OB Appointment Guide

Welcome to your OB Appointment Guide! This is your handbook for understanding what happens at your obstetrician (OB) visits during pregnancy. We’ve broken down each step in easy-to-understand terms to help you be ready for every appointment.

The First Trimester

Pre-OB (6-8 weeks): Health History Intake

New OB (8-10 weeks):

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Breast & Pelvic Exam (Gonorrhea & Chlamydia Check with or without a pap smear)
• Discussion:
  • Rotating on call provider schedule (WHC Team Approach to your OB care)
  • Confirm due date & review ultrasound
  • Review first OB lab results
  • Discuss occupational & environmental hazards
  • Genetic Testing
  • Review past OB and past medical history

12 Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Review NTQR ultrasound (if applicable)
• Discussion:
  • Headaches & hydration in pregnancy

The Second Trimester

16 Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Discussion:
• Food safety, nutrition & appropriate weight gain
• Review sequential screen results (if applicable)

20-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Meet one of our sonographers for an ultrasound, which is performed to check the status and growth of your baby. They will also be doing a vaginal ultrasound to check the length of your cervix.
• Discussion:
  • Review ultrasound & cervical length
  • Review approved medications that are safe to take during pregnancy
  • Discuss back pain & pregnancy and exercises

24-Week OB Check: (Scheduled with a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant)

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Discussion:
  • We will give you a glucose drink and a lab slip to have your blood drawn between 27 and 28 weeks that screens for gestational diabetes. We will also give you special written instructions that you need to follow to prepare for the lab test.
  • We will give you a hospital registration form for you to send to the hospital.
  • We will give you a Birth Plan to complete and return in a few weeks (third trimester)
  • Discuss breastfeeding, child birth, and Daddy Boot Camp classes

The Third Trimester

28-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Rhogam injection (If you are RH negative blood type)
• Discussion:
  • Review Birth Plan
  • Discuss pain management during labor & birth
  • Review lab work
  • Inform you about our triage department and services provided

30-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• TDAP Vaccine
• Discussion:
  • TDAP Vaccine & protecting your baby from whooping cough

32-Week OB Check: (Scheduled with a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant)

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Discussion:
  • Birth Control
  • Breastfeeding
  • Preterm Labor
  • Kick Counts

34-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Discussion:
  • Choosing a doctor for your baby
  • Routine newborn screenings & interventions
  • Vacuum assisted vaginal delivery

36-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Pelvic exam & GBS vaginal swab
• Discussion:
  • Group B Strep test
  • Preparing for your hospital stay

37-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Check cervix for dilation
• Discussion:
  • Review Group B Strep result
  • How to tell when labor begins

38-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Check cervix for dilation
• Discussion:
  • When pregnancy goes past your due date
  • Induction of Labor

39-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Check cervix for dilation
• Discussion:
  • What to expect after delivery
  • Review plan for delivery and/or post-dates testing

40-Week OB Check:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Urine sample collection
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat using a doppler
• Measure your belly for growth
• Check cervix for dilation
• Discussion:
  • Review plan for delivery and/or post-dates testing

Post-Partum

6-Week Post-Partum Visit:

• Weight & blood pressure check
• Post-partum depression screening
• Vaginal Birth- Vaginal Exam
• C-Section Birth-Incision Check
• Discussion:
  • Breastfeeding
  • Newborn Care
  • Overall Well-being
  • Post-Partum Support Groups
  • Birth Control Plan