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 within just a few short weeks of BABY!, you’ll start visiting your healthcare provider for prenatal appointments once a week. Baby is considered near-term next week, so it certainly doesn’t hurt to see your healthcare provider with increased frequency.
As per usual, your OB provider will generally measure your weight and blood pressure, and have you leave a urine sample that will be tested for elevated levels of protein and sugar. Your OB provider will also measure your uterus to get a good sense of how Baby is growing, and listen to their heart rate with a fetal doppler. They will also ask about Baby‘s movements, and if their frequency or intensity has changed since your last visit. 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.
If Baby was still in the breech position at your last appointment, your OB provider will also check to see if they have made any progress turning themselves around. If not, you may be offered something called a “version”. This is where your OB provider will try to rotate your baby from the outside. It’s not the right choice for every parent, and like other situations, talking through the risks and benefits thoroughly can help you make the right decision.
At the week 36 appointment, your healthcare provider will test you for Group B Streptococcus (GBS). GBS is a pretty common bacteria found in the body. Some people have it in their vagina and others don’t. It’s not a sexually transmitted infection and it doesn’t make adults sick- but exposure to GBS in the vagina can make newborns very sick in the days following birth, so a swab is suggested for every pregnant person. Your OB provider will swab your vagina and rectum (or have you do it) and a lab will test this for GBS. If you are GBS-positive, it’s recommended that you receive antibiotics during your labor. This dramatically reduces the risk that your newborn will get GBS sepsis. Always feel free to ask questions as they come up in these final weeks, whether it’s about GBS status or anything else related to your upcoming birth!
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
Read more
- Blood pressure during pregnancy: why you should track it
- Birth plans: delivery environment, pain management, and more
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.
- “Special Tests for Monitoring Fetal Health: FAQ098.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 11/13/2015. Web.
- “Fetal ultrasound.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 9/19/2015. Web.
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Third trimester pregnancy: What to expect.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, 5/5/2014. Web.
