How Often Do You Have Prenatal Visits?

Once you get over the initial excitement of being pregnant and maybe letting everyone know, you need to get down to business and choose you doctor and then start seeing them.

So now that you have the doctor and are ready to see them you probably are wondering how often you will see them. For most pregnancies there is a set time frame, however, if you are high risk or develop any complications then you may go more often.

Your first visit should be by 13 weeks but most doctors prefer to see you around 9-10 weeks and if you have a history of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancies you will want to go in as soon as you know you are pregnant, around 4-5 weeks.

After the initial visit you will continue to see the doctor every four weeks for the first 28 weeks. As you come closer to the due date, the baby will grow faster and your doctor will want to see you every 2 weeks until you are 36 weeks along. From 36 weeks until you deliver you will go weekly.

At these visits you will usually have the same test done which include a urine test, to check you sugar and protein levels. They will also check you weight and blood pressure. Then starting around 10 weeks they will also listen for baby's heartbeat, but often times you can't hear it until 12-14 weeks.

They will also measure your belly to make sure you and the baby are growing right. When you come even closer to D-day they will start checking to see how much you have dilated and effaced. If this is your first time don't get too excited if you are dilating and effacing you can do so weeks before you deliver.