Each antenatal visit is designed to monitor your health and your baby’s well-being. Here’s what you can expect during each stage:

1. First Visit (Initial Antenatal Check-up):

Your first visit is typically scheduled around 8 weeks of pregnancy. It will be a comprehensive consultation, and here’s what will be covered:

• Medical History Review: We will discuss your health history, previous pregnancies, and any medical conditions that may need special attention during pregnancy.
  
  
• Physical Examination: Each visit includes a physical assessment of your height, weight, and blood pressure to track your health.
  
  
• Blood Tests: We will perform blood tests to determine your blood type, screen for anemia, check for infections (like HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis), and assess your immunity to rubella.
  
  
• Urine Test: This test checks for protein, glucose, and infections in the urine.
  
  
• Ultrasound Scan: A vital scan is done to estimate your due date, confirm the number of babies, and check early fetal development.
  
  
• Genetic Screening (Optional): Genetic screening is available as an option to check for conditions like Down syndrome through blood work or ultrasound.
  
  

2. Subsequent Visits:

As you progress in your pregnancy, each check-up typically includes the following:

• Weight and Height Measurement: Monitoring healthy weight gain is crucial for your and your baby’s health.
  
  
• Blood Pressure Monitoring: Regular blood pressure checks help us identify signs of conditions like preeclampsia early on.
  
  
• Urine Tests: These tests screen for proteins, sugars, and signs of infections.
  
  
• Fetal Heartbeat: Using a Doppler, I will listen to the baby’s heartbeat to check their well-being.
  
  
• Fundal Height Measurement: Measuring your uterus (fundal height) will help us assess your baby’s growth at each stage.
  
  
• Blood and Urine Tests: Occasionally, we may repeat tests to check for any new developments or conditions such as gestational diabetes or anemia.
  
  
• Discussions on Pregnancy Symptoms: I always make time to address any concerns you have about symptoms or changes you’re experiencing in your body.
  
  

3. Second Trimester (Weeks 13-26):

In this stage, you’ll have a more detailed examination to ensure everything is progressing smoothly:

• Routine Blood Tests: Regular blood tests will check for gestational diabetes, anemia, and other essential nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy.
  
  
• Ultrasound Scan (around 20 weeks): This scan is crucial for examining the baby’s organs, checking growth, and detecting any abnormalities.
  
  
• Glucose Tolerance Test: I will test for gestational diabetes by asking you to drink a glucose solution, and then I will measure your blood sugar levels.
  
  
• Monitoring Fetal Movement: You may begin to feel your baby’s movements, and I’ll discuss how to monitor them.
  
  

4. Third Trimester (Weeks 27 to Birth):

In the final trimester, your visits become more frequent as we get closer to delivery:

• Fetal Movement Monitoring: We’ll ensure that the baby is moving regularly. Any concerns about decreased movement will be addressed with an ultrasound.
  
  
• Pelvic Exam: At around 36 weeks, we will check your cervix for dilation in preparation for labor.
  
  
• Non-Stress Test (NST): A Non-Stress Test (NST) will be used to assess your baby’s heart rate and response to movement.
  
  
• Baby’s Position: At 36 weeks, I will check the baby’s position (head-down or breech) and discuss options if the baby is not in the right position.
  
  
• Group B Streptococcus Test: A test to check for a bacterial infection that can be passed to the baby during delivery.
  
  
• Blood Pressure & Urine Tests: Monitoring for preeclampsia or other complications remains important in the final weeks.