I'm sure every hospital in the US has a different schedule for their antenatal appointments, but I thought I'd post mine for reference, as I think the differences would only be minor.
My midwife gave me this schedule on her first visit, the Booking Visit. She said it only applies to completely normal, healthy pregnancies. If anything comes up, like twins, gestational diabetes, whatever... then the schedule changes to adapt. It was my responsibility to call a week or so ahead of each visit to book it, my midwife is based at my local surgery.
She gave me her cell phone, beeper, paging system, and home phone number to call her *WHENEVER* I had a question, no matter how small. And I've taken advantage of that.
In each visit blood pressure is taken and so far (I've been as far as my 28 week appointment) they haven't weighed me. It's my responsibility to inform the midwife of radical changes. We also listen to the baby's heartbeat at every visit, and towards the end she starts palpitating your belly and measuring fundal height. You'll also be required to bring a urine sample every visit for testing for proteins and other gunky stuff in your urine.
Framework for Antenatal Care for Nulliparous Women
8 to 11 weeks: Booking Visit
Homevisit by midwife to cpmplete booking, fill out maternity notes (to be carried at all times during your pregnancy), and obtain baseline observations. Discuss birthplan, tests, and ensure awareness of screening and aspects of scans. To discuss booking date for first scan, hospital options, and medical history/issues/concerns.
8 to 11 weeks: Ultrasound
Performed by sonographer. To obtain an accurate Estimated Delivery Date.
14 to 16 weeks
Antenatal assessment and blood tests including maternal serum screening, any other tests you've opted to have, and HIV with consent. Discuss classes and arrange as requested.
19 to 21 weeks: Ultrasound
Performed by sonographer. To obtain detailed fetal scan.
24 weeks
Full antenatal assessment, discuss scan, discuss blood test results.
28 weeks
Full antenatal assessment, discuss tax and maternity paperwork, offer blood glucose and antibodies testing.
32 weeks
Full antenatal assessment, and discuss home visit for labour and birth plan.
36 weeks
Home Visit. Full antenatal assessment. Discuss birthplan, labour and other needs, pain releif, 3rd stage, false labor, vitamin K, feeding, and any other concerns. Blood tests to be discussed and documented.
38 weeks
Antenatal assessment.
40 weeks
Antenatal assessment, make hospital appointment.
41 to 42 weeks
Antenatal assessment, book hospital for induction and to discuss options.
After the baby *poof* appears, you'll have a home health visitor to visit you regularly at your home. I don't have the schedule for this yet, but I'll post it when I know more about it.
And of course I know this won't all be the case with everyone, that every midwife/hospital will run it their own way, but these seem to be the basics to run on.
