Pregnancy Road Map

Before Your First Appointment

One of the first things you’ll do after finding out you’re pregnant is to call your St. Luke’s provider (your OB-GYN, midwife or family practice doctor) to schedule an appointment for 8-10 weeks into your pregnancy. Over the course of the next nine months, you may see your provider, a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant.

In those early days, you may feel more tired than usual and possibly a little sick. Feeling bloated, breast tenderness and morning sickness (at any time of day) are all normal changes. Aches and pains — while a nuisance — are also normal.

It’s important to take care of yourself and get rest when possible. Avoid alcohol, smoking and secondhand smoke during your pregnancy. Do your best to stay healthy by eating well, exercising and taking prenatal vitamins daily.

First Appointment (8-10 Weeks Into Pregnancy)

During this appointment, you’ll get your due date and fill in your health history. Your provider will also confirm the pregnancy after taking vital information such as height, weight, blood pressure and labs if needed.

• May include an annual exam, Pap test or ultrasound
• Ask questions and get guidance
• May include flu shot if during flu season

12-Week Appointment

This appointment includes a belly check, where you can hear your baby’s heartbeat for the first time. At this visit and most appointments going forward, you’ll check in with your provider as well as have your blood pressure, height and weight taken.

• Complete genetic testing (optional)
  • If you will be under 35 years old at the time of delivery, you have the option for a first trimester screening ultrasound.
  • Between 12 and 16 weeks, your morning sickness may subside. You might notice less nausea along with more energy and an appetite.

16-Week Appointment

Again, your provider will complete a belly check and regular check-in.

• If you completed the first trimester screening ultrasound, there is an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) blood test follow-up to determine the presence of spina bifida or anencephaly.

Between four and five months in your pregnancy, you may start to feel the baby move. Check in with your provider to find out when you should sign up for St. Luke’s Childbirth Education classes.

20-Week Ultrasound

• Fetal Anatomy Screen
  • Find baby’s measurements and organ development through ultrasound
• Meet with provider
• May ask to find out baby’s sex

You can start filling out the St. Luke’s Birth Plan, if you choose. This helpful tool prioritizes what’s important to you during labor and delivery, and is kept both with your provider and in your Birthing Suite.

24-Week Appointment

• Check belly, heart tones and blood pressure
• Check hemoglobin (finger prick)
• Get instructions for your glucose check, which happens at 28 weeks

If you haven’t already planned for them, now is the time to consider the changes you’ll face as a family. What are your plans for work and childcare? How will you make time for the things you enjoy (exercise, activities, friends)?

28-Week Appointment

At this longer appointment, you can expect to:

• Get a cervical exam
• Receive immunizations – Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Check hemoglobin (finger prick)
  • Checking for anemia and any risks associated with blood loss in labor
  • May boost iron for last 10 weeks if blood count is low
• Take the glucose test
  • Drink sugary beverage, wait 60 minutes without eating or drinking
  • If one-hour test is failed, you’ll schedule the three-hour test
• Complete prenatal labs
  • If you have a negative blood type, you’ll have your antibodies screened and possibly get a RhoGAM injection
• Discuss results and next steps with provider

Three-Hour Glucose Test

This three hour-test is only administered after a one-hour screening test failure, and may not be required.

• Determines if you have gestational diabetes
• Given a larger dose of sugar over a longer period of time
• Diabetic education if three-hour test failed

After this appointment, visits happen every two weeks until delivery. If you haven’t already, you’ll start considering which family practice physician or pediatrician you’ll want to care for your baby.

30-Week Appointment

• Belly check for growth
• Fetal heart tones
• Vitals and blood pressure check
• Discuss preterm labor and when to go to the hospital
  • If you start experiencing preterm labor, call your provider

32-Week Appointment

• Belly check for growth
• Fetal heart tones
• Vitals and blood pressure check

34-Week Appointment

• Belly check for growth
• Fetal heart tones
• Vitals and blood pressure check

36-Week Appointment

• Belly check for growth
• Fetal heart tones
• Vitals and blood pressure check
• Cervical check
• Hemoglobin check (finger prick)
• Strep B Test (vaginal swab)
  • Women can be carriers of Strep B
  • If positive, you’ll receive antibiotics during labor to decrease risk of passing onto baby

After that, you’ll visit every week until delivery to check baby’s heart tones, growth and pregnancy.