Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer For Individuals & Families: For Individuals & Families For Individuals & Families Shop for Plans Member Guide Member Guide Find a Doctor Find a Doctor Log in to myCigna

Third-Trimester Exams and Tests

Overview

At each prenatal visit in the third trimester, you'll be weighed, and your blood pressure and urine will be checked. Your doctor or midwife will measure the size of your uterus (fundal height) and feel your belly. This is done to check your baby's growth and position.

Late in the third trimester, your doctor or midwife will check to see how far your baby's head has dropped into your pelvis. If your baby is not head-down after 36 weeks, you may have a fetal ultrasound to confirm the position. Your care provider may try versionversion to gently turn the baby into a head-down position.

Close to delivery, you may be checked to see if your cervix has begun to thin (efface) and open (dilate)thin (efface) and open (dilate).

Third-trimester tests

Late in pregnancy, you may be checked for:

Group B strepGroup B strep.

If you have group B strep in your vagina, you can pass it to your baby during vaginal birth. This can cause severe problems for the baby. If you test positive for group B strep (or you are not tested), you will be treated with antibiotics during labor.

Hepatitis BHepatitis B.

If you test positive for hepatitis B, your baby will be treated within 12 hours after birth.

In the third trimester, your care provider may recommend an amniocentesisamniocentesis if:

  • You are going to deliver early. This test can show if your baby's lungs are developed enough for delivery.
  • There is a concern about infection in the amniotic fluidamniotic fluid.

Depression screening

Your care provider may check with you about your mood. It's important to find and treat depression. This can help prevent problems during pregnancy and after delivery.

If you have your first prenatal visit during your third trimester, you'll have more than these tests. Other tests you may have include tests for blood type, anemia, and HIVHIV. You may be screened for hepatitis B, sexually transmitted infections, or thyroid disease. You'll also be checked for past infections, such as syphilis or rubella (German measles)rubella (German measles).

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC StaffIgnite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review BoardClinical Review Board
All Ignite Healthwise, LLC education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of UseTerms of Use. Learn how we develop our contenthow we develop our content.

© 2024-2025 Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

Related Links

Page Footer

I want to...

Audiences

Secure Member Sites

The Cigna Group Information

 Cigna. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details Details