How often volition you have prenatal appointments during the third trimester?

Past the time yous hitting the 3rd trimester (28 weeks through the end of pregnancy), y'all're probably anxious for the baby to go far and want to go some much-needed rest while you tin.

The good news is you'll meet with your doctor more frequently to bank check on the growth and evolution of your baby, so you'll have a better sense of when it might be "go" time. In the third trimester, you lot'll take a prenatal appointment every two weeks from 28 to 36 weeks, and so you'll accept a prenatal visit in one case a week during the concluding month until you deliver.

In some practices where multiple practitioners share the on-telephone call pool, you may make your rounds to get to know everyone every bit your due date draws well-nigh. After all, there's a risk your medico won't be available when you give nascence.

What happens at your 3rd trimester appointments?

Like your previous prenatal appointments, you lot can await to get your blood pressure level and weight checked. Some practices have you provide a urine sample to screen for protein, sugar, and infection. Your doc will besides evaluate the baby'due south heartbeat using a Doppler and measure the fundal tiptop (the distance between your pubic bone and the elevation of your uterus). At this stage, the measurement should match the number of weeks you're meaning. Then, if you're 37 weeks, your fundal meridian should be around 37 centimeters.

If your baby is measuring too small-scale or too big, your doctor may order a third trimester ultrasound to evaluate her growth and your amniotic fluid levels. And if yous have a loftier-chance pregnancy, such equally living with gestational diabetes, your doctor may also order a third trimester ultrasound to do a biophysical contour (BPP) test, where your doctor volition examine the baby's movement and fluid level.

Your doctor may besides order an ultrasound if she isn't sure about the baby's position from an abdominal test. If it turns out the baby is breech, you may be offered an external cephalic version, which are maneuvers done to effort to turn the babe into a vertex (head-downward) position.

Past your due engagement? Your doctor may check your cervix to see if it'due south softening, effacing (thinning out), and dilating (opening). The cervical exam may give an idea of what method of consecration of labor to apply if it is indicated. (If you exercise have a pelvic test late in pregnancy, you might have a little spotting subsequently.) By and large, practitioners won't do cervical checks unless they feel it's necessary, so if you're non comfortable, you tin can reject them.

Moreover, you were screened to check whether you're Rh-negative during your start trimester. If information technology turns out you are Rh-negative, you will be given an injection of Rh immune globulin (sometimes called RhIg or RhoGAM) to foreclose your body from producing antibodies for the final part of your pregnancy.

And as always, your md will too discuss results from previous tests and follow up on bug that were brought upward at your last prenatal date.

Some questions you can expect from your practitioner are:

  • How are you feeling?
  • Do yous feel whatsoever unusual pain and aches?
  • Are yous experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions, which are imitation labor pains?
  • Are you having contractions?
  • How often do you experience your baby move?
  • Practise you have whatsoever sudden swelling?
  • How is your mood?
  • Are you getting enough slumber at dark?
  • How is your nutrition?

Whether or non she asks, let your doctor know about any symptoms you're having, even if they seem similar the usual fatigue, moodiness, or aches and pains.

Be certain to as well let your doctor know if y'all observe your baby is less active than usual (she'll inquire you to count baby's movements for a fix period of time each day).

Inside pregnancy: Weeks 28 to 37

A 3D animated look at a babe in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Third trimester testing

Group B strep

Between 36 and 37 weeks, your practitioner will swab your vagina and rectum to cheque for a common infection called group B strep. If your examination is positive, you'll be given antibiotics during labor to assist go along you from passing it on to your baby.

(If y'all've had a group B strep urinary tract infection during this pregnancy, you won't demand this test because even though the infection was treated, you'll automatically get antibiotics during labor. Likewise, y'all'll be automatically treated during labor if you've previously had a baby infected with group B strep.)

Gestational diabetes

If you were diagnosed with gestational diabetes. , your doctor volition continue to monitor your blood glucose levels and ensure that you're following a salubrious diet and exercise routine. Your md may besides order a third trimester ultrasound to check your baby'due south growth and evolution.

Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (very high blood pressure) ordinarily develops during the 3rd trimester. Some of the signs of preeclampsia are sudden swelling in the face and hands and poly peptide in the urine. Most of the time, patients with preeclampsia take no symptoms and it is incidentally diagnosed in the role with new onset high blood pressure. If yous're past 37 weeks of pregnancy, so your doctor may want to evangelize your infant. Only if you're not at 37 weeks, your doctor volition lodge an ultrasound and heart charge per unit monitoring to check your baby's well-being. In severe cases, your md may want to admit you to the hospital and consider delivering your baby early.

Twins and College-Gild Multiples

Conveying twins, triplets and higher-order multiples is considered a high-chance pregnancy. Considering yous're at risk for preterm birth, y'all may demand more frequent prenatal appointments, sometimes weekly. Yous'll besides need more tests, including an ultrasound and/or non-stress test, which tracks your babies' centre rate for a period of time. If you're experiencing symptoms of preterm labor, such as contractions, vaginal spotting, and abdominal cramps, be sure to warning your md.

Placenta Previa

If you were establish to accept placenta previa, which is what happens when the placenta partially or totally covers the cervix, you'll take a third trimester ultrasound to check whether the previa has resolved. If information technology hasn't, you'll most likely have a C-department to evangelize your infant safely. Some women with placenta previa experience heavy haemorrhage, and in this example, your doctor may recommend a C-department to deliver your baby before. You'll most likely be given corticosteroids to assistance your baby'south lungs develop faster if your commitment is scheduled earlier 37 weeks.

Boosted Tests

Your blood may be checked over again for anemia, particularly if you were anemic earlier in your pregnancy.

If you're at gamble for sexually transmitted infections, you'll be tested again for syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV.

Vaccination

You should go the Tdap vaccine to help protect you and your baby from pertussis (whooping coughing). Even if you've been vaccinated before, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend all pregnant women go a booster betwixt 27 and 36 weeks.

If influenza season is here or approaching, your practitioner should talk with you lot near the benefits of getting a flu shot if you haven't already had one. Your medico will also talk to you lot about the COVID-nineteen vaccine, which helps protect you from the virus and lessens the severity of the illness if you become sick. Studies show that antibodies are also passed to the fetus.

Questions to ask your ob-gyn during your 3rd trimester

Before your appointment, it'southward a good idea to write downwardly whatsoever questions you may take for your doctor. This is also a nifty time to start thinking near your birth plan as well every bit what to expect postpartum. Hither are some common questions you may want to ask:

  • Where can I take childbirth classes?
  • Where should I go if I'm in labor and ready to deliver?
  • What are signs of labor that I should look out for?
  • What happens if my water breaks or I go into labor in the middle of the nighttime?
  • What's the difference between my water breaking and leaking fluid/having discharge?
  • How do Braxton-Hicks contractions feel, and how are they unlike from real labor contractions?
  • How should I time my contractions?
  • If my contractions are getting more intense and closer together, should I give you lot a phone call or head direct to the labor and delivery center?
  • Will you exist there throughout my labor or at my delivery?
  • What exactly happens during delivery?
  • How long should I expect to stay at the hospital?
  • Does the hospital offering lactation support if I'1000 breastfeeding?
  • Volition the hospital reach out to my baby'southward pediatrician to transfer records later on giving birth?
  • When should I schedule a postpartum appointment?

see-through belly of pregnant woman

A 3D animated look at a babe in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Call back to discuss postpartum considerations

Since you may not be in whatever shape to make of import decisions right after delivery, now'south the fourth dimension to start talking about whether you want your baby boy circumcised, whether you plan to breastfeed, and what you'd like to do for contraception later you have your baby. (Of class, yous can e'er alter your mind betwixt at present then.)

And if you haven't establish a physician for your infant, it's fourth dimension to go started. Your practitioner can give you some names.

Finally, your practitioner may screen you for signs of depression during pregnancy. Simply don't wait to exist asked. If you're feeling depressed or broken-hearted, allow your caregiver know. She can refer you to someone who can help.

She may besides enquire you most your support network at home after you've given nativity and mention the signs of postpartum depression (PPD). Information technology'southward helpful to know how to distinguish normal "baby dejection" brought on by fatigue and hormones from true postpartum depression. If y'all call back you may be suffering from depression or anxiety, information technology's important to go help immediately.

Learn more near what to await at your prenatal appointments:

  • What to expect at your prenatal visits
  • Your first prenatal visit
  • Second-trimester prenatal visits