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Prenatal care: What to expect during the second trimester
Pregnancy and prenatal care go hand in hand. During the second trimester, prenatal care includes routine lab tests and measurements of your baby's growth. You may consider prenatal testing, too.
By Mayo Clinic staffAs your pregnancy progresses, prenatal care remains important. You'll continue to visit your health care provider regularly — probably once a month throughout the second trimester. Here's what to expect at your prenatal appointments.
Prenatal care: Covering the basics
Your health care provider will check your blood pressure and weight at every visit. Mention any signs or symptoms you've been experiencing. Then it's time for your baby to take center stage. Your health care provider may:
- Track your baby's growth. By measuring your abdomen from the top of your uterus to your pubic bone, your health care provider can gauge your baby's growth. This measurement in centimeters often equals the number of weeks of pregnancy.
- Listen to your baby's heartbeat. You'll hear your baby's heartbeat, thanks to a special device called a Doppler.
- Assess fetal movement. Tell your health care provider when you begin noticing flutters or kicks. This often happens by 20 weeks.
Expect routine lab tests
Your health care provider may want to test a urine sample for sugar and protein. You may need blood tests to check for low iron levels or gestational diabetes, a temporary form of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy. If you have Rh negative blood, you may be tested for Rh antibodies. These antibodies may be harmful if your baby has Rh positive blood.
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