Antenatal care

Antenatal care monitors your health during pregnancy, as well as the health and development of your baby. It can help predict possible problems with your pregnancy or the birth, so action can be taken to avoid or treat them.

Antenatal appointments are scheduled in a fairly standard way in the UK, but some areas offer fewer appointments to mums who aren't expected to encounter any problems.

You can use the appointments to ask any questions you may have and to share any concerns. If you need advice between appointments, call your antenatal clinic.

Where does antenatal care happen?

There are a variety of places where you can receive antenatal care:

• At the hospital where you're due to give birth
• At your GP surgery
• From community midwives at a health centre
• In your own home, where the midwife or doctor visits you
• At another hospital, where there may be special facilities not on offer at your hospital
• 'Shared care', where appointments are split between your doctor and your hospital.

Unless there's a problem with your pregnancy, most of your antenatal care will probably not take place at the hospital. You might go to the hospital's antenatal clinic if your doctor or midwife suggests an appointment with an obstetrician; you may also be asked to go there for antenatal appointments towards the end of your pregnancy.

What happens at antenatal appointments?

Your first antenatal appointment will probably be your booking-in appointment and usually happens at about eight to 12 weeks. In some areas, this is done at home by a community midwife; in others, you'll be asked to visit the hospital.

If you plan to have your baby at home, you'll almost certainly have this appointment at home or at your local health centre.

You'll be asked a number of questions about your health, family history and any previous pregnancies. The aim is to get a basic picture of your health and your pregnancy so far.

The midwife might discuss issues such as diet, smoking and work; she may also ask about your thoughts on breast or bottle feeding and give you information on these.

You don't have to make up your mind on this or on any other matter, but it's a good chance to ask questions and clear up anything you're worried about.

You may be asked to give a blood sample at this appointment. Depending on your local hospital's policy, you may also be weighed.

Routine checks at other appointments are likely to include:

• blood pressure
• weight
• palpation - feeling your tummy
• listening to your baby's heart - this can be done with a stethoscope, a Pinard (looks like an ear trumpet) or a Doppler, which uses ultrasound
• questions about your baby's movements
• urine tests
• checking for any swelling in your legs, arms or face
• questions about how you feel

How often will I see my midwife?

Not counting appointments for scans or other hospital-based tests, you can expect to have appointments every four weeks after week 12, every two weeks from week 32, and every week during the last three or four weeks.

This varies by area, so ask your midwife for your likely schedule.

Waiting times

You often have to wait a long time at hospital antenatal clinics. Community-based clinics in health centres aren't usually quite as busy. If you have to take another child with you, it's a good idea to take drinks and a snack, as well as something to play with or read.

Your pregnancy notes

Depending on local policy, you may be given your notes to look after. Your midwife and doctor should write their findings in your notes. If you see something you can't read or don't understand - abbreviations are often hard to make out, for example - ask them about it.