WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR ANTENATAL APPOINTMENTS

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You’ve done a pregnancy test, got a positive result and now you’re wondering what happens next. You might expect to attend a flurry of medical appointments and while there will be plenty over the course of your pregnancy, it can seem a little slow to get started in the first few weeks. Once you have tested positive with a home pregnancy test, contact your GP practice to let them know you are pregnant and find out what the procedure is in your area.

Sometimes your GP will want to see you but in many cases, you may simply be given the details of a community midwife so you can arrange your first appointment, which will take place between 8 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. While you’re waiting for this first appointment, start taking folic acid supplements if you aren’t already. You can take folic acid on its own or as part of a multivitamin designed for pregnancy and it will help your baby’s neural tube develop properly, reducing the risk of serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT MY FIRST APPOINTMENT WITH THE MIDWIFE?

Your first appointment with your midwife is known as your booking appointment. It usually takes place between 8 and 12 weeks and you should allow at least an hour for it. There’s a lot of ground to cover in this first appointment and your midwife will ask you a lot of questions about you and your partner and your medical histories. This will help your midwife make sure you and your baby get the right care and that any potential risk factors are identified.

Your midwife will also give you lots of useful information to help you during your pregnancy and tell you what she thinks your estimated due date is based on the date of your last period. This will include information about your baby’s development, exercise and nutrition during pregnancy, where you can choose to give birth and what to expect from your antenatal appointments. You will also be given information about antenatal classes in your area and breastfeeding and formula feeding so you can make an informed choice. The first appointment can seem overwhelming but remember you don’t have to make any decisions right away and there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions at future appointments. You may also be given handheld maternity notes (if your hospital has not switched over to electronic notes) – keep these safe and take them with you to all your appointments and if you go away.

As well as asking questions and giving you information, your midwife will carry out some tests and checks and ask how you are feeling both physically and emotionally. This will include taking samples of your blood to check your blood group and screen for any issues, checking your pulse and blood pressure and measuring your height, weight and BMI. You will also be asked to provide a urine sample to check for any infection or protein. Your midwife will talk you through all the screening tests available during pregnancy and book in your first ultrasound appointment – your dating scan – which should be carried out by the end of your 13th week of pregnancy.

WHEN WILL I HAVE MY ANTENATAL APPOINTMENTS?

13 weeks - After your booking appointment, you will attend your dating scan by the end of your 13 th week, unless you didn’t find out you were pregnant until further into your pregnancy, in which case it will be carried out as soon as possible.

During your ultrasound scan, you will get your first glimpse of your baby. This is a chance for the sonographer to check for a heartbeat and that everything looks as if it is progressing normally. It may also be the time you find out whether there is one baby or more in there.

The dating scan will give you a more accurate estimated due date and this will be the date that will be usedNby health professionals from this point. Screening for chromosomal abnormalities including Down’s Syndrome will also be offered during this scan.

16 weeks – Your next midwife appointment will be shorter than the first one. Your blood pressure, urine and pulse will be checked and you will be given the results of your blood tests. You will also be given details of your next ultrasound scan.

Between 18 and 20 weeks – This scan will look at your baby in detail and how they are developing. The sonographer will check all sorts of things including their heart, brain, bones and spinal cord so they can identify if there are any potential problems.

This will be a great chance to take a good look at your little one and you can ask if the sonographer can tell the sex of your baby if you want to find out. This won’t always be possible, depending on the position of your baby.

Having the scan also means you have made it to the halfway point of your pregnancy. This is a great time to start booking your antenatal classes, www.letstalkbirthandbaby.co.uk

25 weeks - If this is your first baby, you will have a midwife appointment at 25 weeks to check how you are. Your midwife will ask about your emotional wellbeing, take your pulse, test your urine and check your blood pressure.

28 weeks- All pregnant women will have a midwife appointment at 28 weeks to check their iron levels. Low iron can cause anaemia, which is very common during pregnancy and can make you feel really tired and run down. Don’t worry if your iron levels are low as you will be prescribed iron tablets to help you feel better.

During this appointment, your midwife will measure your bump and start plotting the growth on a chart. This helps them check how your baby is growing. If there are any concerns about the rate of growth, you will usually be referred for a growth scan – an extra ultrasound to measure your baby and see what is going on.

31 weeks – First-time mums will get an extra midwife appointment at 31 weeks to do the usual checks and tests, including measuring your bump. The results of any blood tests will also be reviewed.

34 weeks – All pregnant women will see their midwife at this point for a checkup. Your urine will be tested and your blood pressure checked to look out for signs of preeclampsia, a condition which can be dangerous and needs careful monitoring.

36 weeks – This midwife appointment will give you the opportunity to discuss your birth plan and talk about where you would like to give birth. You can find out more about what your options are when it comes to pain relief and discuss your plans for feeding your baby. Your midwife will give you some information on things like caring for your newborn, the newborn screening programme and the vitamin K injection which is offered at birth.

38 weeks – Your pregnancy is now full-term so it is safe for your baby to arrive at this point. Your 38-week appointment will involve all the usual checks – blood pressure, urine, pulse and bump – and your midwife will talk to you about what to do when your labour starts and what your options are if you go past your due date.

40 weeks – If your baby hasn’t arrived by their official due date, you will see your midwife again and discuss your options. You may be offered a membrane sweep – an internal vaginal examination which can help get labour started. This is completely optional.

41 weeks – In addition to the usual checks, you will be offered a membrane sweep. Your midwife will also discuss having labour induced and if you agree to an induction, she will arrange booking you in with the hospital.

42 weeks – If you have not given birth at this point and you have chosen not to be induced, you will have an appointment to check on your and your baby’s wellbeing. The usual checks and tests will be carried out and you may also be offered a cardiotocograph (CTG) to monitor the baby’s heart rate.