Where do I go for antenatal check ups?

Often, your doctor’s surgery will be able to provide antenatal care for you during your pregnancy. Usually this will mean that meetings and check-ups with your midwife would take place at your GP’s surgery and scans or more specialist tests would take place in the hospital you have been referred to for delivery.

If it is not possible to attend an antenatal clinic at your GP’s surgery, then you will attend one at the hospital where you will have your baby. Normally, women attend the clinic once a month from the start of pregnancy until around seven months of pregnancy when the visits will increase to fortnightly or weekly.

The least personal clinic tends to be the antenatal clinic in a big hospital due to the volume of staff and pregnant women. The biggest complaint at this type of clinic is there is often a discontinuity of care, that is; it is likely you will see different doctors and midwives each time you visit. This can be frustrating and therefore, if you do have the possibility of attending an antenatal clinic at your doctor’s surgery then take the opportunity to do so. You may also have to wait a while to be seen which can frustrating especially as you will having time off work to attend appointments. unfortunately with big hospitals in big cities there is nothing much you can do about this.

Alternatively, you may be able to opt for the “domino” scheme, which is a team midwife service. Midwives that work under the domino scheme will come to your house to provide your antenatal care and accompany you to hospital when you go into labour. This means that although you may not have the exact same midwife on each visit, you will avoid the possible additional stress of visiting a hospital antenatal clinic that is busy, impersonal and sometimes bewildering.

However, even if you do have the majority of your antenatal care in a hospital, it doesn’t need to be a negative experience and not all hospitals are busy and impersonal places. Take your partner or a good book and try to relax. The staff will still have your best interests at heart and want the antenatal experience to be a positive one for you.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.

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• Antenatal Care: How often do I go for my antenatal checks?
• Antenatal Care: Later antenatal check-ups
• Guide To : Pregnancy: Antenatal care and Ultrasound scans