Pregnancy appointments and scans

First appointment with a midwife (‘booking appointment’)

• You will be asked about your health and your lifestyle. You will also be asked about any pregnancies you have had before. It is important to tell the midwife if you had any complications during earlier pregnancies or birth.
• Antenatal care will be explained, and a plan will be made for you.
• Your blood pressure, height, weight, and Body Mass Index (BMI) will be recorded.
• Your urine will be tested for protein, sugar (glucose), and any infections.
• We will talk to you about blood tests and scans. Your first blood test can be done at this appointment. Click here to find out more about antenatal screenings.
• Information will be given to you about diet, lifestyle changes, pregnancy care services, maternity benefits, and screening tests.
• Information will be given to you about smoke free pregnancies and homes. You will be given information to support you if you or someone who lives in your house is a smoker. Your carbon monoxide levels will be checked with a CO monitor at every antenatal appointment even if you do not smoke. Click here to find out more advice and information on your lifestyle and wellbeing during pregnancy.

First scan (‘dating scan’)

This scan is to check the pregnancy and the number of babies in the womb.

• Your baby will be measured to estimate your due date.
• The scan will check for any major problems.
• You will be offered a screening test (alongside a blood test) for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndrome. (nhs links)
• (Please ask about having the Flu and Covid-19 Vaccinations after your scan)
• If your blood group is found to be rhesus negative, you will get a letter from Blood Transfusion. We can offer you a test (the fetal RHD screening test) at your dating scan. This can tell us the blood group of your baby. If your baby is also rhesus negative then this means you will not need to have an injection around 28 weeks. Click here for more information on this.

Please do not bring children to the scan with you. We know how important the baby is to you and your family, but it is not possible to bring children into the scan room. If this causes difficulty, please phone the number on your scan invitation letter to discuss/make arrangements in advance.

Please make sure you come to your appointment on time. We will not be able to do your scan if you are more than 15 minutes late. If you are late, another scan appointment will be made for you.

We have both male and female sonographers working within the maternity ultrasound department so your scan may not be with a female sonographer. If this is a concern to you, please phone the scan department as early as possible before your appointment to discuss this. We will record your preference and try to arrange this but cannot guarantee that you will have a female sonographer.

• We will give you the results of your blood tests.
• Your midwife will check if you need a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT). This is a test to check if you have diabetes. If you do, you will be given more information and a test will be booked for 26 weeks of pregnancy.
• From 15 weeks, all monitoring visits will include:
  • a check of your blood pressure,
  • a test of your urine
  • a reading of your carbon monoxide levels.
  • Your midwife will also talk to you about your baby’s movements. Click here for more information about monitoring fetal movements.

A scan will be done to check for any problems with your baby at the hospital.

If you want to find out the baby’s gender, this might be possible at this scan. The sonographer will tell you.

(Please ask about having your Whooping Cough Vaccination after your scan)

This is an extra visit. It is usually only offered if you are having your first baby.

• A blood test to check your iron levels, antibodies and blood group will be offered.
• If you are rhesus negative and your baby is rhesus positive, or you have not had the fetal RHD screening test you will be booked to have an Anti-D injection.
• Your midwife will talk to you about feeding choices and the support you can have. You will be given a booklet about feeding your baby after they are born.
• Depending on your pregnancy, your baby’s growth will be checked by either:

• • having regular scans at the hospital (‘GROW pathway’), or
  • your midwife will measure your tummy at each appointment from 26 weeks of pregnancy.

Your midwife will give you the results from your 28 week blood tests.

• Your midwife will ask you to think about your birth plan. This will be discussed at your next appointment.

Please ask your midwife about the ICON message. Click here for further information about ICON.

Your midwife will talk to you about your birth plan with you at this appointment.

Your midwife will talk to you about your choices if your pregnancy lasts longer than 40 weeks. This will include your options for induction of labour and membrane sweeps.

Click here to find out more about membrane sweeps.

Your midwife will again discuss options for you about induction of labour and offer you a membrane sweep.

If you have decided to wait longer than 41 before inducing labour, a membrane sweep will be offered.