You will be offered a series of appointments during your pregnancy to check your health and your baby’s development.

Your first appointment, known as your booking appointment, will usually take place at around 10 to 12 weeks with your midwife.

If this is your first baby, you will have a few extra appointments.

Around 10–12 weeks – Dating scan

You will be offered an ultrasound scan to:

• estimate your baby’s due date
• check your baby’s development
• screen for possible abnormalities

16 weeks

At this appointment, your midwife or doctor will:

• talk to you about the 20-week scan
• answer any questions or concerns
• check your blood pressure
• test your urine for protein
• review any screening results

Around 20 weeks – Anomaly scan

This ultrasound scan checks your baby’s physical development and looks for any structural problems.

25 weeks (first-time mums only)

At this extra appointment:

• your baby’s growth will be checked
• your blood pressure and urine will be tested
• you will receive your MATB1 form (for maternity benefits)

28 weeks

Your midwife or doctor will:

• measure your baby’s growth
• check your blood pressure
• test your urine for protein
• repeat your antibody screening and anaemia tests.

30 weeks

If your blood type is rhesus negative, you will be offered anti-D treatment by your midwife or doctor.

31 weeks (first-time mums only)

At this extra appointment:

• your screening results will be reviewed
• your baby’s growth will be checked
• your blood pressure will be checked
• your urine will be tested for protein

34 weeks

Your midwife or doctor will give you information about preparing for labour and birth.

Your midwife or doctor will also:

• check your baby’s growth
• review any screening tests
• check your blood pressure
• test your urine for protein

36 weeks

Your midwife or doctor will continue with routine checks:

• baby’s growth
• blood pressure
• urine test for protein

38 weeks

Your midwife or doctor will continue with routine checks:

• baby’s growth
• blood pressure
• urine test for protein

40 weeks

Your midwife or doctor will:

• monitor your baby’s growth
• check your blood pressure
• test your urine for protein
• talk to you about options if your pregnancy goes over 41 weeks and discuss induction

41 weeks

Your midwife or doctor will:

• continue routine checks

Find out more from the NICE: Antenatal Care.

Birth Choices Clinic

The Birth Choices Clinic is for women who are thinking about having a vaginal birth after a previous caesarean, have experienced a difficult or traumatic birth before, or are unsure about how they would like to give birth. You may be referred by your midwife or doctor (obstetrician). Your consultant midwife and doctor (Obstetrician) will talk you through your options and help you decide what feels right for you.

Sometimes there are situations when your baby is required to be delivered by Caesarean section. This will require either spinal or epidural anaesthetic. A general anaesthetic is sometimes used when baby needs to be delivered quickly. Your doctor will discuss your options with you if your baby is breech or you are expecting multiples.

Useful resources

Birth options after previous caesarean section (RCOG)
Labour Pains: Caesarean birth advice