Guidance for pregnant women and information on what is happening in their regional unit during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak can be found on NI Maternity
About your antenatal appointments
Each antenatal appointment should have a specific purpose as well as an opportunity for you to discuss any concerns or ask any questions you might have. You should bring a fresh urine sample to each appointment.
Regular checks
There are certain tests that you will have at every antenatal appointment in order to monitor your health and the development of your baby.
These include:
- measuring the size of your uterus
- checking your blood pressure and test your urine
- discussing whooping cough and flu vaccines
- discussing your baby’s movements
First contact with your midwife or doctor
You should make contact with your doctor or midwife as soon as possible once you know you are pregnant.
At this appointment they should give you information about:
- folic acid and vitamin supplements, nutrition, diet and food hygiene
- smoking, drinking and recreational drug use
- antenatal screening tests
- flu and whooping cough vaccines
It is important that you tell your midwife or doctor if:
- you smoke, drink alcohol or take drugs
- there were any complications in a previous pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, premature birth, postnatal depression or Group B streptococcus
- you are being treated for a long term condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy or mental health problems
- you or anyone in your family has previously had a baby with an abnormality such as spina bifida
- there is a family history of inherited disease such as cystic fibrosis
- you are a victim of sexual abuse or domestic violence
- you have other children in care
Booking
Most women have their booking appointment between week 8 and 12 of the pregnancy.
After this you will have appointments at the following times during pregnancy:
- 16 weeks
- 18-20 weeks
- 25 weeks
- 28 weeks
- 30 weeks
- 32 weeks
- 34 weeks
- 36 weeks
- 38 weeks
- 40 weeks
- 41 weeks
Eight to 12 weeks (dating scan)
You will have an ultrasound scan to estimate when your baby is due, check the physical development of your baby and screen for possible major abnormalities.
16 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should give you information about the ultrasound scan you will be offered at 18 to 20 weeks and help with any concerns or questions you have.
Your midwife or doctor should:
- review, discuss and record the results of any screening tests
- measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
- consider iron supplements if you are anaemic
- give you your maternity hand held record (MHHR) if you have not already received it
18-20 weeks (anomaly scan)
You will have an ultrasound scan to check the physical development of your baby. The main purpose of this scan is to check there are no structural abnormalities.
25 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should carry out your regular checks including:
- check the size of your uterus
- measure your blood pressure and test your urine
- discuss whooping cough and flu vaccines
- discuss your baby’s movements
28 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should:
- use a tape to measure the size of your uterus
- measure your blood pressure and test your urine
- offer more screening tests
- discuss whooping cough and flu vaccines
- discuss your baby’s movements
30 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should:
- offer you anti-D treatment if you are rhesus negative
- discuss whooping cough and flu vaccines
- discuss your baby’s movements
32 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should review, record and discuss the results of any screening tests from the last appointment and carry out your regular checks.
34 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should give you information about preparing for labour and birth, including how to recognise active labour, ways of coping with pain during labour and your birth plan.
They should also carry out your regular checks.
36 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should give you information about:
- feeding your baby
- caring for a newborn baby
- vitamin K and screening tests for our newborn baby
- your own health after your baby is born
- postnatal depression
They should also give you your regular checks.
38 weeks
Your midwife or doctor will discuss the options and choices about what happens if your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 weeks.
They should also carry out your regular checks.
40 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should give you more information about what happens if your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 weeks and they should also do your regular checks.
41 weeks
Your midwife or doctor should:
- discuss your options and choices for inducing labour
- offer a membrane sweep