The first or 'booking' antenatal appointment
Your GP will arrange for you to have your first antenatal appointment
(often known as the ‘booking appointment'), which usually takes place
before 10 weeks of pregnancy. Depending on the practice in your area, it
could be at your home, at your GP’s surgery, or at your local hospital.
You will be seen by a midwife.
Unless you have any ongoing problems, this first visit will probably
be the longest appointment you will have. Allow around an hour and a half
for the appointment and do take your partner if you wish. This is what’s
likely to happen:
- You will be asked questions about yourself and your medical history,
as well as about any family history of medical problems in your and
your partner's family (don't worry if you don't know very much). You
will also be asked about any previous pregnancies. Although it may be
hard to discuss previous miscarriages or terminations especially if
you are with a new partner, it is important that you r midwife knows
as this may be important to your care.You can ask your midwife to keep
the information confidential and only disclose it to those who really
need to know.
- Your blood pressure will be checked
- You will be asked to give a blood sample or you may be asked to go
to a clinic to have them taken. This will be tested to find out which
blood group you are, whether you are Rhesus
positive or negative and whether you are anaemic.
It will also be checked to see if you are immune to rubella.Tests for inherited
blood conditions, such as thalsassaemia and sickle cell disease may
be carried out and your blood will be tested for certain infections
too, such as hepatitis B , toxoplasmosis
and syphilis (a sexually transmitted disease) and HIV.
- You will be asked to give a urine sample. This will be tested to find
out whether you have any sugar in your urine or protein and any other
signs of urinary infection. Sugar in your urine can be a sign of diabetes and
protein is looked for because it can be a sign of either an infection
or later in pregnancy, pre-eclampsia
- You may be weighed, your height measured and your Body Mass Index
(BMI) calculated.
- If booked before 24 weeks, the midwife may listen to your baby’s
heartbeat, probably using a small ultrasound machine (called a Sonicaid
or a Doppler), which she will rub over your tummy. To do this, she’ll
need to spread some gel on your tummy first.
- You may be offered a future appointment for an ultrasound
scan (a dating scan) to confirm when your baby is due and whether
you are expecting twins or more.
- You will also be given lots of information about pregnancy safety,
classes and whether any of your medical history will mean you need any
special tests or care. You can also take a list of any questions you
have.
If anything is said or done at this appointment that you don’t understand,
ask for it to be explained to you. Take time to ask any questions that
you have, too. You will be given your own pregnancy notes to keep and
take to each scan and appointment.
Where to next?
Return to pregnancy
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