What to Expect During Pre-Natal Visits
Caring for your baby begins even before she is born. This is why it's important to have regular prenatal visits with your OB-GYN.
The moment you suspect you're pregnant, it's best to have yourself checked by a doctor. The earlier you could have your prenatal checkup, the better.
The moment you suspect you're pregnant, it's best to have yourself checked by a doctor. The earlier you could have your prenatal checkup, the better.
If you're an anxious mom like me, it's helpful to know the frequency of prenatal visits and what to expect during each checkup.
It's also a good way to know how much you would be paying each prenatal visit (if you don't have a health insurance).
It's also a good way to know how much you would be paying each prenatal visit (if you don't have a health insurance).
Here's a simple guide on the frequency of prenatal visits for a normal pregnancy, what to tests and procedures are done, and how much you might be spending for each visit.
Important note: This is focused on a Philippine setting.
First Trimester Pre-Natal Visits
1 to 2 months (4 to 8 weeks)
- Checkup once a month
- Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit
- Transvaginal ultrasound for confirmation of fetal heartbeat at 8 weeks
- Average cost: 800 to 1,300php
- Routine laboratories: urinalysis, complete blood count, random blood sugar, hepatitis-B, HIV
- Average cost: 1,000 to 1,5000php total
3 months (12 weeks)
- Checkup once a month
- Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit
- Fetal heartbeat can be heard from Doppler machine in doctor's clinic
- Doctor to check your weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
Second Trimester Pre-Natal Visits
4 months (16 weeks)
- Check up once a month
- Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit
- Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
5 months (20 weeks)
- Check up once a month
- Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit
- Earliest time to detect gender
- Average cost: 800 to 1,300php
- Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
- Administration of tetanus vaccine at week 20
- Average cost: 100 to 150php
- Tip: You can get free tetanus shots at your local health center!
6 months (24 weeks)
- Check up once a month
- Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit
- Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
Third Trimester Pre-Natal Visits
7 months (28 weeks)
- Check up twice a month (every 2 weeks)
- Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit
- Ideal time to have 3D/4D gender ultrasound
- Related read: Affordable 3D Ultrasound at All About Women, SM Cebu
- Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
- Additional laboratory: glucose challenge test
- Average cost: 300 to 500php
8 months (32 weeks)
- Check up twice a month (every 2 weeks)
- Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit
- Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
9 months (36 weeks onwards)
- Check up every week until baby is born
- Average cost: 300 to 350php/visit
- Routine checkup: fetal heartbeat, weight gain, blood pressure, fundal height, and general health condition
- Internal examination of cervix
It's important to note that the frequency of prenatal visits highly depends on your doctor's judgment.
If you have any health problems before or during pregnancy, or if you have a high-risk pregnancy, your doctor might require more prenatal visits than usual.
She may also order additional tests to make sure you and your baby are okay.
If you have any health problems before or during pregnancy, or if you have a high-risk pregnancy, your doctor might require more prenatal visits than usual.
She may also order additional tests to make sure you and your baby are okay.
0 comments