What will happen during the appointments?

The antenatal care you get throughout your pregnancy depends on:

• your health and any risks you or your baby may have
• your stage of pregnancy
• any problems you may be experiencing

There will be a number of checks, scans, tests and discussions, such as:

• when the baby is due, what trimester you are in and what this means for you and your baby
• finding out about your medical history, general health and how any previous pregnancies were
• discussing any medication you are taking
• ensuring you’ve had a recent pap test
• making sure your mental health is OK, and supporting you if you have depression or anxiety
• checking your blood pressure and weight and testing your urine
• organising blood tests and screening
• providing advice on healthy eating and lifestyle changes
• feeling and measuring your tummy, and listening to the baby’s heartbeat
• asking you about your home environment, work and what support you have. If you are experiencing family violence, this is a good opportunity for you to discuss it
• checking about any physical symptoms that may be bothering you
• running through your birth plan with you
• talking about if something doesn’t go to plan during the birth
• finding out about antenatal classes