Maternity
Appointments
Antenatal Appointments
Your first midwife appointment is completed between 8-10 weeks and organised through your local Maternity Units.
When you first meet your midwife at this early booking appointment she will ask you about your medical or surgical history, previous pregnancy outcomes, any medications you take and relevant aspects of your family history. These questions will help you discuss and agree with your midwife an individual care plan for your pregnancy.
There are 3 main care pathways:
- Health nulliparous pathway for first time parents with no medical problems.
- Healthy multiparous pathway for parents who have no medical or pregnancy-related complications and have had a baby previously.
- Complicated pathway for parents who have medical conditions, difficult personal circumstances or previous pregnancy complications. This could be your first or subsequent pregnancy.
Your Midwife will then arrange to see you for regular antenatal appointments during your pregnancy where they will check the wellbeing of both you and your baby. Most of these visits will be in your local Maternity Units, GP surgery or Children's Centre but occasionally may be arranged at your home. You will need to go to hospital for your ultrasound scans and any doctor appointments.
If you are expecting your first child and are deemed uncomplicated, you will have up to ten appointments. If you have had a baby before and are deemed uncomplicated, you will have around seven appointments. Under certain circumstances, for example, if you have/develop a medical condition, you may have more appointments. Click here for complex pregnancies information.
Antenatal appointments - what to expect
Your Midwife will provide you with support and information to prepare you for your pregnancy and your antenatal records will be started.
We base your care on the information provided at your booking appointment, and if you are considered as having a low chance of developing complications throughout your pregnancy you will be advised to book your appointments with your Midwife on the following weeks of pregnancy:
| 8-10 weeks - first visit / booking appointment |
It is very important to see a Midwife or a GP as soon as possible. Ideally you should have had your first appointment or 'booking' visit by 8-10 weeks. At this appointment, we will:
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| 11-14 weeks - ultrasound scan |
At this appointment, you will have your first ultrasound scan which is known as the dating scan. This scan will also offer screening for Down's, Edwards' and Patau's syndromes (Nuchal Translucency scan and blood test). |
| 16 weeks | You will meet your Midwife and we will discuss the results of the screening tests with you. We will also take your blood pressure and test your urine and provide your with information about the routine abnormality scan at 18-20 weeks. |
| 18-20 weeks - ultrasound scan | This is the fetal anomaly scan to check for any physical abnormalities. |
| 25 weeks (for those having first babies only) | You will meet your Midwife and we will take your blood pressure, test your urine. We will also check your abdomen to measure the baby's growth and check that its movements are appropriate. |
| 28 weeks | You will meet your Midwife and we will take your blood pressure, test your urine. We will also check your abdomen to measure the baby's growth and check that its movements are appropriate. |
| 28 weeks onwards |
From around 28 weeks, your antenatal appointments will take place every two or three weeks. At each appointment, you will meet your Midwife and we will take your blood pressure and test your urine. We will also check your abdomen to measure the baby's growth. You will be given information on:
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If you have any existing medical conditions that may affect this pregnancy or have had a previously complicated pregnancy or birth, you will be seen more often by a wider team of medical professionals best suited to your needs.