Prenatal care: what to expect, week by week
Regular prenatal visits help keep you and your baby healthy and catch problems early, when they are easiest to treat.
How often you will be seen
For most pregnancies, visits are about every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, and then weekly until delivery. We may see you more often if your pregnancy needs closer monitoring.
Your visit-by-visit guide
Each guide explains what we usually cover at that visit, in a simple question-and-answer format, so you can come prepared and leave confident. Bring your questions — no question is too small.
- 12 weeks: NIPT screening, early blood work, nausea relief, sleep and exercise
- 16 weeks: AFP test, constipation, heartburn, back pain and healthy weight gain
- 20 weeks: anatomy scan results, nutrition, safe exercise and the glucose test
- 24 weeks: staying active, the healthy pregnancy plate and weight gain
- 28 weeks: kick counts, Tdap and RSV vaccines, RhoGAM and your hospital bag
- 33 weeks: labor pain relief, induction, cesarean birth and decisions before delivery
- 35 weeks: the 5-1-2 rule, when to go to the hospital, pediatricians and birth control
- 38 weeks: vaginal vs. cesarean birth, recovery, breastfeeding and newborn jaundice
Your pregnancy timeline
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| First visit (about 7–10 weeks) | Confirm pregnancy and due date, often with ultrasound; review your health history; prenatal blood work including blood type, Rh factor, blood count, and infection screening; Pap test if due. |
| 10–14 weeks | Optional genetic screening, such as cell-free DNA blood testing and/or a nuchal translucency ultrasound. We will explain your choices. |
| 15–20 weeks | Optional maternal blood screening (for example, AFP) if appropriate for you. |
| 18–22 weeks | Detailed anatomy ultrasound, performed by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, to check your baby’s growth and development. |
| 24–28 weeks | Glucose screening for gestational diabetes and a blood count to check for anemia. |
| About 28 weeks | Rh immune globulin if your blood type is Rh-negative. |
| 27–36 weeks | Tdap vaccine to help protect your newborn from whooping cough. We will also review other recommended vaccines. |
| 36–37 weeks | Group B strep test to plan for antibiotics during labor if needed. |
| 37 weeks to delivery | Weekly visits to check blood pressure, your baby’s position and growth, and signs of labor. |
Every pregnancy is different. Your testing plan may vary based on your history and preferences.
Want more detail? Browse our pregnancy education guides, including AFP testing, glucose testing, group B strep, and Tdap and RSV vaccines.
At every visit
We check your blood pressure and weight, listen to your baby’s heartbeat, measure your baby’s growth, and answer your questions.
Medically reviewed by Rahil Malik, MD, FACOG, board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist. Last reviewed: October 2026. This page is general information and does not replace a visit with your doctor.