Antenatal appointments are offered throughout pregnancy and your main contact will be a community midwife.
The booking-in appointment during your first trimester will probably be the longest one, where you will be given the information about your antenatal checks, asked questions and given your pregnancy pathway.
In a straightforward pregnancy, you will probably have about ten appointments with your midwife if this is your first baby:
between 8-12 weeks
16 weeks
25 weeks
28 weeks
31 weeks
34 weeks
36 weeks
38 weeks
40 weeks
41 weeks
If you are experiencing a straightforward pregnancy with your second or subsequent baby you will probably have about seven appointments:
8-12 weeks
16 weeks
28 weeks
34 weeks
36 weeks
38 weeks
41 weeks
If you have any concerns you can schedule another appointment.
Appointments with your community midwife may include:
checking your blood pressure
checking your urine for infection or protein, which can be an indicator of pre-eclampsia in later pregnancy
blood tests for your blood group and rhesus status as well as checking for anaemia, rubella, syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV
listening to your baby’s heartbeat – from about 16 weeks
measuring your bump – from about 24 weeks
arranging scans and any screening tests
Making the most of your antenatal appointments…
Sometimes midwife appointments and scans are running late and it is easy to feel that your appointment needs to be quick when there is a waiting room full of pregnant women. But this is your time so it can help to be prepared for each one.
It can be useful to write down any questions because it’s easy to forget something.
Your midwife is there to check you and your baby, as well as to provide you with information and reassurance, so don’t feel like you are wasting her time by asking questions.
During any scans, the sonographer is checking the development of your baby and you can ask questions to feel reassured and to have a better understanding of your baby’s growth.
If you are under consultant care you may have some additional appointments at the hospital. As with your midwife appointments, it can be helpful to make notes and to go with a list of questions. Sometimes these appointments can involve making decisions about the birth of your baby - it is okay to come home to think it through, you don’t have to made a decision straight away.
And please do ask if you are unsure about anything being suggested.
Scans & tests
Dating scan at about 12-13 weeks
This is to confirm your pregnancy and to work out when your baby is due. It checks the development of your baby and it can also be used to screen for Down’s Syndrome
Anomaly scan at about 18-20 weeks
This scan is to check the development of your baby and to look for any potential physical problems.
Blood tests
You may be offered different blood tests during your pregnancy
Screening for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis, as well as sickle cell – you may be offered this blood test during your booking appointment at about 10 weeks.
Screening for Down’s, Edward’s and Patau’s Syndrome is offered with a combined test: blood test and ultrasound scan with your dating scan or a blood test between 14-20 weeks. If your results indicate a higher than 1 in 150 chance then you will be offered a diagnostic test. A CVS can be used between 11-14 weeks when a sample of placenta is taken through the abdomen with a fine needle. An amniocentesis can be used from 15 weeks when a sample of amniotic fluid is taken through the abdomen with a fine needle.
Glucose tolerance test
If there are any concerns about gestation diabetes you will be offered the oral glucose tolerance test between 24-28 weeks. This involves a morning blood test and a glucose drink, followed by a 2 hour wait before another blood test.
You may also be offered this test in your third trimester if you are not feeling well or if your baby is measuring on the bigger side.
Additional Antenatal Appointments
You may be offered additional midwife or consultant appointments if there are any concerns about you or your baby or if you have pre-existing health issues.
If you have previously experienced recurrent miscarriages, baby-loss, severe
pre-eclampsia, a premature birth or a low-birth weight baby, you will also be offered additional care. Your midwife should talk to you about this but do ask questions so you know your options and what the appointments are for.
And please remember…
Even though you will have regular antenatal appointments, it is also important to get checked out if you feel that something isn’t quite right, if you don’t feel well and if your baby’s movements change. You can be seen at your local pregnancy assessment unit to talk through any concerns and to be checked over.
You are never wasting anyone’s time.
Relax & Breathe
If you can practice your breathing during pregnancy, you can learn to focus on and use your breathing effectively. It can help you to manage sickness and nausea, headaches, backache and pelvic pain, as well as any anxiety or stress.
The key to using your breathing is to make it familiar for you, so it is comfortable to use and so it easy and you don’t have to think about it.
Make the time to practice it – just a few minutes at a time.
Keep it simple – this is about how you breathe, not learning a new way to breathe. Get to know your breathing and to familiarise yourself with how your body feels when it is relaxed.
Use relax & breath to start your day…
Pregnancy - In Your Words
I asked parents for the words which summed up their pregnancy for them.
Pregnancy can be really straight-forward when all you need to do is attend your midwife appointments and then start to prepare for birth and baby.
Or it can be slightly more complicated, with additional appointments, a care plan and conflicting guidance, which can lead to confusion about what decisions to make, what questions to ask, how to plan and what to do next.
Make a list of questions before each appointment so you don’t forget and so you can gather the information you need. You can book a session with me to talk it through for some ongoing support and so you have a better understanding of what is going on and what your options are.
Who am I?
I am Janine, an antenatal and postnatal specialist who has been working with parents for 20 years. I mainly work with parents during pregnancy, for birth and then during the first year with their baby. I focus on you as an individual with good information - based on evidence and experience - support and reassurance. I also listen and learn from parents, I collate different experiences so I know what the reality of pregnancy, birth and early parenting is all about.
Please do sign up and tell any friends or colleagues who might also be interested and you can comment below with any questions, comments or topics you would like to read about.