What To Expect At Your Second Trimester OB Visit
Throughout your pregnancy, you will need to have regular visits with your obstetrician to ensure both you and your baby are in good health — and to ensure any problems that do arise don't go undetected for too long. Each of these visits will be a bit different, as your needs and the baby's needs change as the pregnancy progresses. Here's a look at what you can expect during your second trimester OB visit.
Growth Assessment
Your OB can tell how much your baby has grown by making some simple measurements. They'll use a tape measure to measure the distance from your pubic bone to the apex of your uterus and assess how much this distance has changed since they last saw you.
Heartbeat
The second trimester is when the baby's heartbeat first becomes detectable! This will be one of the most exciting parts of the visit. The OB will listen to the heartbeat to ensure it sounds healthy, and you'll get to hear it, too.
Blood Tests
The blood tests done during the second trimester tend to be more comprehensive than those done earlier in the pregnancy. This is because the second trimester is when problems like gestational diabetes often start appearing. Your OB will assess your blood sugar levels, protein levels, and the presence of certain antibodies in your blood. If you are Rh-negative, your OB will want to test your baby to see if their blood is Rh-positive, as this may mean you need a medication to keep your body from making Rh antibodies during the pregnancy.
Ultrasound
Sometimes an ultrasound will be conducted during his second-trimester visit, and other times, your doctor will send you to have it performed separately at an ultrasound clinic. In any case, the ultrasound will allow the doctor to detect any physical abnormalities in your baby, and depending on how far along you are, you may be able to tell the baby's sex. (This usually becomes apparent at 14 weeks.)
Genetic Testing
You do not have to have genetic testing done, but if you want to, you can have it done during this second-trimester visit. Generally, your doctor will screen for common genetic diseases like Downs Syndrome and Trisomy 13, but if you have other conditions that run in your family, you can screen for them, too.
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what to expect during your second trimester OB appointment. It can be a very rewarding and productive experience.
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