You took a pregnancy test a few days ago and it came back positive: congratulations, you’re about to embark on one of the most beautiful adventures of your life! Prenatal care can now begin: over the coming months, you and your future little adventurer will be closely monitored by your medical team. Their priority is to ensure your well-being, support your baby’s healthy development, and prevent risks. In this article, discover the various prenatal exams and consultations that await you.

In France, pregnancy monitoring can be carried out by a doctor (general practitioner or gynecologist) or by a freelance midwife, or one working in a hospital or a maternal and child protection center (PMI). Medical follow-up is essential to ensure your pregnancy progresses smoothly and presents no risk. Over the next nine months, you will have several medical consultations, ultrasounds, biological and dental examinations, as well as childbirth preparation and delivery classes.

First trimester of pregnancy (1-15 weeks of gestation)

Your pregnancy has just been confirmed by a blood test, and you can begin your medical follow-up. Your first appointment with your doctor or midwife should take place before the end of your first trimester—that is, by the third month of pregnancy. During this consultation, your doctor will explain in detail what to expect over the next nine months. They will prescribe folates (vitamin B9) to be taken at least until the twelfth week (gestational age) to help prevent neural tube defects.

You will also be entitled to a complete clinical examination to assess your health, and the doctor will prescribe several additional tests:

• One blood test that will determine your blood type and Rh factor, check for irregular agglutinins (antibodies), and assess your immunity to certain diseases such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, hepatitis B, or HIV. This test will also check whether you have anemia.

• One urinalysis that will check for the presence of sugar and proteins in your urine, as well as a urinary infection.

• One première échographie , also called a “dating ultrasound,” which will precisely determine the start of the pregnancy, the number of embryos, and confirm the proper development of the fetus. It usually takes place between the eleventh and thirteenth week of pregnancy (W).

• One cervico-vaginal smear

• An additional option will also be offered to you: Dépistage de la trisomie 21 . This screening involves detecting an unusually large nuchal translucency during the first ultrasound and analyzing serum marker levels in the blood.

Beyond medical consultations, you also have the option to participate in a prenatal prevention assessment with a midwife. It is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. During this appointment, you will review together risky behaviors during pregnancy, what is permitted and what is not, your diet, vaccination, and dental care.

Second trimester of pregnancy (16-28 weeks of gestation)

Becoming a parent is an upheaval: pregnancy and the idea of this new life with a baby can bring up questions, doubts, or even apprehension for you and your partner as you navigate all these changes. The early prenatal care appointment is the one not to miss to share them. This mandatory interview of about one hour usually takes place from your fourth month of pregnancy. However, it is recommended to schedule it at the beginning of this period.

The early prenatal appointment is highly recommended during the fourth month, but you can also plan it from the beginning of your pregnancy. This mandatory appointment, lasting about an hour, allows you to discuss your specific needs during pregnancy with a healthcare professional, as well as your rights, your birth plan, any potential difficulties, and your return home.

During this second trimester, your medical follow-up continues. Every month, you will have a prenatal check-up to ensure your pregnancy is progressing smoothly, your weight gain is on track, and your baby is developing well—growth and heartbeat included. Each time, your doctor or midwife will check your weight and blood pressure, and measure the height of your uterus to assess your little adventurer’s growth. A urine test is also performed to check that you are not developing gestational diabetes or a urinary infection. Finally, a blood test is prescribed each month if you are not immune to toxoplasmosis.

As soon as you enter this second trimester, you can benefit from an Oral health prevention exam . Your dentist will raise awareness about dental care, which is particularly important during pregnancy, as well as oral and dietary hygiene and cavity prevention in early childhood. This examination is part of the care pathway and is covered 100% by health insurance.

During the fifth month of pregnancy (20th–25th week of amenorrhea), you will have your second ultrasound, known as the morphology scan. The doctor will also confirm your baby’s sex—of course, if you wish to know and if it is visible. ;)

Third trimester of pregnancy (29-41 weeks gestation)

During this trimester, you continue to visit your doctor or midwife each month for your prenatal check-up. You’re now used to it: each time, you will have a blood test and a urine examination.

You start the prenatal and childbirth preparation classes . They include seven sessions with a midwife in private practice or at the maternity ward. These sessions can be individual or in a group, allowing for交流 with other future parents. Some sessions are open to your partner. They are highly recommended, especially if you are expecting your first child. Your midwife will explain the course of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. You will do practical exercises to learn how to relax, adopt the right gestures and postures during pregnancy to prevent related discomforts, and practice breathing techniques for labor. Some sessions focus on returning home and the care your newborn will need from birth, giving you key insights to start this new adventure with confidence.

During the seventh month, you experience the last month with your baby before the big meeting: it is the third ultrasound . The doctor checks the baby’s position, the amount of amniotic fluid, and the position of the placenta. Of course, they also take a look at the baby’s development.

In the eighth month, in addition to your monthly medical check-up, you undergo screening for Group B streptococcus, a bacterium that can cause serious infections after childbirth. You also consult an anesthesiologist . This appointment is mandatory even if you wish to give birth without an epidural : on the day of birth, you might change your mind! ;)

Additionally, childbirth can bring its share of surprises, and since nothing is ever certain, you might require anesthesia. To be prepared for any eventuality, this consultation helps you prepare for childbirth as well as possible. During this consultation, the anesthesiologist reviews your medical records and recent tests. They check that there are no contraindications to receiving an epidural.

The last month has arrived: impatience is building, and your baby is eagerly awaited. You will consult your doctor or midwife one last time. This final appointment is also an opportunity to discuss the signs of labor and the steps to take to go to the maternity ward.

The birth is now imminent, and you are making the final preparations. Each passing day brings you closer to meeting this much-anticipated little one. We wish you much happiness and fulfillment in this new chapter of your life!