Second trimester prenatal care

As 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.

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, too, thanks to a special device called a Doppler.
• Assess fetal movement. Tell your health care provider when you begin noticing flutters or kicks — often 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.

Consider prenatal testing

During the second trimester, you may be offered various prenatal screenings or tests.

• Blood tests. Blood tests may be done to screen for developmental or chromosomal disorders, such as spina bifida or Down syndrome.
• Ultrasound. An ultrasound can help your health care provider evaluate your baby's growth and development. It also gives you an exciting glimpse of your baby.
• Diagnostic tests. If the results of a blood test or ultrasound are worrisome, your health care provider may recommend a more invasive diagnostic test, such as amniocentesis.

Keep your health care provider informed

The second trimester often brings a renewed sense of well-being. But there's a lot happening. Tell your health care provider what's on your mind, even if it seems silly or unimportant. Nothing is too trivial when it comes to your health — or your baby's health.

Related

Fetal development: What happens during the second trimester?
Pregnancy: Symptoms and emotions in the second trimester