The majority of your antenatal appointments will be with a community midwife. You may also see a specialist maternity doctor (Obstetrician) in our antenatal clinic if you have any complications in pregnancy or have any pre-existing health conditions.

Pregnant employees have the right for paid time off for antenatal appointments.

For any non-pregnancy related issues please contact your GP.

The schedule of appointments depends on your individual circumstances, for example you will be offered more appointments if you are pregnant with your first baby.

Here is a schedule of the appointments you will be offered:

It's best to see your midwife as early as possible to get the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy.

Some tests, such as screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia, should be done before you're 10 weeks pregnant.

Your midwife will give you information about: 

  • how the baby develops during pregnancy
  • nutrition and diet
  • exercise and pelvic floor exercises
  • antenatal screening tests
  • your antenatal care
  • breastfeeding
  • antenatal education
  • maternity benefits
  • your options for where to have your baby

Your midwife will:

  • give you your handheld notes and plan of care
  • see if you may need additional care or support
  • plan the care you'll get throughout your pregnancy
  • identify any potential risks associated with any work you may do
  • measure your height and weight, and calculate your body mass index (BMI)
  • measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
  • offer CO monitoring
  • find out whether you're at increased risk of gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia
  • offer you screening tests (link to antenatal screening) and make sure you understand what's involved before you decide to have any of them
  • offer you an ultrasound scan at 8 to 14 weeks to estimate when your baby is due
  • offer you an ultrasound scan at 18 to 20 weeks to check the physical development of your baby and look for 11 rare conditions
  • ask about your mood to assess your mental health
  • ask about any past or present severe mental illness or psychiatric treatment

 

This appointment is an opportunity to tell your midwife or doctor if you're in a vulnerable situation or if you need extra support.

This could be because of domestic abuse or female genital mutilation (FGM).

FGM can cause problems during labour and childbirth, which can be life threatening for you and your baby.

It's important you tell your midwife or doctor if this has happened to you

This is the ultrasound scan to estimate when your baby is due, check the physical development of your baby, and screen for possible conditions, including Down's syndrome. Click here for more information

Your midwife or doctor will give you information about the ultrasound scan you'll be offered at 18 to 20 weeks.

They'll also help with any concerns or questions you have.

Your midwife or doctor should: 

  • Review, discuss and record the results of any screening tests
  • Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
  • Consider an iron supplement if you're anaemic
  • Discuss fetal movements
  • Provide personalised GROW chart and have this placed in notes

You'll be offered an ultrasound scan to check the physical development of your baby. This is also known as the 20 week scan. 

From 16 weeks, you'll be recommended the whooping cough vacine. The best time to have this vaccine is after your scan, up to 32 weeks. Please book this with your GP.

But if for any reason you miss the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour.

You'll have an appointment at 25 weeks if this is your first baby.

Your midwife or doctor should:

  • use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus
  • measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
  • Discuss antenatal classes and give an oppourtunity to ask questions

Discuss the importance of fetal movements

Your midwife or doctor should: 

  • Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus and plot the findings on your GROW chart
  • Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
  • Offer more screening tests
  • Offer your first anti-D treatment if you're rhesus negative
  • Consider an iron supplement if you're anaemic
  • Discuss antenatal classes and give an oppourtunity to ask questions
  • Discuss the importance of fetal movements

You'll have an appointment at 31 weeks if this is your first baby.

Your midwife should:

  • Review, discuss and record the results of any screening tests from the last appointment
  • Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus and plot the findings on your GROW chart
  • Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein

Your midwife or doctor should give you information about preparing for labour and birth, including how to recognise active labour, ways of coping with pain in labour, and your birth plan.

Your midwife or doctor should: 

  • Review, discuss and record the results of any screening tests from the last appointment
  • Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus and plot the findings on your GROW chart
  • Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
  • Offer your second anti-D treatment if you're rhesus negative
  • Discuss antenatal classes and give an oppourtunity to ask questions
  • Discuss the importance of fetal movements

 

Your midwife or doctor should give you information about:

  • Breastfeeding
  • Caring for your newborn baby
  • Vitamin K and screening tests for your newborn baby
  • Your own health after your baby is born
  • The "baby blues" and postnatal depression.
  • Birth plans, preferences and choice of place of birth

Your midwife or doctor will also:

  • Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus and plot the findings on your GROW chart
  • Check the position of your baby
  • Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
  • Discuss the importance of fetal movements
  • Weigh you and recalculate a VTE score
  • Provide CO monitoring
  • Offer external cephalic version (ECV) if your baby is in the breech position. 

You'll have an appointment at 40 weeks if this is your first baby.

Your midwife or doctor should give you more information about what happens if your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 weeks.

Your midwife or doctor should:

  • Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus and plot the findings on your GROW chart
  • Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
  • Discuss the importance of fetal movements

 

 

If you have had a previous Caesarean Birth, an appointment at 40 weeks should be scheduled with an obstetric consultant regarding plan for induction of labour.

 

Your midwife or doctor should:

  • Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus and plot the findings on your GROW chart
  • Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
  • Offer a membrane sweep
  • Discuss the options and choices for induction of labour