preparing for my baby

Antenatal Care
(care for you and your baby before birth)

It is really important for any pregnant woman to get antenatal care in order to ensure her own and her baby’s health and wellbeing.

This is the time to get to know your midwife and to discuss any concerns that you may have. As soon as you think that you are pregnant make an appointment to see your doctor who will discuss with you where you would like to have your baby. Having chosen the place of birth, the doctor will write to the hospital and the antenatal clinic. They will send you an appointment for around 12 weeks called a ‘booking appointment’.

You will be seen by a midwife who will:

• ask you questions about your health
• check your height and weight
• check your blood pressure and urine
• discuss any personal issues that might affect you and your pregnancy
• link you with other agencies you might find useful

You may also be asked about your ethnic origin. This is because some medical conditions are more common to some ethnic groups than others.

There will usually be an ultrasound scan between 11-13 weeks and at about 20 weeks. The scan will take place at the hospital and is painless. You do not have to have the scan but they are useful to check your baby is developing healthily and to confirm when you baby is due. It will also give you and your partner an opportunity to see your baby. You can usually take away a picture from the scan of your baby. There is usually a small charge for this photo.

You will also be offered a blood test to check various things such as infections, your blood group and to make sure that you are as healthy as you can be and that any risks to the baby are reduced.

It is important to remember that some of the tests mentioned in this section can only be done in the first few months of pregnancy. So it is important to talk to your doctor or midwife as soon as you can. Remember that you can ask as many questions as you need to. You do not have to have any of the tests.

Call the Teenage Pregnancy Midwives on 07974 971 853 / 0797 4971 848