An Oscar guide to the stages of pregnancy | hioscar Blog | Oscar
An Oscar guide to the stages of pregnancy
We’re so excited for you. Here’s what you can expect, trimester by trimester, leading up to the birth of your baby.
Maternity & Newborn CareClinically Speaking
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We’re so excited for you. Here’s what you can expect, trimester by trimester, leading up to the birth of your baby.
First of all, with an Oscar plan, it’s important to make sure all your doctors, pharmacies, and labs are in-network, or covered by your insurance plan. You can easily find a provider or check to see if your doctor is in Oscar’s network by logging in to your Oscar account online (opens in new tab) or in the Oscar mobile app (opens in new tab). Don’t have an account yet? No worries, it’s easy to set up. Head to hioscar.com/register (opens in new tab), and follow the instructions to get started.
Keep in mind that providers can leave the Oscar network at any time, so we always encourage you to call the provider you’d like to see before seeking any services. That way you can make sure they’re still accepting Oscar insurance, and avoid any surprise bills.
Wondering about the office visits you can expect, and what’s covered?
Routine prenatal care visits with an in-network provider are covered as a preventive service (opens in new tab). (The number of routine visits will depend on your provider.)
After your first appointment, most prenatal visits include checking your blood pressure and weight; checking the baby’s heart rate; and measuring your abdomen to check your baby’s growth.
Your pregnancy begins! How exciting. For your first prenatal visit, you’ll meet with your OB-GYN, nurse practitioner, or nurse-midwife. This is a great time to begin developing a relationship with your provider, and an open dialogue about any issues that concern you. Feel free to ask questions about nutrition, safe exercise, and feeling good during your pregnancy. (Your provider can advise you on what’s best for you.)
Assessments: You’ll have a comprehensive physical assessment, including detailed medical, reproductive health, and family health history. Your weight will be checked, along with vital sign assessment and more.
Medications: Your provider may recommend prenatal vitamins. You will want to avoid taking any medications or herbs (prescribed or over-the-counter) that have not been approved by your obstetrician or midwife.
Diagnostic tests: Lab testing, including blood work, will be done to get some baseline information on your general health.
Procedures: Your provider may schedule an ultrasound to check on fetal size and development.
Fetal development:
Eyes and ears are growing.
The heart is beating strongly.
At 12 weeks, your baby is about 2.5 inches long and weighs about 0.64 ounces.
The head is becoming more rounded, and the face is completely formed.
Toes and fingers are formed, and nails are beginning to grow.
What your second trimester looks like (13-26 weeks)
You’ll be visiting your OB/midwife monthly, or more frequently, depending on your needs.
Assessments: You’ll have a weight check, vital sign assessment, abdominal measurement, and more, along with standard tests, ultrasounds, and screenings. It's also a good time to look into lamaze classes and counseling. Review (opens in new tab) your benefits to learn what's covered.
Medications: Keep taking your prenatal vitamins. Anemia, or iron deficiency, is common during pregnancy, so your obstetrician or midwife may order iron supplements.
Diagnostic tests: Your health care provider may order the Quad screen, a simple blood test. Other laboratory testing may be ordered, such as a complete blood count to test for the presence of anemia. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) (opens in new tab) recommends that all pregnant women be offered a screening test for Down syndrome, regardless of the woman’s age. Screening may be a maternal blood test done in the first trimester along with ultrasound, or it can be a maternal blood test done in the second trimester without ultrasound, or a combination of both.
Procedures: Amniocentesis, or CVS (chronic villus sampling) may be performed. This is a procedure in which a small sample of amniotic fluid is drawn out of the uterus through a needle inserted in a pregnant woman's abdomen. The fluid is analyzed to detect genetic abnormalities in the fetus, or to determine the gender of the fetus.
Fetal development:
At 16 weeks, your baby is about 6.3 inches long and weighs .08 pounds. You may be feeling the baby moving. If this is your first baby, you’re likely to feel the first movements a bit later.
At 20 weeks, the baby is swimming in a large amount of amniotic fluid and growing rapidly, both in length and weight, and is now about 9.8 inches and weighs about .75 pounds. The baby is very active.
At 24 weeks, your baby is about 12.5 inches long and weighs 1 pound, 1.6 ounces. You may feel different parts of the baby's body through your abdominal wall. Your uterine muscle is stretching, and you may feel occasional pain along the sides of your abdomen (round ligament pain). The top of your uterus (the fundus) reaches to just above your navel.
What your third trimester looks like (27 weeks - delivery)
You’ll be visiting your OB/midwife more frequently. Starting at about 28 weeks, you’ll have appointments every two weeks and then weekly from 36 weeks until delivery. Feel free to ask questions concerning labor, birth, your hospital stay in the mother-baby unit, and going home, as well as breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. You might also want to talk with a lactation consultant prior to giving birth.
Assessments: You’ll have a weight check, vital sign assessment, urine dipstick for glucose, albumin, and ketones, abdominal measurement (fundal height), and a fetal heart check. You may have a pelvic examination as you get closer to your due date.
Medications: Keep taking your prenatal vitamins. Anemia during pregnancy is common, so your obstetrician or midwife may order iron supplements.
Diagnostic tests: Your provider may order a glucose tolerance test. Depending on these results, a 3-hour glucose tolerance test may be ordered. A swab of the vagina may be done between 35 and 37 weeks to test for the presence of Group B Streptococcus (GBS). GBS is a bacteria that occurs in 15% to 30% of women. If you test positive for GBS, you might be given antibiotics during your labor. Other laboratory testing may be ordered, such as a complete blood count to test for the presence of anemia.
Procedures: A non-stress test (NST) is sometimes ordered by your obstetrician or midwife to check on fetal well-being. A biophysical profile (BPP) may also be ordered. This test involves an ultrasound assessment of fetal well-being. Ultrasound or amniocentesis may be ordered to check fetal well-being or maturity.
Fetal development:
At 36 weeks, the baby is almost fully mature, and is now about 19.7 inches long and weighs anywhere from 5 pounds, 8 ounces to 9 pounds, 14 ounces.
The baby may descend into your pelvis (engagement) preparing for birth.
Once the baby has engaged, you may find that your breathing becomes easier, and the pressure on your diaphragm is lessened.
Your baby is putting on weight at a rate of almost 8 ounces per week until delivery.
When the baby is awake, the eyes are open and the baby can differentiate between light and dark.
Labor may start at any time now. Don’t worry if your baby isn’t born exactly on the due date; it’s just an estimate. (Only 5% of babies are born exactly on their due dates.)
Planning for the big day
By the 32nd week of your pregnancy, it’s good to complete your birth plan.
So what’s a birth plan, exactly? Simply put, it’s a list of your preferences during your labor and delivery experience. That might include the people you want in the room with you during labor, whether you’d like the lights dimmed or music played, and whether you would like pain medications used or not. Having a birth plan is important because it helps you feel more in control as your preferences are known and respected. And it helps you have strong, clear communication with your healthcare team.
Discuss your expectations with your physician/midwife. If you choose to complete a written birth plan, bring a printout with you to the hospital and pack extra copies to give to the staff caring for you. That way they can make sure your needs are being met every step of the way.
Finally, if you have questions or concerns during any stage of your pregnancy, be sure to talk with your provider. If you need additional information or support, your Oscar Care Team (opens in new tab) is always here to help. Message them anytime, or call them at 855-672-2755.
This content does not constitute medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, including diagnosis or treatment. Contact your physician with any questions you may have regarding your personal health. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
