After a mother takes a home pregnancy test, it is recommended to wait about one week before visiting a medical facility for further examination. Upon arrival at the clinic or hospital, the doctor will perform another pregnancy test and then use ultrasound to confirm the embryo’s implantation site. If the pregnancy has reached six weeks at that time, the number of embryos, the presence of a heartbeat, and fetal development can be observed.

Chen Li-Jin, a full-time attending obstetrician-gynecologist and head of the delivery room at Cathay General Hospital, explained that before eight weeks of gestation, the fetus is still in an unstable stage with a higher risk of miscarriage. Therefore, the maternal health handbook is issued only after the fetus becomes stable, around eight to twelve weeks of pregnancy, at which point the first government-funded prenatal checkup can begin.

When should prenatal checkups begin? Frequency and test items
Prenatal checkups serve different important purposes at various stages of pregnancy. It is recommended that once pregnancy is confirmed, expectant mothers contact an obstetrician to arrange appropriate examinations. The first prenatal visit usually takes place between the 5th and 8th week of pregnancy. Subsequent regular checkups help continuously monitor fetal health and provide comprehensive health management throughout pregnancy, for a total of 14 visits.

The ideal number of prenatal checkups throughout pregnancy is 14. The timing of the first prenatal visit may be adjusted according to the expectant mother’s condition, but it is typically conducted around the 8th week. The frequency of checkups gradually increases during the middle and later stages of pregnancy. Previously, only 10 free prenatal checkups were provided. To enhance maternal and infant health, starting July 1 of Year 110 (ROC calendar), the number of free prenatal checkups was increased from 10 to 14, including two routine ultrasound examinations (between weeks 8–16 and after week 32), as well as newly added gestational diabetes screening and anemia testing (weeks 24–28). These measures aim to reduce pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications and ease the financial burden on families of childbearing age.

Prenatal checkup schedule
In addition to government-funded examinations, among self-paid tests, if non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) detects abnormalities, further confirmation through amniotic fluid chromosomal microarray analysis is still required. As a result, more expectant mothers are choosing to undergo amniotic fluid microarray testing directly, as a single test can screen for the widest range of genetic conditions currently available. Furthermore, carrier screening for the expectant mother herself (such as SMA, FXS, and hearing-loss gene screening) is also one of the self-paid tests strongly recommended by many obstetricians, becoming a key focus of prenatal health examinations.Doctors use ultrasound examinations to confirm the embryo’s implantation site and heartbeat, making it one of the important prenatal checkup steps in early pregnancy. (Photo／provided by Mama & Baby)

Government-funded prenatal examination items and checkup cycles
Basic examinations during the first prenatal visit include medical history inquiry, measurement of height and weight, blood pressure, and basic physical examinations. Blood tests are also conducted for routine screenings, such as complete blood count, blood type, hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, and rubella. Urinalysis is performed as well to check for signs of inflammation. In subsequent routine prenatal visits, examinations generally include consultation, weight and blood pressure measurement, urinalysis, and fetal heart rate monitoring, with specific tests conducted at designated weeks.

Prenatal checkup cycles by stage
．Early pregnancy (8–12 weeks): checkups are recommended at weeks 8 and 12, approximately once every four weeks.
．Mid-pregnancy (13–28 weeks): checkups are recommended at weeks 16, 20, 24, and 28, approximately once per month.
．Late pregnancy (29–36 weeks): visits become more frequent, with checkups recommended at weeks 30, 32, 34, and 36, once every two weeks.
．Before delivery (from week 37 until childbirth): checkups are conducted weekly.

With such a comprehensive prenatal care plan, any abnormalities can be identified early and treated appropriately, helping to prevent pregnancy-related complications and gently safeguard the health of both mother and baby. Of course, physicians will flexibly adjust the frequency and types of examinations based on each expectant mother’s physical condition and pregnancy progress to provide the most suitable care.The parenting reminder card thoughtfully reminds mothers that as pregnancy enters the middle to later stages, the frequency of prenatal checkups gradually increases to reduce risks related to pregnancy and childbirth. (Photo／provided by Mama & Baby)

This article is used with authorization from Mama & Baby