12 weeks – Your first appointment
- Your GP will refer you to your local hospital
- The care options that are available will be discussed
- A whole lot of blood tests will be organised including your blood type, hep b, hep c, hiv, rubella, syphilis, full blood count etc.
- Optional scans will be discussed and organized such as:
- Dating scan at 8-9 weeks
- Nuchal translucency scan/ NIPT test at 11–13 weeks
Observations: Check blood pressure and weight
What you could ask about:
- Nutrition and exercise
- Supplements
- Early pregnancy changes (Breast changes, weight gain, fatigue, nausea)
12-18 weeks
(You’ll be able to hear bub at this point)
- This appointment should be with a midwife in the hospital
- They will review your blood tests and recommend supplements or further testing if needed
- If you are a negative blood group they will discuss Anti D in pregnancy
- They will organise a morphology scan to be performed at 18–20 weeks
- Baby’s heart sounds should now be detectable with the use of a doppler and can be heard at this appointment; it will normally be on the upper end of 110-160 beats per minute.
Observations: Blood pressure (BP) and fetal heart rate (FHR)
What you could ask about:
- Early movements and what they feel like
- Bleeding during pregnancy
- Sex during pregnancy
20 weeks
- Your morphology scan will be reviewed and explained to you.
- Follow up scans may be organized depending on findings.
For e.g, if your placenta is close to your cervix on the morphology scan we will repeat the scan in a few weeks’ time to ensure it’s moved out of the way.
Observations: BP and FHR
What you could ask about:
- The flu shot in pregnancy
- Breastfeeding (importance/significance/nipple care)
- Work commitments (when to stop or slow down)
24-26 weeks
- This is the gestation where we start feeling and measuring your belly.
- Fundal height is measured from the pubic bone (the hard bone on top of your vulva) to the top of your uterus (fundus).
- The fundal height is generally within 2-3cm of your gestation and is a gauge for fetal growth.
- Your midwife will discuss gestational diabetes screening which can be performed between (26 to 28 weeks)
- The whooping cough vaccine will also be discussed and can be organised for (28 – 32 weeks)
- A request slip for follow up blood tests will be given to you to be performed between 24–28 weeks.
Observations: BP, FHR , abdominal palpation and fundal height
What you could ask about:
- Fetal movements and monitoring them.
- Signs of labour
28 weeks
- Your blood tests will be reviewed and discussed with you
- The first dose of Anti D will be given via injection if you have a negative blood group
- Your midwife will ask about fetal movements and your general wellbeing
Observations: BP, FHR , abdominal palpation and fundal height
What you could ask about:
- Different stages of labour
- What to do if your waters break at home
31 weeks
- Nothing fancy needs to be done at this visit
- Your midwife will ask about fetal movements and your general wellbeing
Observations: BP, FHR , abdominal palpation and fundal height
What you could ask about:
- Optimal fetal positioning
- Perineal massage, episiotomy and perineal trauma
- Relaxation and visualization techniques
- What to pack
34 weeks
- Your 2nd dose of Anti D if you have a negative blood group will be given
- Your midwife will ask about fetal movements and your general wellbeing
Observations: BP, FHR , abdominal palpation and fundal height
What you could ask about:
- Late pregnancy (physical and emotional changes)
- Positions for labour and birth
36 weeks
- Your midwife will ask about fetal movements and your general wellbeing
Observations: BP, FHR , abdominal palpation, and fundal height
What you could ask about:
- Breastfeeding: Physiology and establishment of lactation
- Attachment/ techniques
- What to expect in the first few days
- SIDS safe sleeping
38 weeks
- Your midwife should review your birthing preferences/ options
- Discuss any fear and anxieties of birth
- Ask about fetal movements and general wellbeing
Observations: BP, FHR, and fundal height
What you could ask about:
- Baby blues vs postnatal depression
- Bleeding post-birth
40 weeks
- Your midwife will ask about fetal movements and your general wellbeing
- A stretch and sweep will be discussed and offered
- Discuss natural induction of labour methods
- An IOL for 41 + 3 days will be booked in case you remain pregnant.
Observations: BP, FHR, and fundal height
What you could ask:
- When to call the midwife in labour
- How to support early labour at home
41-42 weeks
- Ask about fetal movements and general wellbeing
- According to your preferences, post date management will be discussed.
- This may include further fetal wellbeing monitoring if wishing to postpone induction of labour.
- Alternatively, you will be asked to attend the hospital for your induction of labour at the appropriate date that has been provided to you.
Observations: BP, FHR , and fundal height
What you could ask:
- What the methods of induction of labour are
- How to support birth hormones with oxytocin infusion
