8 Maternal Health Checkups You Should Not Miss

Wrap-up: Keep these checks on your calendar

Good prenatal care is a mix of timing, tests, and honest conversation. This article highlighted eight core checkups many clinicians consider essential, and three closely related follow-ups that commonly appear on prenatal schedules — hence the eleven numbered sections. Use the list to ask clear questions at each visit: what is being screened, why it matters, and what the next steps are if a result needs attention. If you want official guidance for scheduling or timing, consult U.S. professional resources such as ACOG and the CDC and bring those questions to your clinic. Remember that maternal mental health screening, routine blood pressure checks, and mid-pregnancy anatomy scans are not optional details — they are key pieces of a safer pregnancy journey (Nature Medicine, 2025). Practical touches help too: keep a small binder or digital folder with test results, bring a support person to important scans, and note any symptoms between visits so you can report them quickly. Every pregnancy is different, so use this as a flexible checklist rather than a rigid rulebook. When in doubt, call your care team early — timely checkups often mean simpler solutions and better outcomes for both parent and baby.