Doctor’s visits: Third trimester
Third-trimester doctor’s visit
In your third trimester your visits to the health care provider will increase from once a month to once every other week until your 36th week.
The doctor will:
- Monitor your weight gain. During your third trimester you should be gaining 3/4 to 1 pound each week.
- Monitor your blood pressure.
- Screen for diabetes at 28 weeks.
- Check your urine sample for sugar and protein.
- Listen to your baby’s heartbeat.
- Check the size and position of the baby by feeling your abdomen.
- Examine your feet, ankles, and hands for signs of swelling.
Third-trimester tests
- Biophysical Profile (BPP) determines fetal health.
- Glucose Challenge Screen & Glucose Tolerance Test (NST) tests for gestational diabetes.
- Fetal Non-stress Test measures fetal heart rate.
- Group B Strep Infection tests for a type of bacterial infection that can be found in a pregnant woman’s vagina or rectum.
Writing your birth plan
A birth plan is an informal agreement that represents an understanding between you, your spouse, your doctor, and the nurse about your choice of anesthesia, whom you want present during delivery, and whether you’ll breastfeed. Ask your doctor whether he or she will abide by such a plan, provided your birth is a normal, uncomplicated vaginal delivery.
