How many doctor visits does a pregnant woman go to?

Question

I am not worried about the money, my wife could go 100 times and I wouldn't care.

I am just wondering how often do pregnant women go to the doctors during their pregnancy?

What do they go to their visits for? (Like what is done at visits)

How many sonograms are done?

We have insurance.

Answer 1

Too many! lol
Usually they start about 8 weeks along, then once every month to the OB, until the 8th month then its every other week. The last 3 or 4 weeks they are in every week.
Then there are the blood work visits at the labs, 4 altogether.
Sonograms, typically only 3 unless something is going on that the doctor wants to monitor. The OBGYN will monitor the heart rate at regular visits. Its the 2nd sonogram in the 5 or 6th month (depending on doctor), when you can possibly find out the sex of the baby.
The OB visits, only have to disrobe and be checked vaginaly until the 4th possibly 5th month. After that its just check the belly, weight, and blood pressure, and to discuss anything else that is going on with mom.
Oh, she will have to pee on a stick at the beginning of every visit.
Always fun stuff lol.

Good luck...the sonograms are really cool to watch!

Answer 2

I went once a month until the start of my third trimester. Then I went every 2 weeks until my last month. Then it was every week. As your due date approaches (and passes), some doctors make you come in twice a week!

The first exam includes a pelvic and pap smear. Then, for the first several months, the visits consist of a urine test, listening to the fetal heartbeat, measuring the woman's abdoman, and answering any questions and/or addressing any concerns.

Later on, the doctor will do what's called a Group B Strep (GBS) test by swabbing the vaginal area. Then there's an internal exam to check the cervix around week 36.

For sonograms, I had 5. The first was at 9 weeks, to make sure everything was cool, that I wasn't carrying multiples, and to more accurately date my pregnancy.

The second sonogram I had at 11 weeks, to measure the "nuchal fold" to see if there were any potential genetic abnormalities.

The third sonogram was to determine the baby's sex and to make sure baby was still thriving. The doctor said that would be the final sonogram unless there was a problem.

Well, there was a problem. I had a 4th sonogram when I was checked into the hospital at 35 weeks with preeclampsia. The doctor needed to make sure the baby was not breech in case they needed to induce right away, and he needed to make sure there was still plenty of amniotic fluid for baby.

My 5th sonogram was also in the hospital, just a few days before my induction. Again, they needed to measure the fluid, but also wanted to measure the baby and make sure her heart and lungs were good and strong.

Congrats and good luck! Babycenter.com has week-by-week pregnancy updates, which include what's going on with Baby, and what to expect at dr. appointments.

Answer 3

You usually go once a month until 30 weeks or so. Then you'll go twice a month and then during the last month you'll go once a week.

My doctor did 3 ultrasounds (sonograms). She did one at the first visit (at 10 weeks), one at 20 weeks and one at 36 weeks. Some doctors will only do one at around 20 weeks.

Most of the visits they just did a urinalysis and check your weight and make sure you don't have any questions or problems. When you start showing, they will also measure your stomach to make sure you're measuring right around where you should be measuring for how far along you are. There is also a glucose test (around 16 weeks if I remember right.) In the last month or so, they will do a pelvic exam each time to see how much she's dialated, if any.

Answer 4

You go about every 4-5 weeks for the first 7 1/2 months. They normally just take a urine sample, blood pressure, weight, feel your stomach, take a measurement of your uterus, listen to the heart beat, ask you if you have any questions and say goodbye. It depends on the dr. and if there are any concerns with the baby as to how many ultrasounds you get. I am 36 weeks now and have only had 1 ultrasound and asked the dr. last visit if I will have another. He said maybe if he wants to double check positioning before I deliver. After 7 1/2 months you will go every 2 weeks for about a month and then every week till the end. He will probably do an internal exam or 2 to check to see if she is dialating. Maybe you should go to the next dr. visit with your wife. My husband enjoyed hearing the heart beat and sometimes thought of questions that he had or I forgot. It might also help prepare you for what is going to happen on the big day.

Answer 5

Most women will go to the doctor every 4 weeks until about 8-9 months depending on the doctor, then she will go every other week. At each visit they discuss any symptoms you are having and some do a pelvic exam at each.

If the doctor has a sonogram machine in the exam rooms they are usually more prone to do sonograms more often. If they do not they usually do one at 8-12 weeks (usually around your first or second appointment), one around 20-25 weeks (they can determine the sex of the baby), and then as they feel necessary.

Answer 6

The first and second trimester you go to the doctor once a month. Around 20 weeks you get an ultrasound. Not until around 28 weeks do you start to go to the doc every two weeks and then at 36 weeks you go once a week. YOu usually only get that one ultrasound unless they thing something is wrong or have to re check stuff.

The first visits are gathering info and taking blood. They will do a pelvic exam and get cultures. They want to make sure she doesn't have any STDs that can harm the baby. They also want to check the size of the pelvic bone to make sure it is big enought for the baby to fit out. Then they will take the weight and blood pressure. They will check the babys heart beat. And thats it.

Once she gets farther along they will do other things like a sugar test and ultrasound.

The last month they check her cervix every week. They want to see if the baby dropped, if shes dialated and if the cervix is thinning.

But it is pretty routine.

Answer 7

Usually about once a month in the beginning. Once a week at the end. More frequently if there is a risk such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, toxemia, or placenta previa. The first visit is generally to determine the fetus size for a more accurate due date. The following appointments are to measure the fundus ( the height of the uterus) and blood tests to monitor mommy's and baby's health and risks. The doctor may also examine the cervix for changes periodically. As far as I know in a normal pregnancy there are two sonogram or ultra sounds. One at the beginning and one about 17 - 22 weeks. I think it is awesome that you want to be so informed and involved. There is a books that will explain week by week what changes your wife is experiencing, what to expect at the doctors appts and bunches of other fun stuff. good luck

Answer 8

I have gone once a month starting at 12 weeks. Now, starting at 32 weeks, I must go every 2 weeks and then at 3 weeks I will go every week until I deliver. At the first visit, they take blood and test for everything from anemia to stds to AIDS. They also check the fetal heart rate and do a PAP smear. Normally, at the subsequent visits, they just check the heart rate, mom's blood pressure and measure the size of the uterus. They don't begin doing internal checks until aroud 36-37 weeks. I have had 2 ultra sounds done, but I know some people get them every time. Usually they do one at 20 weeks and then others if they think their might be problems. Good luck!!!

Answer 9

Early on a woman only has to go once every 4 or 5 weeks starting generally after the 8th week of pregancy but every doctor is different.

As far as ultrasounds go they usually do one around 8 or 10 weeks so that they can give you guys an accurate due date. Then they normally do one around 20 weeks to find out the sex..if for any reason they feel that the baby isn't growing properly or something they may do more...they may also do more later on in pregnancy...all doctors are different on your first appointment the doc can tell you all of that info! Good Luck...Congrats!!

Answer 10

It depends on the woman, the pregnancy, the doctor. etc. For a normal pregnancy you can expect at least one a month until she is about 7 or 8 months along. then you will go every 2 weeks until about 36 weeks then you go once a week until the baby is born.
1st visits are usually blood work and maybe an ultrasound. then after that they will check weight, blood pressure, sugar in urine, ultrasounds size of the uterus, and size of the baby.
But like I said it all depends on the woman, the pregnancy, the doctor. Because every pregnancy is different.