Pregnancy Checklist: Your Trimester-by-Trimester OB-GYN Visit Schedule

Regular prenatal checkups are one of the most important things you can do for a healthy pregnancy — they catch complications early, track your baby's growth, and give you a chance to ask questions along the way. Here's a trimester-by-trimester breakdown of what to expect at your OB-GYN visits in the Philippines, from the first positive test to delivery.

Before You're Even Pregnant: Preconception Checkup (Optional but Recommended)

If you're planning a pregnancy, a preconception visit lets your OB-GYN check your general health, update vaccinations (like rubella and varicella if you're not immune), and start you on folic acid supplementation — ideally beginning at least one month before conception to help prevent neural tube defects.

First Trimester (Weeks 1–13)

Your first prenatal visit (as soon as you confirm pregnancy)

Book your first OB-GYN visit as soon as a home pregnancy test is positive — ideally by 6–8 weeks. This visit typically includes:

• Confirmation of pregnancy via transvaginal or abdominal ultrasound (to confirm location, viability, and estimate due date)
• Complete medical and obstetric history review
• Baseline blood tests: CBC, blood type and Rh factor, hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis (VDRL/RPR), rubella immunity
• Urinalysis
• Blood pressure, weight, and BMI baseline
• Discussion of prenatal vitamins (folic acid, iron, calcium)

Follow-up visits

Typically every 4 weeks during the first trimester. Your OB-GYN monitors for early symptoms like severe nausea (hyperemesis), bleeding, or cramping, and may order a first-trimester screening/NT scan (around weeks 11–13) to assess chromosomal risk if desired.

Second Trimester (Weeks 14–27)

Often called the most comfortable stretch of pregnancy — morning sickness typically eases, and this is when most major screening happens.

• Visits every 4 weeks through week 28
• Anatomy scan / Level 2 ultrasound (weeks 18–22): a detailed ultrasound checking the baby's organs, spine, limbs, and overall development — this is also typically when you can learn the baby's sex, if desired
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), weeks 24–28: screens for gestational diabetes
• Repeat CBC to check for anemia, which is common in the second half of pregnancy
• Continued monitoring of blood pressure and weight gain (watching for signs of preeclampsia)
• Discussion of fetal movement (kick counts), which typically become noticeable around 18–22 weeks

Third Trimester (Weeks 28–40+)

Visits become more frequent as your due date approaches:

• Every 2 weeks from weeks 28–36
• Weekly from week 36 until delivery
• Group B Streptococcus (GBS) swab, weeks 35–37: checks for a common bacteria that can affect the baby during delivery if untreated
• Growth ultrasound as needed to check baby's size and position
• Fetal heart rate monitoring (NST) in later weeks, especially for higher-risk pregnancies
• Discussion and planning of your birth plan — vaginal delivery vs. C-section, choice of hospital, pain management preferences
• Continued blood pressure monitoring — critical in the third trimester to catch preeclampsia early (watch for headaches, vision changes, swelling, and upper abdominal pain)

Warning Signs to Call Your OB-GYN Immediately (Any Trimester)

• Vaginal bleeding or fluid leakage
• Severe or persistent abdominal pain
• Severe headache that doesn't resolve, or vision changes
• Sudden swelling of the face, hands, or feet
• Decreased or absent fetal movement (after it's normally been established)
• Fever, chills, or signs of infection
• Contractions before 37 weeks

High-Risk Pregnancy: When You May Need a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist

Most pregnancies are managed entirely by a general OB-GYN. You may be referred to a maternal-fetal medicine (perinatology) subspecialist if you have:

• Pre-existing diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease
• A multiples pregnancy (twins or more)
• A history of pregnancy loss or preterm birth
• Gestational diabetes or preeclampsia diagnosed during this pregnancy
• An abnormal finding on ultrasound requiring closer monitoring
• Advanced maternal age (35 and above) combined with other risk factors

PhilHealth Coverage for Pregnancy

PhilHealth's Maternity Care Package covers prenatal consultations, normal delivery, and postpartum care at accredited facilities, while the Newborn Care Package covers essential care for your baby immediately after birth. C-section deliveries and complications are covered under separate case rates — ask your OB-GYN's clinic to confirm accreditation and current package amounts.

Find an OB-GYN Near You

Whether you're confirming your first pregnancy or looking for a new OB-GYN closer to home, search MyDoktor.ph to find verified, PRC-licensed obstetricians across the Philippines — filter by city and PhilHealth accreditation.