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Prenatal appointments and tests, week by week

Work it out for your family: Due date calculator. How far along you are, and every scan, test and vaccine by date.

The short answer

  • The traditional schedule: a visit about every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then every week until birth [1]. Since 2025, ACOG has said that for people at average or low risk, providers can tailor how often you’re seen and use some video visits [1].
  • Visits usually check your blood pressure and your baby’s growth and heartbeat. Your weight and urine may be checked at some visits.
  • The big tests are: first-visit blood tests, genetic screening (often NIPT from 10 weeks), the anatomy scan at 18 to 22 weeks, the glucose test at 24 to 28 weeks, and the group B strep swab at 36 to 37 weeks [2][3][4][5].
  • Screening is your choice. Screening tests estimate a chance. Only diagnostic tests give a yes or no [2].
  • Vaccines in pregnancy protect your baby too. The timing is in the vaccine guide.

Pregnancy comes with a lot of appointments and even more acronyms. Here’s what they mean.

Put in your due date and the due date calculator gives you the dates for the big ones: first-trimester screening, the anatomy scan, the glucose test, Tdap and RSV.

Visit by visit

When What usually happens Worth asking
First visit, ideally before 10 weeks Health history, exam, dating ultrasound if needed, blood tests (blood type and Rh, blood count, rubella immunity, and tests for infections including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis), urine tests, and a Pap test if you’re due [1][6] Which genetic screening do you offer? What should I do about medicines I take?
10 weeks on Cell-free DNA screening (NIPT) can be offered, from a blood sample [2] What does it screen for, and what does insurance cover?
10 to 13 weeks First-trimester screening (a blood test plus a nuchal translucency ultrasound), if you choose it. CVS, a diagnostic test, is done around 10 to 13 weeks if needed [2] Do I need diagnostic testing, or is screening enough?
12 weeks on Low-dose aspirin, if you’re at high risk of preeclampsia [7] Is aspirin right for me?
15 to 22 weeks Second-trimester blood screening, if you choose it. Amniocentesis, a diagnostic test, from 15 weeks if needed [2]
18 to 22 weeks The anatomy ultrasound: a detailed look at your baby’s body, organs, growth and the placenta [3] Where is the placenta? Is anything worth a follow-up scan?
24 to 28 weeks The glucose screening test for gestational diabetes [4]. ACOG recommends retesting everyone for syphilis in the third trimester and at birth, while the CDC recommends retesting at 28 weeks and at birth only for people at higher risk [6]. Some other tests may be repeated too Do I need to fast? How long does it take?
27 to 36 weeks Tdap vaccine for whooping cough [8]. Rh immune globulin around 28 weeks, if you’re Rh-negative [9] When should we start counting kicks?
32 to 36 weeks RSV protection: either a vaccine for you now, or an antibody shot for your baby after birth [8]. ACOG’s vaccine window for 2026–27 is September 1 to March 1. The CDC’s is September to January [10][11] Which one is right for us?
36 to 37 weeks Group B strep swab [5]. Checking the baby’s position [12] What’s the plan if I test positive? What if the baby is breech?
37 weeks to birth Weekly visits [1]. Signs of labor, when to come in, and your birth plan When do I call? When do I come in?
39 to 41 weeks Talk about induction. ACOG says induction can be considered from 41 weeks and is recommended by 42 weeks. It can also be considered from 39 weeks for healthy pregnancies, which can lower the chance of a cesarean [13] What are the pros and cons of inducing at 39 weeks for me?

Screening or diagnosis?

  • Screening tests (NIPT, first-trimester screening, second-trimester blood screening) are safe for the baby, and tell you whether the chance of certain conditions is higher or lower [2].
  • Diagnostic tests (CVS and amniocentesis) can tell you for sure whether a baby has certain conditions. They carry a small risk of miscarriage [2].
  • ACOG says all pregnant people should be offered both, whatever their age, and that saying no is fine too [2].
  • A “high chance” screening result isn’t a diagnosis. Ask for genetic counseling before you decide what to do next.

How to prepare for visits

  • Keep a running list of questions in your phone between visits.
  • Track symptoms with dates: headaches, swelling, bleeding, baby’s movements.
  • Bring your partner to the big visits: the first one, the anatomy scan and any result conversations.
  • Ask for copies of test results, and know how to see them in the patient portal.
  • Ask what’s covered. Most plans must cover certain prenatal screenings at no cost, such as gestational diabetes, hepatitis B and Rh screening. Pregnancy care is a covered benefit, but deductibles or copays may still apply to visits, other tests and extra scans [14].

Between visits: get care now for these

Get medical care right away for: vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking; a headache that won’t go away or gets worse; vision changes; dizziness or fainting; extreme swelling of your face or hands; swelling, redness or pain in a leg or arm; severe belly pain; severe nausea and vomiting; trouble breathing; chest pain or a racing heart; a fever of 100.4°F or higher; overwhelming tiredness; your baby moving less or stopping; or thoughts about harming yourself or your baby [15]. Call your provider or go to the hospital. In an emergency, call 911.

Sources

  1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “New ACOG Guidance Recommends Transformation to U.S. Prenatal Care Delivery” (17 April 2025), on Clinical Consensus No. 8, “Tailored Prenatal Care Delivery for Pregnant Individuals.” acog.org
  2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Prenatal Genetic Screening Tests” and “Prenatal Genetic Diagnostic Tests” (patient FAQs), and Practice Advisory, “Screening for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities” (January 2026). acog.org · acog.org · acog.org
  3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Ultrasound Exams.” acog.org
  4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Gestational Diabetes.” acog.org
  5. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee Opinion No. 797, “Prevention of Group B Streptococcal Early-Onset Disease in Newborns” (2020). acog.org
  6. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “Routine Tests During Pregnancy” (patient FAQ) and Practice Advisory, “Screening for Syphilis in Pregnancy” (2024, reaffirmed 2025); CDC, “STI Screening Recommendations.” acog.org · acog.org · cdc.gov
  7. US Preventive Services Task Force, “Aspirin Use to Prevent Preeclampsia and Related Morbidity and Mortality: Preventive Medication” (2021). uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
  8. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee Statement No. 26, “Maternal Immunizations” (February 2026), and “2026 Maternal Immunization Schedule” (10 June 2026). acog.org · cmss.org
  9. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “The Rh Factor: How It Can Affect Your Pregnancy.” acog.org
  10. American Academy of Family Physicians, “Respiratory syncytial virus: 2026-27 recommendations.” aafp.org
  11. CDC, “Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnancy.” cdc.gov
  12. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, “If Your Baby Is Breech” (patient FAQ). acog.org
  13. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Practice Bulletin No. 146, “Management of Late-Term and Postterm Pregnancies” (2014, reaffirmed 2024); Clinical Practice Update, “Management of Full-Term Nulliparous Individuals Without a Medical Indication for Delivery” (January 2025); and “Labor Induction” (patient FAQ). acog.org · doi.org · acog.org
  14. HealthCare.gov, “Preventive care benefits for women” and “What Marketplace health insurance plans cover.” healthcare.gov · healthcare.gov
  15. CDC, Hear Her campaign, “Urgent Maternal Warning Signs.” cdc.gov

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