HealthPartners - Your guide to pregnancy

YOUR DUE DATE Unless you know the specific date you conceived, your due date is based on your last menstrual cycle. Only 1 in 20 babies are born exactly on their due date, but most are born within 10 days of that date. Your due date can be calculated based on calendar dates or a sonogram (ultrasound) exam.

SCAN + PLAY

How to estimate your due date: Subtract 3 months from the first day of your last menstrual period and add 1 week.

Example: Last Period (First day)....October 5 - Minus 3 months ...............July 5 + Plus 1 week .........................July 12

Estimated due date: July 12

Follow-up visits are usually shorter than your first appointment but are just as important. These checkups help you and your health care provider know if everything is going well. You’ll also have a chance to ask questions or share any concerns. As you get closer to your due date, you’ll see your health care provider more often.

FOLLOW-UP VISITS

Later in your pregnancy, your provider may also: • Measure your belly to check your baby’s growth • Feel your belly to check your baby’s position in your uterus • Ask you about your baby’s movements in your uterus • Ask you to do kick counts to track your baby’s moves (see page 9) • Give you a Tdap vaccination (27-36 weeks) (see page 33) • Do a pelvic exam to check your cervix for changes (close to due date)

During your first follow-up visit, your health care provider will have your lab test results. Based on these results and your medical and family history, your provider may discuss testing to screen for possible genetic disorders and birth defects (see page 10). During your follow-up appointments, your provider may: • Check your weight and blood pressure • Order blood and urine tests • Check your baby’s heartbeat (after 10-12 weeks) • Do certain prenatal screening tests (see page 8)

Your Guide to A Healthy Pregnancy 7