Vilella KD, Alves SG, de Souza JF, Fraiz FC, Assunção LR. The Association of Oral Health Literacy and oral health knowledge with Social determinants in pregnant Brazilian women. J Community Health. 2016;41(5):1027–32.

Chawłowska E, Karasiewicz M, Lipiak A, Staszewski R, Cofta M, Biskupska M et al. Oral Health behaviours, Knowledge, and literacy of expectant mothers: a cross-sectional study among Maternity Ward patients. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(18).

Spinler K, Kofahl C, Ungoreit E, Heydecke G, Dingoyan D, Aarabi G. Access barriers to Dental Treatment and Prevention for Turkish migrants in Germany – A qualitative survey. Front Public Health. 2022;10:862832.

Augustin M, Radtke MA, Zschocke I, Blome C, Behechtnejad J, Schafer I, et al. The patient benefit index: a novel approach in patient-defined outcomes measurement for skin diseases. Arch Dermatol Res. 2009;301(8):561–71.

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all pregnant women and healthcare experts for their participation in this study. We acknowledge financial support from the Open Access Publication Fund of the UKE - Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf.

Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This research received no external funding.

Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Midwifery Science - Health Care Research and Prevention, Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany

Merle Ebinghaus, Caroline Johanna Agricola, Janne Schmittinger, Nataliya Makarova & Birgit-Christiane Zyriax

You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

ME was involved in study conceptualisation, data collection, data analysis and interpretation as well as drafting the article manuscript. CJA contributed to the conceptualisation of the study, data interpretation, drafting and editing the manuscript. JS contributed to the conceptualization of the study, recruitment and editing the manuscript. NM contributed to the conceptualisation of the study, data analysis and editing the manuscript. BCZ contributed to the conceptualisation of the study, data interpretation, drafting and editing the manuscript and providing critical and important intellectual content. The authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Merle Ebinghaus .

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval and consent to participate.

The study was approved by the Local Psychological Ethics Committee of the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (LPEK-0507) and registered at OSF 12.09.2022 ( https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YP7BR ). The interviewer explained the purposes of the research, voluntary participation, confidentiality of records, and that the participants may stop the interview at any time. Following participant’s approval to be involved in audio-recorded focus groups and interviews, their informed consent was also obtained. Privacy and confidentiality of all study information was maintained. All methods were conducted in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher’s note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary Material 1

Rights and permissions.

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/ ) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated in a credit line to the data.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article.

Ebinghaus, M., Agricola, C.J., Schmittinger, J. et al. Assessment of women’s needs and wishes regarding interprofessional guidance on oral health in pregnancy – a qualitative study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 24 , 471 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06675-w

Download citation

Received : 05 July 2023

Accepted : 03 July 2024

Published : 11 July 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06675-w

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

Oral health
Needs assessment
Health education
Interprofessional collaboration
Prenatal care
Midwifery care
Dental care

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

ISSN: 1471-2393

Submission enquiries: [email protected]
General enquiries: [email protected]

IMAGES

What is an OBGYN, and when should you see one?
What do Obstetrics Doctors do? (with pictures)
Obstetrician Doctor Visiting Happy Pregnant Patient Woman at Home Stock
What Happens at Every Prenatal Visit?
Pregnant Patient Attending Checkup Visit with Obstetrician Stock Photo
What to Expect (From Your OB/GYN) When You’re Expecting

VIDEO

36 weeks pregnant, OB appt, baby is head down! #joshandjillonthehill #mamalife #southernliving
We’re expecting/I am pregnant!🤰🏻♥️🙏🏼! My first OB visit in Croatia!🩺👩🏼‍⚕️❤️
I HAD NO IDEA THIS WAS MY LAST DAY BEING PREGNANT
Pregnancy VLOG 🤰🏾|Doctor Appointments During Pregnancy

COMMENTS

Prenatal care: 1st trimester visits
Prenatal care: 1st trimester visits. Pregnancy and prenatal care go hand in hand. During the first trimester, prenatal care includes blood tests, a physical exam, conversations about lifestyle and more. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Prenatal care is an important part of a healthy pregnancy. Whether you choose a family physician, obstetrician, midwife ...
Pregnancy appointment timeline: How often to see your OB
There are also complications that may show up after you become pregnant, like pregnancy-related high blood pressure, which can require more frequent visits. Pregnancy appointments timeline example. Visit #1: 6-10 weeks. Visit #2: 10-12 weeks. Visit #3: 16-18 weeks. Visit #4: 20-22 weeks. Visit #5: 24-28 weeks.
What to expect at your first prenatal appointment
When to schedule your first prenatal visit. As soon as you get a positive result on a home pregnancy test, book an appointment with an obstetrician, family physician, or midwife.Depending on the practice, it's normal for another provider in the office, like a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, to handle your first visit.
First Prenatal Visit: What to Expect at First Pregnancy Appointment
The most common tests at your first prenatal visit will likely include: [3] Urine test. Your urine may be checked for protein, glucose (sugar), white blood cells, blood and bacteria. Bloodwork. A sample of your blood will be used to determine blood type and Rh status and check for anemia. Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Rh factor blood test See All ...
Your First Prenatal Visit
If you did not meet with your health care provider before you were pregnant, your first prenatal visit will generally be around 8 weeks after your LMP (last menstrual period ). If this applies to you, you should schedule a prenatal visit as soon as you know you are pregnant! Even if you are not a first-time mother, prenatal visits are still ...
Your Guide to Prenatal Appointments
Typical prenatal appointment schedule. The number of visits you'll have in a typical pregnancy usually total about 10 to 15, depending on when you find out you're expecting and the timing of your first checkup. In most complication-free pregnancies, you can expect to have a prenatal appointment with the following frequency: Weeks 4 to 28 ...
How Often Do You Need Prenatal Visits?
For a healthy pregnancy, your doctor will probably want to see you on the following recommended schedule: Weeks 4 to 28 — One prenatal visit every four weeks. Weeks 28 to 36 — One prenatal ...
The Ultimate Pregnancy Appointment Guide: What to Expect Week by Week
Typically, this visit happens at 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor may confirm your pregnancy through urine tests, blood tests or ultrasounds. Initial Prenatal Appointment: 5-12 Weeks. Your first prenatal visit consists of important screenings and discussions, so your healthcare team can create a care plan that ensures you and baby stay ...
Prenatal visit schedule, plus how to prepare
When to schedule a prenatal visit. Make an appointment for your first prenatal visit once you're aware you are pregnant - when you receive a positive home pregnancy test, for example. Booking it around week 8 of pregnancy is typical. You'll come back regularly in the weeks and months following that initial appointment.
Prenatal care: 2nd trimester visits
During the second trimester, prenatal care includes routine lab tests and measurements of your baby's growth. You might consider prenatal testing, too. By Mayo Clinic Staff. The goal of prenatal care is to ensure that you and your baby remain healthy during your entire pregnancy. Ideally, prenatal care starts as soon as you think you're pregnant.
Your Prenatal Care Appointments
Towards the third prenatal visit, you're most likely around 14 to 16 weeks pregnant. You're probably feeling better and the most dangerous part of pregnancy is over. You are now probably feeling more confident in your pregnancy and sharing your good news. It has been about a month since you've seen the midwife or doctor.
How Often Do I Need Prenatal Visits?
For a healthy pregnancy, your doctor will probably want to see you on the following recommended schedule of prenatal visits: Weeks 4 to 28: 1 prenatal visit a month. Weeks 28 to 36: 1 prenatal ...
Prenatal care: 3rd trimester visits
During the third trimester, prenatal care might include vaginal exams to check the baby's position. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Prenatal care is an important part of a healthy pregnancy, especially as your due date approaches. Your health care provider might ask you to schedule prenatal care appointments during your third trimester about every 2 or 4 ...
Your first prenatal visit: what to expect & questions to ask
This initial visit will be one of the longest because there's a lot to cover, including: Confirmation of your pregnancy: Even if you get a positive result on a home pregnancy test, your health care provider will do urine and blood tests to confirm you're pregnant. A physical exam: You'll get a general health exam, checks of your blood ...
1st Trimester: 1st Prenatal Visit
1st Trimester: 1st Prenatal Visit. It's the first doctor visit of your pregnancy. Congratulations! During this visit, your doctor will check your overall health and determine your due date. They ...
What happens during prenatal visits?
Your first prenatal visit will probably be scheduled sometime after your eighth week of pregnancy. Most health care providers won't schedule a visit any earlier unless you have a medical condition, have had problems with a pregnancy in the past, or have symptoms such as spotting or bleeding, stomach pain, or severe nausea and vomiting. 1 You've probably heard pregnancy discussed in terms of ...
What To Expect at Your First Prenatal Visit
If your first prenatal appointment comes later in your pregnancy, around 10 or 12 weeks or later, your provider may use a traditional ultrasound or Doppler to check the fetal heartbeat. Earlier ...
What Happens at a Prenatal Care Check-Up Appointment?
During prenatal care visits, your doctor, nurse, or midwife may: update your medical history. check your urine. check your weight and blood pressure. check for swelling. feel your belly to check the position of your fetus. measure the growth of your belly. listen to the fetal heartbeat. give you any genetic testing you decide to do.
Prenatal care and tests
Tests are used during pregnancy to check your and your baby's health. At your fist prenatal visit, your doctor will use tests to check for a number of things, such as: Your blood type and Rh factor; Anemia; Infections, such as toxoplasmosis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including hepatitis B, syphilis, chlamydia, and HIV
15 Questions to Ask Your OB/GYN at a Prenatal Visit
Currently, the Institute of Medicine recommends the following for moms of multiples based on BMI: A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9: 37 to 54 pounds. A BMI between 26 and 30: 31 to 50 pounds. A BMI greater than 30: gain 25 to 42 pounds. That said, everyone's pregnancy will look different and that includes pregnancy weight gain.
Typical Prenatal Appointment Schedule
At a glance, you'll likely have pregnancy appointments once every month (so every four weeks), between your first prenatal visit and 28 weeks of pregnancy, says Stephanie Hack, MD, ob-gyn and host of the Lady Parts Doctor podcast. Between 28 and 36 weeks, you'll see your provider twice a month. After 36 weeks, as you get closer to delivery ...
Prenatal Care
Download transcript. Your first prenatal care appointment will most likely be between weeks 7 and 12. After that, as long as your pregnancy is going normally, you'll have prenatal visits — either in person, online, or by phone — at about: 16 to 20 weeks. 21 to 27 weeks. 28 to 31 weeks.
Prenatal care: Second and third trimesters
The goal of prenatal care is the birth of a healthy child with minimal risk for the mother. After the initial prenatal visit, it consists of ongoing evaluation of the health status of both the mother and fetus, counseling about pre- and postpartum issues, and anticipation of problems with intervention, if possible, to prevent or minimize ...
I was sent to L&D after my prenatal visit!
My ob sent me to l&d yesterday after I was done with my visit. They said my blood pressure was too high. Every time I go to the office and they take my blood pressure, it's always high. Has anyone been induced early because of that reason? I remember he mentioned that having constant high blood pressure can put me into an early induction.
New York State Medicaid Update
Submission of Prenatal and Postpartum Service Claims for Each Pregnancy Related Visit. To better understand the timing and delivery of perinatal (prenatal and postpartum) services to New York State (NYS) Medicaid members and Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) enrollees, additional information is needed from NYS Medicaid providers.
Assessment of women's needs and wishes regarding interprofessional
The obstetrician described a brief consultation during the first prenatal visit with a pregnant woman and that she hands out the dental passport with a reminder to visit the dentist. This is also something the dentist gives pregnant women, mentioning that she is, especially in the beginning, reliant on the women disclosing their pregnancy to ...