Your healthcare provider is a hugely valuable resource for you as you head into the home stretch of pregnancy – get your questions ready!
Now that you’re in the third trimester, the frequency of your prenatal visits will increase from once every four weeks to one appointment every two weeks, and then once a week from week 36 on. This is so your OB provider can make sure everything is going smoothly with Baby’s development and identify any points of concern early on. Usually, your healthcare provider will check your weight and blood pressure, and have you leave a urine sample to test for the elevated presence of protein or sugar. In addition, they will measure your uterus to get a sense of how Baby is growing, and listen to their heart rate with a fetal doppler. Your healthcare provider will also start asking about Baby’s movement from appointment-to-appointment as a way to check in on their wellbeing. Last but not least, there should be discussion of your mental health and any hurdles you’re facing to getting the care and preparation you need for Baby.
And remember how your Rh factor was tested way back at your first appointment? If your test came back as a Rh- blood type, week 28 is generally when your healthcare provider will administer a Rhogam shot. This prevents Rh- antibodies from harming your baby. If you tested Rh- back at your first appointment, it’s imperative that you get this injection to protect Baby. You can read more about Rh factor and complications here.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Fetal development: The third trimester.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 7/11/2014. Web.
- “Prenatal care in your third trimeser.” U.S National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus, 6/11/2014. Web.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Prenatal care: 3rd trimester visits.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 7/30/2015. Web.
- “The Rh Factor: How It Can Affect Your Pregnancy: FAQ027.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 9/13/2015. Web.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Third trimester pregnancy: What to expect.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 5/5/2014. Web.
