What a Prenatal Visit with a Midwife Looks Like Month by Month

Prenatal visits are an essential part of your pregnancy care. They give you the chance to check in with your midwife, ask questions, and ensure that both you and your baby are healthy and thriving. At Attuned Midwifery Service, we take a personalized approach to every appointment, ensuring that we meet your unique needs and desires for your birth experience. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect during your prenatal visits with a midwife, month by month, so you’ll know what to prepare for—and how to make the most of each visit.

First Trimester (Weeks 1-12)

The first trimester is all about establishing care, confirming your pregnancy, and getting a clear picture of your health and any special needs. Here’s what you can expect at your initial appointments:

🩺 First Appointment

• Health History & Physical Exam: We’ll discuss your personal health, pregnancy history, lifestyle, and any concerns you may have.

• Initial Blood Work: Routine screenings will be done, including blood type, iron levels, and testing for things like gestational diabetes and infections.

• Ultrasound: If necessary, we may perform an early ultrasound to confirm your due date and assess your baby’s development.

• Pregnancy Timeline: We’ll go over the pregnancy timeline, answering any questions about the stages of pregnancy, prenatal vitamins, and lifestyle changes.

🌿 Emotional Support:

Starting a pregnancy is a time of excitement and sometimes worry. During this visit, we make space for your feelings and offer support to help you feel grounded and informed.

Second Trimester (Weeks 13-27)

The second trimester is often considered the “honeymoon” phase of pregnancy, as many early symptoms ease, and your baby begins to grow more rapidly. During this time, prenatal visits become a bit more routine:

🩺 Health Monitoring:

• Blood Pressure & Urine Tests: We’ll check for signs of preeclampsia or other complications.

• Fetal Heartbeat: We’ll use a Doppler to listen to your baby’s heartbeat, which is always a joyous moment!

• Weight & Growth Tracking: We’ll monitor your weight and the growth of your belly to ensure things are progressing smoothly.

• Ultrasound (if not done in the first trimester): A more detailed ultrasound (usually between 18-20 weeks) to check the anatomy of the baby, look for any potential complications, and confirm the due date.

🌱 Addressing Symptoms & Preparing for the Third Trimester:

As you get more comfortable in your pregnancy, we’ll focus on preparing you for the later stages of pregnancy, including things like birth plans, nutrition, exercise, and more.

Third Trimester (Weeks 28-40)

The third trimester brings a lot of anticipation, and we’ll begin preparing you for labor, delivery, and postpartum care. Here’s what you can expect as your baby’s birth nears:

🩺 Routine Checkups:

• Monitoring Vital Signs: We’ll check your blood pressure, weight, and urine regularly to monitor for signs of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.

• Fetal Position & Movement: We’ll check your baby’s position, growth, and movement patterns to make sure they’re progressing well and head-down (if possible).

• Group B Strep Test: A swab test to check for Group B Streptococcus, a bacteria that can affect the baby during delivery.

• Cervical Check (Optional): Starting at 36 weeks, we may begin checking for cervical dilation or effacement, though many people choose to skip this test unless necessary.

🌿 Labor Prep & Birth Planning:

• Birth Plan Review: We’ll go over your birth plan or preferences, including pain management, positions for labor, and who you want present at your birth.

• Postpartum Planning: We’ll also discuss what to expect postpartum, from breastfeeding to self-care to emotional health after the baby arrives.

• Packing Your Birth Kit: We’ll go over what to pack for your birth and make sure you’re prepared for the big day.

🛏️ Signs of Labor:

By the end of the third trimester, you’ll be learning to recognize the signs of labor. We’ll discuss early labor stages, when to call us, and how to manage discomfort in the final weeks.

What to Bring to Your Prenatal Appointments

To make the most of your prenatal visits, be sure to bring:

• Your questions or concerns: Write them down so you don’t forget to ask!

• A notebook or phone: To take notes on advice or recommendations from your midwife.

• Your support person: Bring your partner, family member, or birth doula if they’d like to be involved in your prenatal care.

The Attuned Midwifery Difference

Throughout each trimester, Attuned Midwifery Service offers more than just clinical care. Our focus is on building a relationship with you, so you feel fully supported, educated, and empowered every step of the way. Our personalized approach to prenatal care ensures that your visits are never rushed and that your voice is heard in every decision we make together.

Final Thoughts

Your prenatal visits are an opportunity to stay on top of your health and ensure your pregnancy is progressing smoothly. At Attuned Midwifery Service, we take pride in offering personalized, thorough, and compassionate care during each stage of pregnancy. From your first appointment to your final weeks before birth, we’re here to guide you, answer your questions, and support you every step of the way.