Throughout your pregnancy, you will have various medical examinations to carry out in order to check that everything is going well and that the fetus is in good health.
To help you see things more clearly, here is a brief summary of these different medical examinations.
If your pregnancy is progressing normally, you will have a total of seven consultations:
A general and obstetric prenatal examination during the first trimester. Then an obstetric clinical examination every month from the 4th in the 9th month of pregnancy.
The same applies to blood tests: the first during the first trimester, then every month from the 4th in the 8th month of pregnancy.
Finally, you will perform three ultrasounds, one per trimester.
More details:
First trimester, the first exams are here!
First prenatal examination : This is a complete general and obstetric examination to take stock of your medical history.
First blood test to check: your immunity or not to rubella and toxoplasmosis, screening for syphilis. Your doctor may also request screening for HIV and hepatitis B.
Between the 11th and the 13th week you will have your first ultrasound. It allows you to date the pregnancy, check the number of fetuses as well as their proper development, but also to detect potential developmental anomalies.
During this ultrasound, the nuchal translucency (space located at the nape of the neck) of the fetus will be measured, this information will be combined with a blood test as well as the age of the mother. These three examinations allow the assessment of the risks of trisomy 21.
Second quarter assessments and follow-ups
During this trimester, an obstetric clinical examination and a blood test will be scheduled each month. Blood tests are used to detect rubella and toxoplasmosis in the event that you are not immune, and are also essential to detect possible gestational diabetes.
During your 5th month of pregnancy (between the 20th and the 22nd week) you will attend the second ultrasound.
This time you will be able to distinguish the baby's head, arms, legs and hands. This is the longest ultrasound, in fact a complete assessment is carried out: measurement of the limbs, verification of the proper development of the skeleton as well as the proper functioning of the organs.
Third trimester prenatal examination:
Again, no surprises for this last trimester: prenatal examination each month to prepare for childbirth, as well as two blood tests (you are exempt from these in the 9th trimester) . month).
Your third and final ultrasound will take place during your 7th month of pregnancy. This will allow us to check the proper growth of your baby (his weight will also be estimated), the maturity of the placenta, the location of the umbilical cord as well as the correct positioning of the child for childbirth.
In some cases, during this last trimester, your doctor may order an X-ray of the pelvis if he thinks it is too narrow for a natural delivery.
And that's it for this pregnancy reminder! I hope it will help you see more clearly about your different appointments to plan and I hope it will help you approach these consultations more calmly.
Take care of yourself and enjoy this beautiful adventure.