Here you will be able to find out about available maternity services and discuss your early pregnancy care. You can choose and book the hospital where you would like your baby to be born and you will be asked for information useful to your pregnancy care and the birth.
An appointment will be made for a midwife to call at your home to take a blood test.
Please feel free to ask at anytime about anything you are unsure about or which is worrying you.
At 10-14 weeks
You'll attend hospital for a dating ultrasound scan to check your baby's progress and to discuss your care plan for the birth, as well as any screening test you may need. Remember, although your pattern of care is within a particular framework it is still made individual to you.
If you're a first-time mum you will be given a special pregnancy book to record this important time and other relevant information.
At 16-18 weeks
You'll go along to an antenatal session with your midwife. Because staff want to keep a close eye on your health, at all these sessions the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and general wellbeing as well as your baby's growth.
At 20-23 weeks
You’ll attend the hospital for another scan and, if everything is progressing well, at 24 weeks, you will be seen again at the antenatal clinic by the midwife. The progress of your baby and your health will again be assessed, your scan discussed and issues like smoking in pregnancy also discussed if this is relevant.
At 28 weeks
You see your midwife again at the clinic for a check on the iron levels in your blood which are very important during pregnancy. Again, as in all your sessions, your wellbeing and that of your baby will be assessed and recorded.
At 32 weeks
By the time of your next visit to the midwife in the antenatal clinic at 32 weeks, you may be attending antenatal classes/ parent education.
At 34 weeks
Your midwife will assess you and your baby and discuss practical after-birth matters like safe sleeping for your baby.
At 36, 38 and 40 weeks
Your appointments at 36, 38 and 40 weeks will follow a similar pattern, offering information, help and support to ensure you have the best possible birth experience.
At 41 weeks
As you have now gone over your due date you will see your midwife and now discuss having an induction.