Subsequent appointments

Please bring your Maternity Hand Held Record (MHHR) and a urine sample to each antenatal appointment.

• Complete the self referral pregnancy form and email/post to your chosen hospital for booking
• Your booking appointment will be with your midwife and will take place around 10-12 weeks.  You will receive your maternity record which you will carry with you to all your appointments.
• Approximately 10-12 weeks (dating scan) – Ultrasound scan to estimate when your baby is due, check the physical development of your baby and screen for possible abnormalities.
• 16 weeks – Your midwife or doctor should give you information about the ultrasound scan you will be offered at around 20 weeks and help you with any concerns or questions you have.  Your midwife or doctor should measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.  They will also discuss and record results of any screening tests.
• Approximately 20 weeks (anomaly scan) – Ultrasound scan to check the physical development of your baby.  (Remember, the main purpose of this scan is to check that there are no structural abnormalities.)
• 25 weeks* – Your midwife or doctor should check the size of your uterus, measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.  Receive your MATB 1 form.
• 28 weeks – Your midwife or doctor will measure the size of your uterus, blood pressure, test your urine for protein, repeat your antibody screening and anaemia tests.
• 30 weeks – Your midwife or doctor should offer your anti-D treatment if you are rhesus negative.
• 31 weeks* – Your midwife or doctor will review your screening tests, measure the size of your uterus, measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.
• 34 weeks – Your midwife or doctor should give you information about preparing for labour and birth.  They will review any screening tests, measure the size of the uterus, measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.
• 36 weeks – Your midwife or doctor should measure the size of your uterus, measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.
• 38 weeks – Your midwife or doctor should measure the size of your uterus, measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.
• 40 weeks* – Your midwife or doctor should measure the size of your uterus, measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.
• 41 weeks – Your midwife or doctor should measure the size of your uterus, measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein.

* extra appointment if this is your first baby

More information: Pregnancy Book Chapter 6

At each visit your midwife or doctor will provide you with information on appropriate public health messages.

If your pregnancy goes over 41 weeks your consultant/midwife will discuss induction.

Birth plan

Within your Maternity Hand Held Record you will find information on completing your birth plan. A birth plan helps the health professional supporting you, know your wishes in order to make your birthing experience as positive as possible and as every woman is individual so too is her birth plan.  You may wish to complete the birth plan within your maternity notes or use it as a guide to make your own.  You may want to discuss this with your midwife around your 34-38 week antenatal check.

Birth Choices Clinic

Referral to the Birth Choices Clinic is for women who wish to have a vaginal birth after caesarean section or who may have had a previous birth trauma or for any woman who is unsure of their mode of delivery. You may be referred by your midwife or obstetric doctor. Advice and information is given by the Consultant Midwife and the Consultant Obstetrician to help you decide what is best. It runs along side an antenatal consultant clinic on a Wednesday.

Birth options after previous caesarean section

www.caesarean.org.uk

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.