Judging from the comments on this board thread, the number of ultrasounds you receive throughout your pregnancy vary widely depending on the doctor, the practice, your insurance, fertility treatments, complications and whether you are high risk. My ob is part of a hospital so I get ultrasounds in a different department from an ultrasound tech, but when I used to see an ob in a private practice, she could give me an ultrasound any time she wanted in her office (though the hospital has higher resolution machines). And when I was taking clomid under the care of a reproductive endocrinologist, I got an ultrasound pretty much every week throughout the first trimester. I got spoiled having ultrasounds so frequently, because they’re one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy. Since this pregnancy has been complication-free, I have a 36 week ultrasound tomorrow,which will be my fourth and probably last ultrasound. It’s been 4 long months since I last saw baby bee #2 wiggling about in my stomach at my 20 week full anatomy scan when we found out that we were having a girl!
I thought it might be helpful to come up with a printable of the standard prenatal appointments. Please note that your appointments may be off by a couple of weeks, but generally you see your ob every 4 weeks from your 8th week of pregnancy, every 2 weeks from your 32nd – 36th week of pregnancy, and then every week until you give birth. And while I’m going to have 4 ultrasounds with this pregnancy (@ 8, 16, 20, & 36 weeks), the average number seems to be 2-3, with one to date the pregnancy, and a full anatomy scan that reveals the gender.
Click here for the printable pdf for yourself or a pregnant friend!
Pregnancy part 2 of 4
1. Goodies for Pregnancy by printables2. Prenatal Appointment Timeline by Checklists
3. Foods to Avoid While Pregnant by Checklists
4. New Mom Tips by Mrs. Bee
honeydew / 7968 posts
cool, thanks for the summary. nice to know what i can look forward to! i’m part of high risk so i should be getting a scan with each appointment.
pear / 1769 posts
I love these checklists, they are super helpful for me!
pomegranate / 3053 posts
Yeah, seems like very OB is different and each person’s case is different. What you have as your 8 week my OB’s office does during the 12th week, around the same time as the nuchal. Also, depending on your pregnancy history and number of miscarriages associated with those pregnancy(ies), the number of ultrasounds done may be different too and how early you are seen with 8 weeks being the standard 1st appointment. Personally, I think we should be able to get an ultrasound more often than the usual 3 that my OB’s office provides for ppl with normal pregnancies. But I go to a really reputable and awesome practice in the area so I have no real concerning complaints.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
Interesting! My schedule was a little different than this one!
I had an 8 wk appt with my midwife and did the full physical, etc. But then had a 10 week appt with my OB where she did an ultrasound. My practice thereafter sees you every 4 weeks until the third trimester when I think it’s every other week then the last month maybe every week.
cherry / 111 posts
Just wanted to chime in that mine has been less than above. No 34 or 37 week appointment for me; I did get a cervical check at 36 because I asked for one. That said, everything has been super normal and healthy so far.
apricot / 498 posts
I never once had a 3rd trimester cervix check. It’s so funny how each OB is so different!
guest
You don’t need to get your cervix check! Mine were very painful and did not tell me anything.