Second-Trimester Visits

The timing of your prenatal care visits during your second trimester depends on your health and any special needs you may have during your pregnancy. Healthy moms-to-be with no known risk factors often need fewer visits than women with medical or obstetric problems.

As long as you and your baby are well, you likely will have a checkup every 4 to 6 weeks until week 28 of pregnancy. During your second-trimester visits, you may have the following exams:

• Ultrasound Examination: This ultrasound scan is done after approximately 18 weeks of gestation and provides information about your baby’s basic anatomy. Your health care provider may be able to tell the baby’s sex if the baby is in a good position for the genitals to be seen. The amount of amniotic fluid is checked, and the baby’s heart activity is assessed. This ultrasound examination is not performed at your prenatal visit, but is scheduled with an ultrasound specialist to assure high quality. Despite all of the benefits, a normal ultrasound exam does not preclude the possibility of some fetal abnormalities.

• Fundal Height: As your baby grows, the top of the uterus (the fundus) grows up and out of the pelvic cavity. At about 12 weeks of pregnancy, it can be felt just above the pubic bone. At 20 weeks, it reaches the navel. Starting at this prenatal care visit, your health care provider will start to measure the fundal height, the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus. This measurement allows your health care provider to assess your baby’s size and growth rate. As a rule of thumb, the fundal height (in centimeters) should roughly equal the number of weeks you’re pregnant. For example, at 20 weeks, the fundal height should be about 18 to 22 centimeters.