Pregnancy: Prenatal Exam Schedule

Topic Overview

Regular prenatal exams are a top priority during any pregnancy. They are important both for monitoring your own and your fetus's health and for giving you and your health professional time to build a working relationship.

If your pregnancy is going well, you will have a regular schedule of prenatal checkups. These will become more frequent as you near your due date. A general example of such a schedule is as follows:1

  • After the first prenatal visit, every 4 weeks till week 28 of pregnancy
  • Every 2 to 3 weeks through week 36 of pregnancy
  • Every week during the final month of pregnancy

You may have more frequent prenatal exams if you:1

  • Began your pregnancy with a preexisting medical problem.
  • Develop complications during your pregnancy.
  • Are a teen.

Related Information

References

Citations

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2007). Antepartum care. In Guidelines for Perinatal Care, 6th ed., pp. 83–137. Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Last Revised July 23, 2012

Last Revised: July 23, 2012

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology

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