Appointments and Scans
Throughout your pregnancy you will be offered midwife appointments and routine screening scans. Every women's pregnancy is different and you may be offered additional appointments with an obstetrician or additional growth scans. Below we have explained the expectations of the standard for every pregnant woman in the UK following NHS maternity care. We offer free workshops on appointments and scans and we have also launched our First and Second Trimester Toolbox's where we give you the tools to feel prepared, empowered and back in control of your pregnancy right from the earliest appointments.
First Trimester Appointments and Scans:
Once you have found out you're pregnant, it is important you book your pregnancy with your local maternity unit (you do have a choice so if you prefer one so you can book there).
Between 8-10 weeks you will have your first midwife appointment known as the:
Booking appointment: This will be the longest midwife appointment you have this pregnancy and they discuss any previous medical history/obstetric history and get to know you. The best way we describe this, it's a bit like a first date, lots of really in depth personal questions. You will also have blood tests, urine test and blood pressure monitoring done. This appointment you will receive access to your maternity app (Badgernet etc..) or given your paper maternity notes, it is important you carry these with you in pregnancy just in case there is ever an emergency.
Nuchal Scan: This is the first scan performed by the NHS in your pregnancy (unless you have been seen in EPU). This is part of the national screening pathway and includes the combined screening test for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome (T21), Patau's Syndrome (T13) and Edwards Syndrome (T18) by measuring the nuchal fold during the scan (fluid measurement at the back of baby's neck) and a blood test.
We go into detail about both these appointments and more in our First Trimester Toolbox, so if you want to feel prepared on what to expect, its worth checking out.
Second Trimester Appointments and Scans:
16 week appointment can usually be booked in between 16-19 weeks gestation and this will be the appointment your midwife will check your urine and blood pressure again. The midwife will also discuss any blood results you had taken and consented to in the booking appointment. Recent NICE/NHS guidance has changed that it is not routine now for the midwife to check your baby's heartbeat at this appointment but you can request. This appointment is usually around 20 minutes. So be prepared and bring your questions!
Anomaly Scan (20 week scan):
This follows the national screening pathway and will check baby from head to toe, all organs and limbs. They will also check the placental location which is important to know. It is important to find out where they put the scan report (added to the app, printed and added to your paper notes) because this is vital if you're travelling/visiting family in another area and need to visit the hospital for an emergency so they know details of the last scan you had.
25 week appointment :
This appointment is only offered if this is your first pregnancy. Similar to your 16 week appointment, the midwife will check your urine/blood pressure and you can request to the midwife to listen in to your baby's heartbeat if you wish.
At this appointment they will start measuring your bump to measure fetal growth, this may not be offered to you if you have already got growth scans booked in.
28 week appointment
At this appointment the midwife will check on your urine/blood pressure but they will check your blood tests again and consent you to have your iron levels check and your blood group done again. The reason for this is because as pregnancy advances then the circulating blood volume increases and this can cause dilution in your iron levels which can make you become anaemic, there is supplements to take for this. The midwife will measure your bump again to measure fetal growth, this may not be offered to you if you have already got growth scans booked in.
Glucose Tolerance Test
Depending on which hospital you are booked at some offer this test around 25-28 weeks, it may not be offered to all women but usually offered if you have risk factors. This test can also be known as the GTT. This is usually a fasted test to check your blood sugar levels before and after drinking a glucose drink, if you test positive for this test you will be diagnosed with gestation diabetes and be under the diabetic midwife pathway. We have a guide available on our Toolbox if you want more information.
We do a deep dive into each of these appointments, giving you the tips, understanding your choices and what to expect if you get positive results on any of the tests.
