What
should I expect from this month's prenatal checkup?
This months' check up wont be as detailed as your initial
prenatal checkup but your doctor will still want to
cover some ground. The purpose of this visit, like all
subsequent visits, is to monitor your well being and
that of your baby and to ensure your pregnancy is going
smoothly. You can expect your doctor to check
• The size of your uterus (your doctor will palpate
your uterus to verify that your uterus is roughly the
size it should be at this stage of pregnancy)
• The fundal height (your doctor will measure
the distance between your pubic bone and the top of
your uterus the fundus after week 12 of your pregnancy)
• Your weight to see if you gaining appropriately
• Your blood pressure to spot any signs of chronic
hypertension (this becomes especially important as your
pregnancy progresses)
• Your urine to ensure your sugar and protein
levels are within the normal range
• The fetal heartbeat (your doctor will use a
Doppler or hand-held ultrasound unit to try to pick
up a fetal heartbeat after week 12 of your pregnancy,
when baby is a little bit bigger)
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