The Roadmap of Your Pregnancy
Finding out you are pregnant triggers a cascade of questions, and arguably the most pressing is simply: what happens next?
While every pregnancy is profoundly unique, the biological milestones and clinical safeguards follow a steady, predictable rhythm. MomDoc structures your prenatal care around these milestones, utilizing the latest ACOG guidelines for Tailored Prenatal Care to ensure we are testing for the right things at precisely the right moments.
Here is the roadmap for your journey, broken down by trimester.
The First Trimester: Weeks 1–12
The first trimester is a period of invisible but astonishingly rapid development. It is often accompanied by profound fatigue and nausea as your body adjusts to a surge of hormones.
Your Baby's Development
By the end of your first month, a tiny heart is already beating. During month two, your baby is roughly the size of a grape, but developing rapidly. By the conclusion of the first trimester, your baby weighs about one ounce and measures roughly four inches long. Though tiny, all major organs and body parts have begun to form.
Your MomDoc Visit Schedule
During these crucial early weeks, we establish the foundation of your care:
| Clinical Milestone | Timing | What It Means |
| Initial Visit | Weeks 0–10 | We take your comprehensive medical history and establish your baseline health. |
| Confirmation Ultrasound | Weeks 6–10 | We confirm the pregnancy is viable and located within the uterus. |
| Due Date Confirmation | Weeks 6–10 | We calculate your Estimated Date of Delivery (EDD). |
| Initial Labs | Weeks 0–10 | Comprehensive blood panels to check your blood type, immunity, and overall health. |
| Genetic Screening | Weeks 10–14 | Optional, non-invasive blood tests to assess the risk of chromosomal conditions. |
| Fetal Heart Tones | Week 12+ | We use a handheld Doppler to let you hear your baby's heartbeat during your visits. |
The Second Trimester: Weeks 13–27
Often called the "honeymoon phase" of pregnancy, the second trimester typically brings a return of energy and relief from intense morning sickness. Your baby bump will begin to show, and this is when the pregnancy usually begins to feel very "real."
Your Baby's Development
By month four, eyelashes and eyebrows appear, and your baby is actively kicking (though you may not feel it yet). In month five, a massive growth spurt occurs—your baby will grow to about 12 inches long. By month six, your baby weighs between 1 and 1.5 pounds and measures about 14 inches. They can now respond to sounds outside the womb.
Your MomDoc Visit Schedule
We shift our focus to detailed structural monitoring and late-pregnancy risk screening:
| Clinical Milestone | Timing | What It Means |
| Fetal Anatomy Ultrasound | Weeks 20–22 | The "big" ultrasound. We perform a comprehensive, detailed scan of your baby's organs, limbs, and heart. |
| AFP Testing | Weeks 15–21 | A blood test screening for neural tube defects (like spina bifida). |
| Glucose Screening | Weeks 24–28 | A one-hour test to screen for gestational diabetes. |
| Complete Blood Count | Weeks 24–28 | We check your iron levels to ensure you are not developing anemia as your blood volume increases. |
Feeling the Movements
Between weeks 16 and 25, you will feel the baby move for the first time. Starting at week 28, we ask you to actively track this. You should look for 10 movements within 2 hours, every single day. If you ever notice a significant decrease in movement, do not wait for your next appointment—contact MomDoc or go to labor and delivery immediately.
The Third Trimester: Weeks 28–40
The final stretch. As your baby rapidly gains weight, you will likely feel increasingly uncomfortable. Shortness of breath, frequent urination, and backaches are standard as your body accommodates a full-term infant.
Your Baby's Development
Month seven brings significant neurological development; your baby's eyes can now open and close. During month eight, internal organs are functioning well, though the lungs are still maturing. By month nine, your baby is fully developed and preparing for birth. A typical full-term baby weighs between 6 and 9 pounds and measures 19 to 21 inches.
Your MomDoc Visit Schedule
Visits become much more frequent as we prepare you and your baby for a safe delivery:
| Clinical Milestone | Timing | What It Means |
| Hospital Presentation | Week 28 | We discuss your birth plan, hospital pre-registration, and pediatricians. |
| TDaP & RhoGAM | Week 28 | You receive the TDaP vaccine to protect your baby from whooping cough. If your blood type is Rh-negative, you receive a RhoGAM injection. |
| Group B Strep (GBS) Swab | Weeks 35–36 | A simple swab to check for common bacteria that could require antibiotics during labor. |
| Delivery Logistics | Weeks 36–37 | We discuss exactly what the signs of labor are, when to call, and what to expect when you arrive at the hospital. |
| Fetal Position Check | Weeks 36–37 | We verify the baby is head-down and ready for delivery. |
The "Fourth Trimester": Postpartum
Your care does not end the moment your baby is born. The initial 2 to 6 weeks postpartum are a vital period of physical recovery and massive emotional transition.
During your postpartum visit, we will evaluate your physical healing, provide guidance on feeding and lactation, assess your mental health to screen for postpartum depression, discuss contraception options, and help you plan your return to work or daily routines.
Your MomDoc team is with you for the entire journey—from that very first heartbeat to your recovery at home. Call or text us at 480-821-3601 at any milestone.