Scheduling a Prenatal Visit
This is an overview of the standard prenatal visit schedule and what to expect at each appointment. You may have additional visits scheduled if deemed necessary by your provider or if you are having complications.
Please call the office at 312.695.7382 to schedule these appointments. A patient service representative can also help you schedule them when you are in the office.
Feel free to contact us between appointments with questions and concerns. You can also send us a MyNM Patient Portal Message for any non-urgent questions (expect an answer within one to three days).
Please call the office at 312.695.7382 to schedule these appointments. A patient service representative can also help you schedule them when you are in the office.
Feel free to contact us between appointments with questions and concerns. You can also send us a MyNM Patient Portal Message for any non-urgent questions (expect an answer within one to three days).
Early pregnancy consultation
This visit is usually scheduled between 7–10 weeks. You will meet with a doctor who will perform a urine test to confirm that you are pregnant. You might also have an ultrasound depending on how far along the pregnancy is. The doctor will review your medical history and discuss how this may impact your pregnancy. You will review options for genetic testing and the doctor will answer any questions you might have. Prior to leaving the office you will have routine prenatal labs drawn.
New OB visit
This visit is usually scheduled one to two weeks after your initial consultation. You will meet with one of our nurse practitioners and will have a full physical exam. She will listen to the baby’s heart beat, review your lab results and answer any questions you may have. If you did not have an ultrasound with your early pregnancy consultation then you will be scheduled for an ultrasound at this visit.
12 weeks
Your provider will listen to the baby’s heart rate and answer any questions you may have. This may coincide with your New OB visit, and if so, does not require two separate appointments.
16 weeks
Your provider will listen to the baby's heart rate and offer screening for spina bifida (called a maternal serum AFP test). If you choose to have the testing done then you will have your blood drawn at this appointment.
20 weeks
A technician will conduct an ultrasound (called the anatomy scan) to ensure your baby is growing normally and all of the organs appear normal. This scan can take up to one hour to complete. You will also have the option of finding out the baby’s gender. If you are having a baby boy (or don’t know the gender), you should decide if you want him circumcised after birth. Talk to your provider if you are unsure.
After the ultrasound you will have an appointment with your provider to discuss the results. Please note that you will get a reminder about your provider appointment through the MyNM Patient Portal but you will not get a reminder about your ultrasound visit (which should be scheduled prior to your provider visit).
24 weeks
You will need an appointment with both the lab and one of our nurse practitioners at this visit. You will begin at the lab to start your diabetes testing. The test requires you to drink a sugary drink. You do not need to fast for this visit and can eat normally during the day prior to starting the test. We will also check your blood count to determine if you are anemic and need additional iron supplements.
You will then meet with your provider to listen to the baby's heart rate and measure your belly (to ensure the baby is growing normally). From 24 weeks forward, your provider will listen to the baby’s heart rate and measure your belly at each visit.
After your visit you will return to the lab to have your blood drawn (exactly one hour after you started the test). This is a screening test for diabetes so if it is positive you will need to complete additional testing.
28 weeks
You will receive a Tdap shot to protect the baby from whooping cough after birth. You will also take a survey called a PHQ9 to check your mood. Let your provider know if you're experiencing symptoms of anxiety/depression. If your blood type is Rh negative (check with your provider) you will also receive a Rhogam shot at this visit.
32 weeks
This visit will be with one of our nurse practitioners. You will have labs drawn for HIV and syphilis screening (this is required by the state of Illinois). You will also discuss with your provider what type of birth control you might want to use after delivery.
36 weeks
Your provider will perform a Group B Strep swab to test for a common bacteria that may be present in the genital area.
Your provider will also check the position of the baby to ensure the head is down. You will discuss signs of labor and when to call the office.
38 weeks
If you are considering an elective induction of labor, your provider will check the cervix to see if it has started to dilate. The earliest you may be scheduled for an elective induction is 39 weeks.
We will also ask you to schedule your postpartum visit at this time. We like to see patients about six weeks after delivery. The postpartum visit will be scheduled with one of our nurse practitioners.
39 weeks
Be sure to bring any last questions you might have about the labor process.
40 weeks
Your provider will check your cervix to see if you are dilated and will discuss inducing your labor if you don't go into labor within the next week.
This visit is usually scheduled between 7–10 weeks. You will meet with a doctor who will perform a urine test to confirm that you are pregnant. You might also have an ultrasound depending on how far along the pregnancy is. The doctor will review your medical history and discuss how this may impact your pregnancy. You will review options for genetic testing and the doctor will answer any questions you might have. Prior to leaving the office you will have routine prenatal labs drawn.
New OB visit
This visit is usually scheduled one to two weeks after your initial consultation. You will meet with one of our nurse practitioners and will have a full physical exam. She will listen to the baby’s heart beat, review your lab results and answer any questions you may have. If you did not have an ultrasound with your early pregnancy consultation then you will be scheduled for an ultrasound at this visit.
12 weeks
Your provider will listen to the baby’s heart rate and answer any questions you may have. This may coincide with your New OB visit, and if so, does not require two separate appointments.
16 weeks
Your provider will listen to the baby's heart rate and offer screening for spina bifida (called a maternal serum AFP test). If you choose to have the testing done then you will have your blood drawn at this appointment.
20 weeks
A technician will conduct an ultrasound (called the anatomy scan) to ensure your baby is growing normally and all of the organs appear normal. This scan can take up to one hour to complete. You will also have the option of finding out the baby’s gender. If you are having a baby boy (or don’t know the gender), you should decide if you want him circumcised after birth. Talk to your provider if you are unsure.
After the ultrasound you will have an appointment with your provider to discuss the results. Please note that you will get a reminder about your provider appointment through the MyNM Patient Portal but you will not get a reminder about your ultrasound visit (which should be scheduled prior to your provider visit).
24 weeks
You will need an appointment with both the lab and one of our nurse practitioners at this visit. You will begin at the lab to start your diabetes testing. The test requires you to drink a sugary drink. You do not need to fast for this visit and can eat normally during the day prior to starting the test. We will also check your blood count to determine if you are anemic and need additional iron supplements.
You will then meet with your provider to listen to the baby's heart rate and measure your belly (to ensure the baby is growing normally). From 24 weeks forward, your provider will listen to the baby’s heart rate and measure your belly at each visit.
After your visit you will return to the lab to have your blood drawn (exactly one hour after you started the test). This is a screening test for diabetes so if it is positive you will need to complete additional testing.
28 weeks
You will receive a Tdap shot to protect the baby from whooping cough after birth. You will also take a survey called a PHQ9 to check your mood. Let your provider know if you're experiencing symptoms of anxiety/depression. If your blood type is Rh negative (check with your provider) you will also receive a Rhogam shot at this visit.
32 weeks
This visit will be with one of our nurse practitioners. You will have labs drawn for HIV and syphilis screening (this is required by the state of Illinois). You will also discuss with your provider what type of birth control you might want to use after delivery.
36 weeks
Your provider will perform a Group B Strep swab to test for a common bacteria that may be present in the genital area.
Your provider will also check the position of the baby to ensure the head is down. You will discuss signs of labor and when to call the office.
38 weeks
If you are considering an elective induction of labor, your provider will check the cervix to see if it has started to dilate. The earliest you may be scheduled for an elective induction is 39 weeks.
We will also ask you to schedule your postpartum visit at this time. We like to see patients about six weeks after delivery. The postpartum visit will be scheduled with one of our nurse practitioners.
39 weeks
Be sure to bring any last questions you might have about the labor process.
40 weeks
Your provider will check your cervix to see if you are dilated and will discuss inducing your labor if you don't go into labor within the next week.