Pregnancy

Tests and scans | CVS and amniocentesis | Miscarriage

Antenatal appointments

So you have all the signs and symptoms of pregnancy, you've crossed the thin blue line of the pregnancy test and you're off to the GP to have your big news confirmed.

"I saw my GP last week for my first appointment, at seven weeks. I don't know exactly what I expected, but I was in and out in 10-15 mins, and didn't even take my coat off! She asked if I was fit and well, and told me some very basic stuff about folic acid and soft cheese... didn't weigh me, take blood pressure, ask if I worked. Am I just being paranoid because it's my first time, or should she have done more?" leah770

To health professionals, your pregnancy is familiar and ordinary and there's a drill to be followed. To you, it's anything but (particularly if it's your first baby).

Your midwife or GP will offer to arrange regular antenatal appointments (it's up to you whether you take up this offer). These check your blood pressure, blood type, urine and general health.

Who does them (midwife or GP), and where (in the community or at a GP surgery or hospital) varies in different parts of the UK, but what happens during them is pretty standard.

During your very first ('booking') appointment, your midwife or GP will probably advise you about taking:

• Vitamin D supplements - 10mcg a day while pregnant and breastfeeding
• Folic acid - 400mcg a day until you're 12 weeks pregnant to protect your baby from serious brain problems (and if you're thinking of getting pregnant)

And not taking:

• Vitamin A supplements (above 700mcg) because large doses can be harmful during pregnancy

He or she will probably also ask about any existing prescription drugs you're taking and advise whether or not you should continue to take them, and give you advice about what you can and can't eat, drink or generally ingest.

Depending on how glowing you feel, you'll be relieved/ appalled to know that "sexual intercourse in pregnancy is not known to be associated with any adverse outcomes" (NICE antenatal care guidelines, March 2008).

If you know a particular condition runs in your family/ your partner's family (eg sickle cell anaemia, Tay Sachs, cystic fibrosis, Huntington's, congenital heart disease) then in an ideal world you will have sought advice from your GP before you became pregnant.

But if you're already pregnant, your GP can still give you advice about antenatal screening (if that's something you want). Your GP may recommend genetic testing or counselling.

The first couple of antenatal appointments are usually a bit longer because you'll be offered various one-off tests for things such as:

• Your blood group and rhesus factor (rhesus negative women are usually offered injections during pregnancy and after their baby is delivered to protect their next baby from the risk of anaemia)
• Rubella (german measles) immunity - if you've had it you'll have immunity, and if you haven't you'll get advice on how to avoid getting it
• Anaemia
• Gestational diabetes
• Infections that could affect your health, or your baby's, such as urinary tract infections, hepatitis B, syphilis and HIV

"I think antenatal visits are very important. In fact, in my case, had I not been to them I would have lost both my son and my daughter." MABS

If your pregnancy's straightforward, your antenatal care will be led by a midwife or GP. If your pregnancy is more complicated for any reason - you're expecting more than one baby, or you have a pre-existing health condition - you may be referred and have consultant-led antenatal care. Any pregnant woman can request consultant-led care.

You're not just a baby incubator, so whoever is leading your care will also use antenatal appointments to discuss how you're feeling generally, your emotions and your thoughts about where you want to have your baby and the type of birth you want.

"I saw my GP last week and now I'm off work for two weeks because I'm sooo tired. She thinks I could be down because I'm so tired and worried about this pregnancy as I had a miscarriage last year. I've found I'm feeling better because now I'm off work I go for a walk every day." positive

At each antenatal appointment the size of your bump will be measured from crown to rump (also called measuring the height of the fundus) and some midwives/GPs will listen to your baby's heartbeat (think galloping horses and you won't be far wrong). 

Tests and scans | CVS and amniocentesis | Miscarriage