It's midwife month on TalkMum, and we're looking at the men and women who deliver your babies, and the care you can expect to receive from them when you're expect.
Next up in our 'Ask our midwife' feature - with Pregnacare in-house midwife Summaya - is her guide to the amount of appointments and type of care you can expect to receive during pregnancy (you can also read her first post about a healthy diet in pregnancy).
How Often Will I See A Midwife During My Pregnancy?
The schedule of care and frequency of appointments you receive will vary dependent upon whether you have had children before, have pre-existing medical or pregnancy conditions deeming you 'high-risk' or you are under the care from a specialist team.
What About First Time Mums vs Second-Time Mums?
First time mothers-to-be have a few more appointments than women that have had babies before simply to provide them with the extra support they require.
Who Will The Appointments Be With?
Not all of your antenatal appointments have to be held with your midwife, on some occasions you can see your GP instead. Below is the basic schedule of care guide, the ones marked as such are the extra appointments provided to first time mothers.
What About High-Risk Pregnancies?
We'll come on to these later on in the month.
Are There Any Other Appointments I Can Expect?
This list also does not include the scans required in the different stages of your pregnancy.
So What Appointments Can I Expect During Pregnancy, When And Who With?
10-12 Weeks Pregnant
- Who will see you? Midwife
- Reason: Booking appointment. This is the initial meeting with your midwife, where your history (personal, social, mental, medical and obstetric) will be obtained enabling your midwife to set out your schedule care and make appropriate referrals. Checks at this appointment include blood tests, a blood pressure check and urine screen. You can self refer to a hospital of your choice for this appointment or see your GP as soon as you know that you are pregnant and they will refer you to the hospital instead, the hospital will then contact you with a booking date and time.
2 Weeks After
- Who will see you? Midwife
- Reason: 2 weeks or so after the initial meeting with your midwife they will meet with you again to provide you with the results of your urine and blood tests.
- Who will see you? Midwife or GP
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby
- Who will see you? Midwife or GP
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby
28 Weeks Pregnant
- Who will see you? Midwife
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby. Blood tests: checking for antibodies and iron levels will be performed at this appointment. For those that have a rhesus negative blood group, they will receive an anti-D injection at this appointment. You will receive you results at the next appointment unless there are any concerns I'm sure your midwife will contact you sooner
31 Weeks Pregnant (First Time Mums Only)
- Who will see you? Midwife or GP
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby
34 Weeks Pregnant
- Who will see you? Midwife
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby. Blood tests: checking for antibodies and iron levels will be performed again at this appointment. For those that have a rhesus negative blood group they may receive another anti-D injection at this appointment. You will receive you results at the next appointment unless there are any concerns I'm sure your midwife will contact you sooner
36 Weeks Pregnant
- Who will see you? Midwife
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby. Discuss birth plan and preferences for delivery. Check baby is getting in position for birth
38 Weeks Pregnant
- Who will see you? Midwife or GP
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby. Discuss what happens if you go beyond your due date.
40 Weeks Pregnant
- Who will see you? Midwife
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby. Again discuss the plan for what happens if you go beyond your due date.
41 Weeks Pregnant
- Who will see you? Midwife
- Reason: Antenatal check on mother and baby. "membrane sweep" and book your induction of labour (May vary dependent upon your hospitals guidelines)
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