Antenatal Care: What to Expect at Each Visit

Author: Muskan Nagora, MBBS

Medical reviewer: Azuka Chinweokwu Ezeike, MBBS, FWACS, FMCOG, MSc (PH)  

Highlights

• Antenatal care involves regular check-ups, screenings, and guidance to keep the mother and baby healthy.
• The WHO recommends at least eight visits, starting in the first trimester, to monitor growth and prevent complications.
• Early visits confirm pregnancy, assess health, and estimate the due date.
• Later visits track blood pressure, weight, and the baby’s heartbeat while preparing for labour.
• Report warning signs like bleeding, severe headache, fever, swelling, or reduced baby movement immediately.

Introduction

Having a baby is a big change in a woman's life. How you are cared for can shape how you feel about it all. If you get good care, you can have a good birth. You will feel in charge, strong, and happy.Antenatal (prenatal) care keeps you and your baby healthy. These visits include doctor checks, tips on food, help for your feelings, vaccines, and some tests.

Why Antenatal Care Is Important

Good care while you are pregnant helps you stay safe. It means a healthy baby and a better time for you.This is done under medical supervision, with regular check-ups and supplements. This care is to help you have a safe pregnancy with expert help.

Good prenatal care helps doctors find problems early. These include problems like:

• High blood pressure 
• Infections
• A baby with a low birth weight. 

This gives time to treat them before they get worse.

Schedule of Antenatal Visits

In 2002, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the Focused Antenatal Care (FANC), which consisted of at least four visits during pregnancy [1].In 2016, the WHO updated its guidelines to promote a minimum of eight contacts for better health and a good pregnancy experience [2].The visits are as follows: 

• The first contact should be in the first 12 weeks. 
• Two contacts in the second trimester (at 20 and 26 weeks). 
• Five contacts in the third trimester (at 30, 34, 36, 38, and 40 weeks).
• An additional visit at 41 weeks if you haven’t delivered yet.

What to Expect at the First Antenatal Visit

The first check-up is to find out the baby’s expected due date, check for any health risks for you or your baby, and do basic health screenings. This first visit should happen before 12 weeks of pregnancy [3].At this visit, your doctor will:

• Ask about your past health( History)
• Check you (Examination) 
• Do tests-(Blood tests and ultrasound) 

If there are any abnormalities, you will need more check-ups to ensure that you and your baby stay healthy.

Medical history and family history

During this visit, your doctor or nurse will ask about your health history [3]. 
This includes:

• General health: Your age, job, and whether you are married or single. They will ask about your beliefs or allergies. You will also be asked about past sickness, medicines, and vaccinations.
• Reproductive health: Any past pregnancies, your monthly cycle, and when your last period was.
• Family history: Any genetic/inherited diseases in your family.
• Surgeries: Any past surgeries or stays in a hospital.
• Lifestyle: If you smoke, drink, or use drugs, and have any experiences of physical or emotional harm. If you had any recent travels.
• Mental and emotional health: Your doctor may ask some questions or do short tests. This helps check for stress or other mental health problems.

Examination

A full physical exam will be done. The doctor will check your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature), weight, and, if required, a pelvic exam. Based on how far you are, they might also check your baby’s heartbeat and fundal height, and how the baby is lying in the womb ( [3,4].Blood Tests:

• Blood type: To identify your blood group and genotype
• Complete blood count (CBC): To check your overall health by measuring red cells, white cells, and platelets.
• Checking for infections( HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B)

At each visit, you’ll be asked to provide a urine sample. This easy test helps your doctor check for sugar, protein, and bacteria. Sugar could be a sign of diabetes. Protein can be a sign of preeclampsia or kidney problems. 

Dating scan (ultrasound)

The best way to know how far along you are is a first-trimester ultrasound. An early ultrasound is helpful if your periods are irregular or you don't know your last period date. It gives a more accurate due date and helps check for twins or other things [2].

If an ultrasound is not available, doctors often calculate the due date from the first day of your last period (LMP). WHO  recommends that at least one ultrasound should be done before 24 weeks. This is to check the pregnancy, look for any problems, and help calculate the due date [2].

Discussion of vitamins, lifestyle, and pregnancy concerns (Health education)

Your healthcare provider will recommend:

• Balanced Diet: Eat a balanced diet that gives you enough energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. A healthy diet has lots of green and orange vegetables, fruits, whole grains, meat, fish, eggs, beans, and nuts. 
• Supplements: With good food, some supplements are also a must to help keep you and the baby well. Iron and folic acid are the most important of them all. 
• Iron: To help prevent anaemia and improve oxygen supply to both you and the baby. This lowers the risk of early birth and low birth weight.
• Folic acid: To prevent neural tube defects and support healthy cell growth. 
• Calcium: Apart from iron and folic acid, calcium is also beneficial, as taking calcium each day lowers the risk of preeclampsia  [5]. 
• Limit the intake of caffeine: Take no more than  2–3 cups(300 mg) of coffee. 
• Be Active: Physical activity is a good idea to stay well. It helps stop you from gaining too much weight. 

When you visit the doctor, mention what you are feeling physically or mentally, what worries you, or if you are feeling sick, have any health problems, or are worried about your baby. Ask any questions you have about food, exercise, travel, and medicines. 

Learn and recognise the warning signs that need quick help. 

What to Expect at Routine (subsequent) Antenatal Visits

During the second trimester, at each antenatal visit, the doctor will check 

• Your overall health
• Discuss any new symptoms such as headaches, changes in sight, belly pain, feeling sick, bleeding, or leaking fluid 
• Blood pressure 
• Weight
• The size of the womb
• The way the baby is lying 
• Your baby’s heartbeat 

By about 20 weeks, you may feel your baby move. After that, your doctor will ask about your baby’s movements at every visit. Between 24 and 28 weeks, you may be screened for gestational diabetes if you are at risk. If your blood type is Rh-negative, your doctor will repeat an antibody screen at 28 weeks. You will also get an anti-D injection to prevent problems in future pregnancies.

Special Tests and Screenings During Pregnancy

• Glucose tolerance test: To check for diabetes 
• Genetic and chromosomal screening: To screen your baby for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome, and Patau's syndrome.  
• Fetal anatomy scan: To check how your baby’s organs are developing. 
• Test for Group B Streptococcus: It can cause various types of infections during pregnancy, ranging from asymptomatic to serious infections. 
• Non-stress tests: To check for the baby’s heart rate as the baby moves or when you have contractions.
• Biophysical profile: To check for the baby’s health, and is usually done when a high-risk pregnancy is there or when other tests are irregular.
• Doppler studies: It is a special type of ultrasound that helps the doctor see how the blood is flowing in the placenta. This helps the doctor understand if the baby is getting enough oxygen and nutrients. 
  
  

Third Trimester Antenatal Visits

The third trimester is from 26 weeks until you give birth. You will see your doctor more often. At each visit, your doctor will check your blood pressure, weight, and fundal height. They will also check the baby’s heartbeat and movement, and talk about how you feel.If there are any problems, you may need more tests or visits [4].

 A pelvic exam may be done to check your cervix if you show signs of labour.As you get near your due date, your doctor will talk to you about labour signs, induction options, post-term pregnancy, breastfeeding, and birth control.

Women at high risk are tested again for HIV between 28 and 36 weeks. The Tdap vaccine (for tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) is given between 27 and 36 weeks to protect both mom and the baby [4]. In low-resource settings with poor immunization coverage, the WHO recommends a five-dose tetanus immunization schedule for pregnant women

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider Between Visits

Some symptoms during pregnancy need urgent attention [5,6]. 
If you have any of these signs, go to the nearest hospital or health centre immediately:

• Bleeding or leaking fluid from the vagina
• Fits or convulsions
• Severe headache with blurred vision
• High fever or chills, or feeling very tired for no reason
• Severe abdominal pain
• Fast or difficult breathing
• Severe swelling of the limbs or face
• Chest pain or a fast heartbeat
• Severe nausea
• Baby stops moving or moves less 

Conclusion

Antenatal care involves regular check-ups to keep you and your baby healthy during pregnancy. It includes physical exams, lab tests, ultrasounds, and nutrition guidance. WHO recommends at least eight visits, starting early, to monitor growth and detect problems.

Early visits confirm pregnancy and assess health, while later ones track progress and prepare for delivery. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice warning signs like bleeding, severe headache, fever, or reduced baby movement.

References

1.  Jiwani SS, Amouzou-Aguirre A, Carvajal L, Chou D, Keita Y, Moran AC, et al. Timing and number of antenatal care contacts in low and middle-income countries: Analysis in the Countdown to 2030 priority countries. J Glob Health. 2020 June;10(1):010502.
Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7101027/

2.  World Health Organisation. WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organisation; 2016. 1 p.
Available from:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK409109/?utm_source

3. Karrar SA, Vadakekut ES, Hong PL. Initial Antepartum Care [Internet].
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan–. [Updated 2024 Aug 12; cited 2025 Oct 24]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK570635/ 

4.  Fowler JR, Mahdy H, Vadakekut ES, Jack BW. Antepartum Care in the Second and Third Trimester. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 [cited 2025 Oct 20]. 
Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448166/ 

5.  World Health Organisation, editor. Pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care: a guide for essential practice. 3rd edition. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2015. 1 p. (Integrated management of pregnancy and childbirth). 
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK326665/

6.  World Health Organisation, editor. Counselling for maternal and newborn health care: a handbook for building skills. Geneva: World Health Organisation, Department of Making Pregnancy Safer; 2010. 1 p. 
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304190/

Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Published October 25, 2025