Your antenatal care
Antenatal care is the care you get from health professionals during your pregnancy.It’s sometimes called pregnancy care or maternity care.You’ll be offered appointments with a midwife, or sometimes a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and birth (an obstetrician).
You should start your antenatal care as soon as possible once you know you’re pregnant. You can do this by contacting a midwife or GP, or referring yourself directly to maternity services near you.
What is antenatal care?
This is the care you receive while you’re pregnant to make sure you and your baby are as well as possible.The midwife or doctor providing your antenatal care will:check the health of you and your babygive you useful information to help you have a healthy pregnancy, including advice about healthy eating and exercise
discuss your options and choices for your care during pregnancy, labour and birth.
2 pregnancy ultrasound scans at 11 to 14 weeks and 18 to 21 weeks
antenatal screening tests to find out the chance of your baby having certain conditions, such as Down’s syndrome
blood tests to check for syphilis, HIV and hepatitis
antenatal appointments after 24 weeks
Antenatal appointments after 24 weeksFrom around 24 weeks of your pregnancy, your antenatal appointments will usually become more frequent.But if your pregnancy is uncomplicated and you’re in good health, you may not be seen as often as someone who needs to be more closely monitored.Later visits are usually quite short and may last 20 to 30 minutes.
Your midwife or doctor will: check your urine and blood pressure
feel your tummy (abdomen) to check the baby’s position
measure your womb (uterus) to check your baby’s growth
listen to your baby’s heartbeat, if you want them to.
