Medical Care during Pregnancy

Your Next Pregnancy Visits

Your Health History

Your health care provider can help you have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. After about 30 weeks, you will have visits every two to three weeks. In the last month, your health care provider will want to see you every one to two weeks or more.

For more information about medical care during pregnancy, click here.

Pregnancy Visits in the 3rd Trimester

Here is what may happen during your prenatal visits in the third trimester:

Discussion/Procedures	Why?
blood test (done at 24–28 weeks)	A shot of Rh‑immune globulin will be given to women who are Rh‑negative.
Group B Streptococcus screening (done at 35–37 weeks)	Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria found in the vagina and large bowel of 15 to 20% of healthy pregnant women Around the time of birth, GBS may be passed to the baby through the birth canal. If the baby gets a GBS infection, it can be serious. Because of the small chance of GBS infection in the newborn, all pregnant women should be offered screening between 35 – 37 weeks of pregnancy. A swab for GBS is taken from the vagina and anal areas. Women whose test is positive are given intravenous antibiotics, just to be safe. Often it is a brand of penicillin and is given at the time their membranes rupture or during labour. Treatment of the pregnant woman with antibiotics has been shown to decrease the chance of serious infection. However, no method has been proven to prevent all serious infections. Whether or not you need treatment in labour depends on your situation. Discuss GBS with your health care provider.
discuss your feelings	Women may become depressed during or after pregnancy. 10 –15% of pregnant women will have depression during their pregnancy. A smaller number will also have anxiety or panic disorder. For more information about depression and anxiety, click here.
count fetal (baby) movements (done from 35–37 weeks and onward)	To be aware of your baby’s movements. Babies have active periods and quiet periods during the day and/or night. Healthy babies may slow down slightly toward the end of pregnancy, but they do not slow down a lot. Your baby should not stop moving at a time when she is normally active. You don’t need to record your baby’s movement count unless you are asked to do so by your health care provider. Be aware of your baby's movement, especially in the third trimester. If you notice a drop or no movement at a time when your baby is normally active, contact your health care provider.
non‑stress test	This test: tells how well your baby is doing is a painless test to check the fetal heart rate while resting and moving is done with an electronic fetal monitor