During pregnancy, yours and your baby's health is monitored closely, but who should you see? When do you need to see them? And what are all the pregnancy tests and scans for? Finding out what antenatal care you should expect when you're pregnant can be confusing, so here's our guide to help you through this exciting time.
Your Pregnancy Health Care Team
Your team of health care professionals during pregnancy can be quite varied. Initially you should see your GP (family doctor) when you think you're pregnant and they will help you plan your antenatal care.
Your doctor should tell you how to arrange your first appointment with your midwife (otherwise known as your 'booking in appointment') and from there the midwife will look after you and your baby throughout your pregnancy and for the first few weeks after your baby is born.
You may also have routine appointments with an Obstetrician at the beginning and end of your pregnancy. They specialise in pregnancy and birth and will see you more regularly if you are carrying multiple births, have any complications with your pregnancy or are having a planned cesarean.
When your baby is a few months old, your Health Visitor will take over the care of you and your baby from your midwife. They are likely to visit you to see how you're getting on and are available for any worries or concerns you may have as your baby grows.
Pregnancy check ups
During your first pregnancy you are likely to have up to 10 appointments to attend to. This reduces to around 7 in subsequent pregnancies.
The number of check ups you have when pregnant depends on many things:
- Your risk factors
- Any complications
- Elected labour options
- The number of babies you are carrying
- The area in which you live.
All pregnant women will be given their medical records to keep hold of during pregnancy. Don't forget to bring them to all of your appointments so that whichever doctor or midwife is treating you will have your notes to hand.
Booking in appointment
The first meeting with your midwife will happen when you are around 8-10 weeks pregnant and is referred to as the 'booking in' appointment.
This is when your midwife will discuss your family history (and your partner's), give you advice about your diet, lifestyle and staying healthy whilst you're pregnant.
The midwife will also carry out some tests such as urine and blood tests, you'll have your blood pressure checked and some details about your body recorded such as height, weight and tummy measurement. This is all for your midwife to monitor the health of you and your baby.
Dating 12 week scan
Many clinics offer a scan at between 10 and 14 weeks. This is your pregnancy dating scan (also called the 12 week scan) and is used to date the pregnancy more accurately than the estimated due date your midwife may have given you. The dating scan is also used to check the number of babies you are carrying.
Sometimes you may be able to take a picture of the baby home with you (often hospitals charge for this) to keep as a momentum of your 12 week scan. For most women this is the first time they will have seen the baby.
The dating scan isn't offered in all parts of the country so if this isn't available to you in your area, you'll need to wait for the 20-week anomaly scan which is the next scheduled pregnancy scan.
Pregnancy blood tests
You should have a range of blood tests in your 2nd trimester, usually between the 14th and 20th week of your pregnancy. These are routine and are offered to all pregnant women:
- Blood group tests identify whether you are Rhesus Negative (RhD). This can cause complications in later pregnancies, but simple injections during your first pregnancy will prevent this.
- You'll have what's called a full blood count test (repeated again at 28 weeks) which helps to monitor you for deficiency anaemia, a common complaint during pregnancy.
- You'll also be screened for infections and viruses such as Hepatitis B, syphilis and HIV. This is a precautionary measure and just means they can look after your baby to prevent you passing the infection on during pregnancy.
The 20 week anomaly scan
Around your 20th week of pregnancy, you will have an anomaly scan. This is a detailed check on your baby using ultrasound and examines the baby's body, measurements and growth. They'll also check on your placenta and you may even have the option of finding out the sex of your baby, although not all places offer this and no hospital guarantees the sex from the ultrasound.
You can usually ask for a picture from this pregnancy scan, but again expect to pay a charge. Some places even offer a video.
Additional tests and scans
Other than the standard pregnancy scans and tests you may be offered additional checks, either as optional tests if you are at risk of any complications, or as extra monitoring of your baby. The important thing to remember is to discuss any concerns you have with your midwife or doctor, they are there to help make your pregnancy as healthy, safe and enjoyable as possible.
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