When to see obgyn for pregnancy

Table of Contents Show

What the OBGYN will do
The first visit
Subsequent visits
The final two months
Emergency visits
Be prepared

Your OBGYN is someone you should rely on throughout your pregnancy. This professional is not only critical for your health and wellness but your developing baby as well. Pregnancy brings many challenges and even potential complications. You cannot afford to spend the next nine months without your doctor’s guidance and monitoring. It is also critical that you visit the appropriate number of times throughout your pregnancy.

What the OBGYN will do

While a primary care physician can diagnose and treat conditions at all points of life, the OBGYN has a specific focus. This doctor will care for a woman’s reproductive and pregnancy issues. From the time a pregnant patient first comes into the office, this doctor will begin to track the baby’s development. The OBGYN will also make sure the mother-to-be is healthy and strong to carry the fetus. The doctor will prescribe medication as necessary and conduct tests (including ultrasounds). The OBGYN even provides counsel and advice so the woman can take good care of herself.

The first visit

Women can see an obstetrician/gynecologist for various issues throughout adulthood. A woman may want to see this doctor for pap smears to check for cervical cancer. She may have questions about fertility or birth control as well. When it comes to pregnancy, a woman should make her first appointment at about eight weeks. At this appointment, the doctor will ask the woman about her health and wellness history. There will also be a discussion about taking prenatal vitamins and managing discomfort and hormonal changes.

Subsequent visits

From week eight through around week 30, the expectant mother should see her OBGYN once a month. Checkups will include ultrasounds to diagnose the health of the baby and hands-on examinations of the woman. The mother may also have blood tests and will provide urine samples during these visits to check on the overall health of her body. The doctor and patient will talk about concerns and pregnancy challenges as well.

The final two months

During the last eight or nine weeks of pregnancy, appointments will change in frequency. Instead of monthly visits, the pregnant woman should stop by the office every week or two. The doctor will prepare her for delivery and will make sure the baby is in the right position for birth. The doctor will also closely monitor the baby’s vital signs to make sure everything is looking good.

Emergency visits

At any time in between appointments, the woman should feel comfortable calling her doctor for help if she has any troubling issues. These may include severe abdominal pain, bleeding or lack of movement from the baby. Most offices can accommodate same-day emergency appointments. Depending on the issue, the doctor may send the woman to the ER.

Be prepared

It is not a wise idea to procrastinate making an appointment with your OBGYN when you are expecting. You need to be as healthy as possible so your baby can have the nutrients and healthy environment to grow and develop. You also need the strength to endure the rigors of pregnancy. Make and keep consistent appointments from the beginning through the end of these nine months.

Request an appointment here: http://glowbgyn.com or call Glow Obstetrics & Gynecology at (972) 722-2526 for an appointment in our Rockwall office.

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Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on December 15, 2020

When you're expecting, you'll welcome a new routine into your life: regular prenatal visits. As many moms can tell you, there's an air of excitement to these visits. You'll learn your estimated due date and hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time. Your doctor will also monitor your health and your baby's health, provide nutrition and activity guidelines, explain what to expect during labor and delivery, and offer tips on how to care and feed your new baby.

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 visit every 2 weeks
Weeks 36 to 40: 1 prenatal visit every week

If you're pregnant with twins, your doctor will suggest more frequent prenatal visits. You may also need extra tests between visits, such as ultrasounds to check on each baby’s growth and amount of amniotic fluid.

Be sure to stick to the schedule that your doctor suggests -- even if life gets hectic. Prenatal care is important for both your health and your baby's health. In fact, when a mother doesn't get prenatal care, their baby is three times more likely to have a low birth weight. When your doctor checks you regularly, they can spot problems early and treat them so that you can have the healthiest pregnancy possible.

The recommended schedule isn't set in stone. Your doctor will decide how often to see you based on your individual health picture. They will want to see you more often if you had any health problems before you became pregnant or if problems develop during your pregnancy. You also may need additional tests to ensure that you and your baby stay healthy.

If you have any of these risk factors, your doctor may increase the number of your prenatal visits:

Being age 35 and older. Fortunately, most women in their late 30s and early 40s will give birth to strong, healthy babies. But after age 35, you have an increased chance of having a baby born with a birth defect. You also have a higher risk for complications during pregnancy.

Pre-existing health problems. If you have a history of diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor will probably want to see you more often. Your doctor will work with you to closely manage these health conditions so they don't affect your pregnancy or your baby's health. Other health problems such as asthma, lupus, anemia, or obesity may also require more visits.

Medical problems that develop during pregnancy. During prenatal visits, your doctor will look for complications that can occur after you've become pregnant. These include preeclampsia, or pregnancy-related high blood pressure, and gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. If you develop any of these health conditions, you may need to come in more often so your doctor can keep close tabs on your health.

Risk of preterm labor. If you have a history of preterm labor or a premature birth, or if you start showing signs of preterm labor, your doctor will want to monitor you more closely.

Seeing your doctor for regular prenatal care can help put your mind at ease. You'll know that you're doing all you can to have a healthy baby and safe pregnancy.

Many women deliver healthy twins, but a multiple birth needs extra attention and care. Your doctor will focus on some key areas during your prenatal visits:

Proper nutrition and weight gain. Given that you’re carrying two little ones, you'll need to gain more weight than a woman carrying a single baby. A normal amount of weight gain for a woman carrying twins is between 35 to 45 pounds. Your doctor will talk with you about exactly how much weight you should gain, what types of foods you should eat, and what supplements to take.

Preterm labor. Preterm labor, or labor that starts before the end of the 37th week, is the biggest health concern for twin pregnancies. Premature babies have a higher risk for health problems than babies that go full term. About half of all twins are born preterm. Your doctor will review signs of preterm labor with you and watch carefully during your prenatal visits for any signs of preterm labor.

Your health risks. A twin pregnancy raises your risk for high blood pressure, anemia, gestational diabetes, and needing a C-section compared with someone carrying a single child. Your doctor will monitor you for these conditions during your prenatal visits.

Your twins' health risks. Twins are more likely to be born smaller than average. Placenta problems can occur during twin pregnancies. Also, twins who share a placenta are at risk for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). This disorder can cause one baby to have too much blood and amniotic fluid, while the other has too little. If your babies share a placenta, you will probably need to have ultrasounds every 2 weeks starting at your 16th week of pregnancy to monitor your babies for TTTS.