Antenatal checkup visits in India — often called ANC visits — are the structured series of medical appointments that monitor the health of both mother and baby from confirmation of pregnancy through to delivery. Following a proper antenatal care schedule significantly reduces the risk of maternal and infant mortality, detects complications early, and prepares families for a safer delivery.

What Is the Recommended Antenatal Checkup Schedule in India?

The FOGSI (Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India) and the National Health Mission recommend a minimum of eight antenatal contacts during a normal low-risk pregnancy, aligned with the WHO 2016 model. In practice, most private gynaecologists in India schedule:

Monthly visits from 6–28 weeks (first and second trimester)
Fortnightly visits from 28–36 weeks (third trimester)
Weekly visits from 36 weeks until delivery

The first visit is the most comprehensive and sets the baseline for all subsequent monitoring.

What Happens at Your First Antenatal Visit?

The first antenatal visit should ideally happen as soon as pregnancy is confirmed — around 6 to 8 weeks of gestation. This visit is the longest and most test-heavy.

Medical History Taken at First Visit

Menstrual history (LMP for estimating due date)
Past obstetric history (previous pregnancies, deliveries, miscarriages)
Medical history (diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders)
Family history of genetic conditions
Current medications and allergies
Immunisation history (especially rubella, hepatitis B)

Physical Examination at First Visit

Weight and height (BMI calculation)
Blood pressure
Abdominal examination
Pelvic examination to assess uterine size
Breast examination

Blood Tests at First Visit (First Trimester)

Test	What It Checks	Why It Matters
Haemoglobin (Hb)	Anaemia	Anaemia in pregnancy increases risk of preterm birth
Blood group and Rh factor	ABO/Rh type	Rh-negative mothers need anti-D injection
HIV test	HIV status	Early detection allows treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)	Hepatitis B	Baby given vaccine + immunoglobulin at birth if mother is positive
VDRL/RPR	Syphilis	Treatable if detected early; prevents congenital syphilis
Blood sugar (fasting or random)	Diabetes	Detects pre-existing diabetes before pregnancy-related changes occur
Urine routine and microscopy	Kidney health, infection	Detects UTI, proteinuria
Thyroid function test (TSH)	Thyroid disorders	Untreated hypothyroidism affects fetal brain development
Rubella IgG antibody	Rubella immunity	Non-immune women are at risk; vaccination after delivery advised

Ultrasound at First Visit

An early dating scan confirms gestational age, fetal heartbeat, and rules out ectopic pregnancy. If the visit is before 10 weeks, this may be a transvaginal scan.

Trimester-by-Trimester ANC Visit Schedule

First Trimester (Weeks 6–13)

Visit 1 (6–8 weeks):

Full history and examination as above
Baseline blood tests
Dating scan
Iron and folic acid supplementation started
Tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination if not previously immunised

Visit 2 (11–13 weeks):

Blood pressure and weight check
NT scan + double marker blood test (first-trimester combined screening)
Review of first blood test results
Counselling on diet, exercise, and warning signs

Second Trimester (Weeks 14–27)

Visit 3 (16–18 weeks):

Blood pressure, weight, fundal height
Fetal movements enquiry (felt from 18–20 weeks in first-time mothers; 16–18 weeks in subsequent pregnancies)
Triple/quadruple marker test (if not done as part of first-trimester screening)
Urine test for protein and sugar

Visit 4 (18–20 weeks):

Anomaly scan (TIFFA scan)
Review of triple/quadruple marker results
Blood pressure and weight
Discuss birth plan and hospital registration

Visit 5 (24–26 weeks):

Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) or 75g OGTT to screen for gestational diabetes
Blood pressure, weight, fundal height
Anaemia check
Fetal heart rate assessment

Third Trimester (Weeks 28–40)

Visit 6 (28–30 weeks):

Repeat Hb — second trimester anaemia peak
Growth scan
Blood pressure (watch for pre-eclampsia signs)
Anti-D injection for Rh-negative mothers
Count fetal movements (kick count)

Visit 7 (32–34 weeks):

Growth scan (biometry, Doppler, BPP)
Repeat blood pressure
Review birth plan (hospital bag, whom to call, which hospital)
Discuss signs of labour

Visit 8 (36 weeks):

Growth scan — fetal presentation (is baby head-down?)
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) swab if available
Finalise delivery plan — normal vaginal delivery vs caesarean
Hospital pre-registration

Visit 9–onwards (37–40+ weeks — weekly):

Non-stress test (NST) at some centres
Amniotic fluid check
Blood pressure monitoring
If past 40 weeks — induction of labour discussion

What Blood Tests Are Done at Each Trimester?

Trimester	Standard Tests
First (6–13 weeks)	Hb, blood group + Rh, HIV, HBsAg, VDRL, fasting blood sugar, urine R/M, TSH, rubella IgG
Second (14–27 weeks)	GCT/OGTT at 24–28 weeks, repeat Hb, urine protein, triple/quad marker
Third (28–40 weeks)	Repeat Hb at 28 and 34 weeks, urine protein, non-stress test (NST), blood pressure monitoring

Warning Signs to Report Immediately

No matter what stage of pregnancy you are at, contact your doctor immediately if you notice:

Heavy vaginal bleeding at any stage
Severe abdominal pain or cramping
Severe headache with visual disturbances (could indicate pre-eclampsia)
Blurred vision or flashing lights
Swelling of face, hands, or feet that appears suddenly
Fever above 38°C
Reduced or absent fetal movements after 28 weeks
Leaking of fluid from the vagina (could be rupture of membranes)
Pain or burning on urination (UTI can trigger preterm labour)

Free Antenatal Care Under Government Schemes

Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK)

All pregnant women delivering at government hospitals are entitled to completely free services including:

Free antenatal checkups and medicines
Free blood tests and ultrasound scans
Free delivery (normal or caesarean)
Free postnatal care
Free transport from home to hospital and back

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)

Every month on the 9th, all government hospitals and health centres provide free antenatal checkups for pregnant women. Services include:

Comprehensive antenatal examination
Blood tests (Hb, urine, blood pressure, blood sugar)
Ultrasound where available
Iron, folic acid, and calcium supplementation
High-risk pregnancy identification

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)

Cash assistance to incentivise institutional deliveries, especially for below-poverty-line (BPL) women.

How Nutrition and Supplements Fit Into ANC Visits

Your doctor will prescribe supplements at specific stages. Standard supplementation in India includes:

Folic acid 5 mg/day — from pre-conception through first trimester to prevent neural tube defects
Iron 60 mg + folic acid 0.5 mg/day — from second trimester, continued until 6 weeks postpartum
Calcium 500 mg twice daily — from second trimester to prevent hypertensive disorders
Vitamin D 1,000 IU/day — particularly important in India given high rates of deficiency

Do not take supplements beyond the prescribed dose without medical advice.

How to Maintain Your Pregnancy Records in Ayu

A typical pregnancy generates 20–40 documents across 9 months: scan reports, blood test results, prescriptions, hospital registration papers, immunisation records, and discharge summaries. Keeping these organised is critical — a new doctor or emergency room needs quick access to your complete history.

With Ayu, you can:

Upload each blood report and scan immediately after collection
Organise documents by trimester or visit date
Add the doctor's name and clinic to each document
Set appointment reminders for upcoming ANC visits
Share your complete pregnancy record with a new specialist or hospital via QR code in seconds — no WhatsApp forwards or scrambled paper files
Store your emergency information (blood group, allergies, current medications) where family members can access it

Whether you switch cities, change your gynaecologist, or need emergency care at night, your Ayu record keeps every detail accessible and shareable.

Start organising your pregnancy records on Ayu today

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many ANC visits are required during pregnancy in India?

The National Health Mission recommends a minimum of 8 antenatal contacts for a low-risk pregnancy. Most private gynaecologists schedule monthly visits up to 28 weeks, fortnightly from 28 to 36 weeks, and weekly after 36 weeks. High-risk pregnancies require more frequent monitoring.

Q: What is the first thing to do after confirming pregnancy?

Book your first antenatal appointment as soon as possible — ideally within the first 8 weeks. The first visit establishes your baseline blood tests, confirms gestational age, estimates your due date, and starts your supplementation. Delaying the first visit can mean missing important early tests.

Q: Is the HIV test at the first ANC visit mandatory?

Yes, HIV testing is a standard and recommended part of the first antenatal visit in India under the national Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) program. It is offered to all pregnant women with pre-test counselling. Early detection allows antiretroviral treatment to be started, which dramatically reduces the risk of passing HIV to the baby.

Q: What is the Glucose Challenge Test (GCT) and when is it done?

The GCT is a screening test for gestational diabetes (GDM) done between 24 and 28 weeks. You drink a 50g glucose solution and a blood test is taken one hour later. If the result is above 140 mg/dL, a full 75g OGTT is done on another day for diagnosis. Women with risk factors for GDM (overweight, family history of diabetes, previous large baby) may be screened earlier.

Q: Can I attend ANC visits at a government hospital even if I want to deliver privately?

Yes. You can register at a government antenatal clinic for free checkups, tests, and supplements, and separately book a private hospital for delivery. Some women use government facilities for routine checkups and reserve private appointments for detailed scans and consultations with a specialist of their choice.

Q: What vaccines are given during pregnancy in India?

The main vaccine given during pregnancy in India is Tetanus Toxoid (TT):

TT1 at the first antenatal visit (if not previously immunised)
TT2 four weeks after TT1
A single booster (TT Booster) if previously immunised within the last 3 years

Influenza (flu) vaccine is recommended during pregnancy, especially in the second or third trimester. COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy as per current guidelines.

Q: What is a high-risk pregnancy in India and what additional care is needed?

A high-risk pregnancy is one with factors that increase the likelihood of complications. In India, common high-risk factors include: age under 18 or over 35, previous caesarean or pregnancy loss, gestational diabetes, hypertension, twins or multiple pregnancy, anaemia (Hb below 7 g/dL), underweight or overweight BMI, and short birth spacing (less than 2 years). High-risk women need more frequent visits, additional scans, specialist referrals, and early hospital booking.

Q: How do I know my gynaecologist is following FOGSI guidelines?

FOGSI publishes national antenatal guidelines that are followed widely by trained obstetricians. A good indicator is whether your doctor recommends the standard test battery at the first visit, schedules an NT scan at 11–13 weeks, an anomaly scan at 18–20 weeks, and a glucose test at 24–28 weeks. If you have concerns, ask your doctor to explain the rationale for each test and visit.

References

Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI). Antenatal Care Guidelines 2021. https://www.fogsi.org
National Health Mission. Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram. https://nhm.gov.in
World Health Organization. WHO Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience, 2016. https://www.who.int

Antenatal Checkup Schedule in India 2026: What Happens at Each Visit