Prenatal Visits and Tests: What Partners Should Know

Prenatal appointments can look like a string of quick weigh-ins and blood draws. In fact, they are where much of the pregnancy's important information and many of its decisions happen. A partner who comes along, or joins by phone, can help a great deal.

March of Dimes says a partner or support person is welcome at prenatal checkups. An ob-gyn writing for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends bringing "backup" to appointments, in person or on a phone or video call, to take notes, ask questions and help voice what the pregnant person wants. This guide explains what usually happens at these visits and how to be useful without taking over. It is general information, not medical advice; the care team is the authority on your partner's pregnancy.

The usual visit schedule

March of Dimes describes a schedule most pregnancies can follow:

• Weeks 4 to 28: one checkup every four weeks
• Weeks 28 to 36: one checkup every two weeks
• Weeks 36 to 41: one checkup every week

If there are complications, the provider may want to see your partner more often. Care can come from several kinds of clinicians, including an obstetrician-gynecologist, a family physician, a certified nurse-midwife, or a nurse practitioner. Someone with a high-risk pregnancy may also see a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.

If cost is a barrier, March of Dimes suggests looking for free or low-cost prenatal care services in your community and notes that community health centers can provide low-cost prenatal care.

What happens at the first visit

March of Dimes says the first checkup is usually the longest. Expect a physical exam, blood and urine tests, a blood pressure check, a due date estimate (often from the first day of the last menstrual period, sometimes confirmed by an early ultrasound) and a prescription for a prenatal vitamin.

The provider will ask a lot of questions, and some involve you. March of Dimes notes that providers ask about the health history of the partner and both families, so it helps to find out ahead of time what conditions run in your family.

Some questions are sensitive, including questions about substance use and safety at home. March of Dimes stresses that what a patient tells the provider is confidential. Supporting your partner here can mean stepping out of the room without fuss if they want time alone with the provider.

Routine lab tests, in plain language

According to ACOG, routine early tests include a complete blood count, blood type and Rh factor, a urinalysis and a urine culture. Pregnant patients are also typically tested for rubella immunity, hepatitis B and C, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, and some are tested for tuberculosis based on risk.

A few points partners often ask about:

• Rh factor. ACOG explains that if the pregnant person is Rh negative and the fetus is Rh positive, their body can make antibodies that may cause serious problems in a later pregnancy. Medication during pregnancy can help prevent this.
• Infections. ACOG says syphilis testing should happen three times: at the first visit, in the third trimester and at delivery. If syphilis, chlamydia or gonorrhea is found, ACOG says the pregnant person's sex partner or partners should also be treated so the infection does not come back.
• Glucose screening. ACOG says this test for gestational diabetes is usually done between 24 and 28 weeks. Your partner drinks a sugar mixture, and blood is drawn an hour later.
• Group B strep. ACOG recommends this swab test for everyone between 36 weeks, 0 days and 37 weeks, 6 days of pregnancy. If it is positive, antibiotics are usually given by IV once labor starts.

Genetic screening and diagnostic tests

This is the area where partners most often get pulled into decisions, so it is worth understanding the basics. ACOG separates two kinds of tests:

• Screening tests estimate the chance that the fetus has certain conditions, such as Down syndrome. They cannot tell you for certain whether the fetus actually has a condition.
• Diagnostic tests, done on cells obtained through amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, can tell you with as much certainty as possible whether the fetus has certain disorders. ACOG notes that diagnostic testing carries a very small risk of pregnancy loss.

Timing varies by test. ACOG says first-trimester screening, a blood test plus a nuchal translucency ultrasound, is usually done between 10 and 13 weeks. Cell-free DNA screening can be done starting at 10 weeks, with results in about a week.

You may be asked to take part directly. ACOG explains that carrier screening, done with a blood sample or cheek swab, checks whether a parent carries a gene for certain inherited disorders such as sickle cell disease or cystic fibrosis, and that in most cases both parents must carry the same gene for a child to be affected.

Two more things to keep in mind. ACOG stresses that a positive screening result means higher risk, not a diagnosis, and that a negative result does not rule a condition out. ACOG is equally clear that testing is a personal choice and "there is no right or wrong answer." A genetic counselor can help you both understand results and options.

Ultrasounds and other milestones

Later visits are usually shorter. March of Dimes says the provider checks weight and blood pressure, listens for the baby's heartbeat after about 10 to 12 weeks, and starts measuring the belly at about 20 weeks. Most pregnant patients get an ultrasound at 18 to 20 weeks, when the baby's sex may be visible. Talk beforehand about whether you both want to know, and tell the provider if you don't.

The provider will also ask about the baby's movements. March of Dimes notes that the provider may ask your partner to do kick counts to keep track of how often the baby moves.

How to be a good appointment partner

ACOG describes modern prenatal care as "shared decision making": the clinician explains a recommendation, its pros and cons, and the patient expresses what they want and why. Your role is to support your partner in that conversation, not to make the decision for them. A few habits help:

1. Keep a running list of questions between visits. ACOG suggests writing them down if nerves are a factor.
2. Take notes during the visit, especially numbers, test names and next steps.
3. Ask the clarifying question your partner may be too tired to ask: "What happens if that result comes back positive?"
4. Before any big decision, ask your partner what they want, and back that up.
5. Know how to reach the care team between visits and after hours.

If the practice is not a good fit, ACOG notes that patients have the right to feel welcome and heard and can look for one that is.

Key takeaways

• Partners and support people are welcome at prenatal visits, and can help with notes, questions and logistics.
• A typical schedule moves from monthly visits to every two weeks after 28 weeks and weekly after 36 weeks.
• Routine tests check blood type, Rh factor, infections and, later, gestational diabetes and group B strep.
• Genetic screening estimates risk; diagnostic tests give a more definite answer; both are optional.
• You may be asked about your family history or for carrier screening yourself.
• Support your partner's choices in shared decision making rather than steering them.

Sources

• March of Dimes, Prenatal care checkups
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Routine Tests During Pregnancy (last reviewed January 2026)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Prenatal Genetic Screening Tests (last reviewed October 2025)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Prenatal Genetic Diagnostic Tests (last reviewed April 2026)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee Opinion No. 797: Prevention of Group B Streptococcal Early-Onset Disease in Newborns (2020)
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, An Ob-Gyn's Guide to Standing Up for Yourself During Pregnancy (last reviewed September 2024)