Once your pregnancy is confirmed you should book an appointment with the community midwife via this surgery. You will then receive information regarding 1st booking appointment, 1st scan and information about screening tests which you can normally collect from the surgery a few days later.
It is important that you take folic acid vitamin supplements (400 mcg daily) from the start of pregnancy, and ideally as soon as you decide you wish to conceive.
| Appointments | |
| 4 – 12 weeks | Community midwife: blood pressure, urine dipstick test, take blood, may check the size of the fundus, agree estimated date of confinement, offer dietary and lifestyle advice and obtain any previous antenatal history. |
| 10 – 13 weeks | All pregnant women are offered an ultrasound scan to determine gestational age. |
| 12 weeks | Confinement booking appointment – at this appointment relevant lifestyle and medical history taken. Information about routine screening tests given, eg: • Blood group and Rhesus status • Screen for anaemia • Rubella status • Hepatitis B • Syphilis • Urine test to screen for asymptomatic bacteruria • Downs Syndrome screening – Triple test |
| 16 weeks | Community Midwife: This appointment is usually only needed if the Triple test is being carried out. |
| 18 – 20 weeks | Hospital: Ultrasound scan to check the development of the baby. |
| 21 weeks | Consultant’s Ante-Natal Clinic (held at the hospital booked for confinement) |
| 25 weeks | Community Midwife: Measure blood pressure, test urine (if first pregnancy) Measure the size of the baby and listening to the baby’s heartbeat. |
| 28 weeks | Community Midwife: Repeat screening tests for: • Anemia • Red cell antibodies Offer Rhesus negative women 1st dose of anti D |
| 31 weeks | Community Midwife: Discuss and document results of routine screening tests. |
| 34 weeks | Community Midwife: Offer rhesus negative women 2nd dose of anti D and antenatal check. |
| 36 weeks | Community Midwife: Routine antenatal checks and check position of baby. |
| 38 weeks | Community Midwife: Routine antenatal checks. |
| 40 weeks | Community Midwife: Routine antenatal checks. |
| 41 weeks | For all women who have not delivered offer membrane sweep. |
| Parent Craft Education Classes are held at the maternity hospital or local health centres attached to your GP clinic. You should contact your hospital or midwife to find out their schedule. A good time to start, will be around 30 weeks of your pregnancy, some classes are women only. | |
| Parent Craft | Your midwife will advise you about where parent craft classes are being held and will remind you about attending these classes during your pregnancy. |
| Aerobics | Some hospital offer exercise classes for pregnant women. Information will be given at your booking appointment. |
| Aqua-natal | Exercises for pregnant women at local swimming pool. Information will be given at your booking appointment. |