Your First Prenatal Appointment
Your first prenatal care visit takes place when you are 8–10 weeks pregnant. This initial visit is typically the longest. You will see either a midwife or women’s health nurse practitioner during your prenatal visit. However, midwives are the only providers who care for you during labor and birth. It’s possible that you may not meet a midwife until you go into labor.
Your midwife or nurse practitioner will conduct the following during your first visit:
- Collect a full medical history about you, your partner, past vaccinations, and previous pregnancies
- Perform a physical exam to assess your heart and lungs
- A Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer if needed
- Order blood and urine tests
- Schedule you for an ultrasound with a radiologist
- You’ll have two ultrasounds during your pregnancy:
- Before week 13
- At 20 weeks
- You’ll have two ultrasounds during your pregnancy:
- Discuss approaches for a healthy pregnancy
- Review medications and supplements that are safe to take during pregnancy
- Answer any questions you may have
Prenatal Appointment Schedule
| Gestational Age | Appointment Frequency |
|---|---|
| 8–10 weeks | First visit |
| 11–28 weeks | Every 4 weeks |
| 29–36 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| 37–42 weeks | Every week |
| After delivery | 2 weeks & 6 weeks postpartum |
Follow-Up Prenatal Visits
During follow-up visits, we will educate you and address your questions and concerns about pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Your provider’s goal is to make sure that you and your baby are healthy:
- Check your blood pressure and weight
- Measure your baby’s growth and heartbeat
- Order recommended labs, ultrasounds, and tests
- Provide education related to your gestational age and what to expect in the coming months
Postpartum Care Visits
You will meet with your midwife twice after you give birth:
- Two weeks postpartum
- Six weeks postpartum
Postpartum visits give you a chance to discuss your birth with your midwife and address your concerns:
- Thoughts and feelings about your birth experience
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Sexual health
- Vaginal healing
- Plans for birth control
Find a BirthCare HealthCare Midwife
Schedule an Appointment
We recommend you schedule your appointments with the same 2–3 providers throughout your pregnancy if possible. Call 801-581-4014 to make an appointment or for scheduling questions.
MyChart is a secure, online health management tool you can use to send non-urgent questions and concerns. This is a great option for questions that can wait 2–3 days for a reply. BCHC providers team are able to answer most questions. Questions for a specific provider may be forwarded if appropriate. However, please note that it may take several days for a response.
Call your pharmacy first to initiate a refill request.
Urgent Concerns
Call 801-587-3822 to contact our midwife on call. This provider is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Depending on the needs of patients in active labor, it may take 20+ minutes for a response.
Virtual Prenatal Care
U of U Health offers virtual prenatal care. Before each virtual visit, you will record your weight, blood pressure, and baby’s heartbeat. These measurements allow your provider to know if your pregnancy is healthy. If there are any concerns, your provider will recommend that you visit the clinic for an in-person appointment.
Resources for Our Patients
What Is the Difference Between an OB/GYN & a Midwife?
Have you ever wondered the difference between a midwife and an OB? If so, you're not alone. There are so many blogs and forums that talk about midwifes and OB/GYNs.
YoMingo®: Prenatal Education On the Go
University of Utah Health offers anytime, anywhere education for expectant mothers through YoMingo®, with all the tools and support you need at every stage of your pregnancy, including:
- Evidence-based information on prenatal care, labor & birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and newborn care including lots of videos,
- List of available classes, and
- Kick counter, contraction timer, personal journal, feeding log, immunization log, and other tools.