One of the most common questions we hear early in pregnancy is, “What will prenatal care look like?” While every pregnancy is unique, prenatal visits with a midwife generally follow a predictable rhythm designed to support both the physical and emotional health of mother and baby throughout pregnancy.
At Fort Worth Midwifery, our prenatal care is relationship-based, educational, and individualized. Prenatal visits are not just about checking boxes — they are an opportunity to build trust, ask questions, build confidence, prepare for birth, and receive support throughout your pregnancy journey.
How Often Are Prenatal Appointments?
In general, prenatal visits are scheduled:
- Every 4–5 weeks during early pregnancy
- Every 2–3 weeks from about 28–35 weeks
- Weekly from 36 weeks until birth
This schedule allows us to monitor your health and your baby’s growth while also giving you plenty of time to discuss questions, concerns, and preparation for labor, birth, postpartum recovery, and newborn care.
What Happens During Prenatal Visits?
At most prenatal appointments, we will:
- Check your blood pressure and vital signs
- Measure your uterus to monitor baby’s growth
- Listen to your baby’s heartbeat
- Draw lab work
- Review any lab work or ultrasound results
- Discuss nutrition, lifestyle, and common pregnancy symptoms
- Answer your questions
- Provide referrals to other providers as needed
- Provide both holistic and mainstream/routine education, recommendations, and options for care
Many women find it helpful to keep a running list of questions between visits. Pregnancy brain is real, and it is easy to forget things once you arrive!
Throughout care, we also discuss topics such as:
- Testing options during pregnancy (NIPT, Gestational Diabetes, Group Beta Strep, etc.)
- Safe Exercise and Nutrition
- Home birth preparation
- Doulas and birth photographers
- Placenta encapsulation
- Breastfeeding support
- Postpartum recovery
- Pediatricians
- Perinatal mood disorders
- Newborn procedures and testing
- Vitamin K and eye ointment
- Newborn care basics
Understanding Your Due Date
Your estimated due date (EDD) is based on a 40-week pregnancy starting from the first day of your last menstrual period. If you know your conception date or have a first trimester ultrasound, your due date may be adjusted accordingly.
It is important to remember that due dates are estimates, not expiration dates. Most healthy babies are born naturally between 38 and 42 weeks gestation.
A General Timeline of Prenatal Visits
Initial Prenatal Visit
Your first appointment is usually the longest. During this visit, we will:
- Review your medical and surgical history
- Discuss previous pregnancies and births
- Review family and genetic history
- Order or complete initial lab work
- Discuss nutrition, supplements, and healthy pregnancy habits
- Complete intake paperwork
This visit helps us get to know you and establish a plan of care for your pregnancy.
12–16 Week Visit
At this visit, we typically:
- Listen to your baby’s heartbeat
- Check your vitals
- Review initial prenatal lab results
- Discuss day-to-day life, pregnancy symptoms, and general health
- NIPT testing if desired
20 Week Visit
Around 20 weeks:
- Check your vitals
- We measure your uterus
- Listen to baby’s heartbeat
- Review anatomy ultrasound results if completed
- Continue discussing your health, pregnancy concerns, and questions
24 Week Visit
During this visit we:
- Check your vitals
- Measure baby’s growth
- Check fetal heart tones
- Review ultrasound findings
- Prepare you for upcoming 28-week lab work
28 Week Visit
This is an important milestone visit. We will:
- Check your vitals
- Measure your uterus and check baby’s heartbeat
- Complete blood work for gestational diabetes screening and anemia
- Decide if you would like Rhogam if you are Rh negative
- Continue discussing pregnancy, health, and preparation for birth
30–34 Week Visits
These appointments continue to monitor healthy growth and prepare for labor and postpartum.
At these visits we:
- Check your vitals
- Measure uterine growth
- Check baby’s heart rate
- Discuss common late pregnancy symptoms
- Prepare you for upcoming third trimester testing and labor topics
At the 34-week visit, we also explain the upcoming 36-week labs and home visit.
36 Week Home Visit
One of the unique aspects of home birth midwifery care is the prenatal home visit.
At this appointment, we will:
- Visit your home and evaluate the birth space
- Check your vitals
- Measure baby’s growth and listen to the heartbeat
- Complete third trimester labs
- Discuss your birth plan
- Review common labor complications and transfer plans
- Discuss supplies and home birth setup
If you choose, you will also self-collect a vaginal swab to test for Group B Strep (GBS).
This visit helps everyone feel more prepared and comfortable before labor begins.
37 Weeks Until Birth
From 37 weeks onward, appointments are weekly.
At these visits, we continue to:
- Check your vitals
- Monitor baby’s growth and heart rate
- Discuss labor signs and birth preparation
- Review breastfeeding basics
- Review postpartum recovery and newborn care
- Answer questions and provide support as birth approaches
Prenatal Care Is About More Than Measurements
Prenatal care with a midwife is not only about monitoring physical health — it is also about education, informed decision making, and building a relationship throughout pregnancy.
We want you to feel heard, supported, and prepared as you approach labor, birth, and postpartum recovery.
If you are considering home birth care in the DFW area, we would love to connect with you and answer your questions.
Are children allowed at prenatal appointments? Read how children get involved at Fort Worth Midwifery.
Are you looking for more information about birthing with a midwife? View our ‘Choosing a Homebirth‘ section on the Pregnancy Resource page.
