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Prenatal Checkups - 2nd Trimester
Figure on stopping by the doctor's office once every four weeks or so, provided you're not having complications. Each time you visit, your practitioner will give you the results of tests from previous visits, ask questions to monitor your progress, determine if you have been experiencing bleeding or spotting, and ask about any contractions.
Some pregnant women dread this part, but you will be weighed each time you visit the doctor. If you're worried, just don't look.
If your caregiver doesn't mention it, you might want to ask about childbirth classes he or she recommends.
Common Tests
Urine and blood pressure: Expect your blood pressure to be taken. Your doctor will be looking for signs of gestational hypertension. They also will look for protein in your urine. Large amounts can indicate a urinary tract infection. Also, high blood sugar can indicate gestational diabetes or preeclampsia.
The baby's heartbeat: Many parents find the first sound of their baby's heartbeat to be a thrill. Typically, a caregiver can pick up the baby's heartbeat by the 12th week using a handheld ultrasound device known as a Doppler. From here on out, checking the heartbeat will become among the caregiver's most important diagnostic tests.
Ultrasound: Most caregivers routinely order an ultrasound between 16-20 weeks to check for abnormalities and set the baby's due date more accurately. Now is your first chance to determine the baby's sex. The ultrasound technician should ask before telling you, but if you want to be surprised, give him or her advance notice.
Blood test: You may get a blood test called a Quad screen/AFP tetra screen between the 15th and 18th week. It checks for the risk of certain chromosomal problems. If there are signs of trouble, such as Down syndrome, you may be offered an amniocentesis. Because there is a slight risk of miscarriage, only women at risk of chromosomal problems will typically be offered this.
Examination
The caregiver uses his or her hands to feel your abdomen and get a sense of the expanding uterus and the baby inside. From this point on, he or she will use a tape measure to check the fundal height, which is the distance between your pubic bone and the tip of your uterus. It's a rough measure of how far along you are in your pregnancy. Likely, your practitioner will also check your hands and feet and ask about any swelling you have experienced.
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