There will be other checks and tests available to you antenatally.
These fall into different categories like: blood screening tests, diagnostic tests and ultrasound scans.

For example, most women will be offered at least one ultrasound scan during pregnancy. Sometimes, an early scan takes place around 12 weeks and most women are routinely scanned at about 20 weeks. These scans help to detect any problems and give you a picture of your growing baby.

8-12 weeks
Lots of women are offered a scan at their first antenatal visit or booking in visit. This scan measures the baby’s size to work out how many weeks pregnant you are. It may also show up if you are expecting twins or multiples.

11-14 weeks
You may be offered a nuchal fold translucency scan, for the early detection of Downs Syndrome. Not all women are offered this scan, although most women over 35 are.

18-20 weeks
All women are offered a scan at this stage in the pregnancy, and it is sometimes referred to as the foetal anomaly scan. The sonographer will be able to get a clear view of your baby’s organs and development, and can pick up on any abnormalities at this stage.
Most women won’t have any more scans after this, but some women are offered a 30 week scan which can help to detect placental problems, growth retardation and the volume of amniotic fluid.

Later antenatal checks:

25 weeks
Around weeks 24-28 most women will be offered a glucose tolerance test as part of their antenatal appointment. This test involves drinking a glucose mixture and then having your blood tested over a period of several hours afterwards. If Gestational Diabetes is suspected before this time, a glucose tolerance test may be given to you as early as 16 weeks, although it is the hormonal changes and therefore hormones made by the placenta to resist insulin, along with the growth demands of your baby in the second and third trimesters which can cause a woman's insulin levels to become unbalanced.

From 24 weeks onwards you will be offered an antenatal check every month until 34 weeks where depending on your pregnancy you may be offered an antenatal test every two weeks. Once you get to the end of your pregnancy you will be offered a check every week, just to check on how you and your baby are doing.

These visits are great opportunities for you to ask any questions you might have and to find out new information on your baby’s progress. It is a good idea to keep a small notepad that you can jot down questions in, so that you don’t forget what you want to ask at your check-up. Lots of questions can arise over a month long period.There are many different blood tests offered during pregnancy. For example, you may be tested for “HIV” if you give your consent to it, other types of sexually transmitted diseases, such as Syphilis can also be tested for. Your blood could be screened to give an indication as to whether your baby is likely to have a condition such as Spina Bifida or Down’s Syndrome. Diagnostic tests, which involve a needle drawing fluid or cells out of your uterus may also be offered.

So, you may be offered tests for yourself and your baby, and in most cases if you feel strongly about certain tests, you can opt to have them, sometimes at a financial cost. Similarly, if you feel strongly that you don’t want to have any tests, this is your right, and you should not feel pressured into having tests you are not happy about taking. Please see antenatal tests for further information on this topic.

A fairly recent addition to the range of antenatal tests is the so-called nuchal translucency test, that takes place around 10-14 weeks of pregnancy and which combines a blood test with a complex ultrasound scan to establish what the risk of your baby having Down’s Syndrome is. It is only carried out in a concentrated band of hospitals unless you opt to go private. For more information, read our feature on the Nuchal Translucency Test.

What happens at each antenatal test?

Blood pressure
At each antenatal test your blood pressure will be taken, to test for conditions such as pre-eclampsia. Pregnant women's blood pressure should be slightly lower than before or after pregnancy, but if it is above 140/90 there may be a reason to worry. If your blood pressure is high, it can be controlled by blood pressure tablets and regular antenatal checks.

Urine
Most clinics will require you to give a urine sample at every antenatal visit. Your urine is tested for a number of things, but most importantly, for your sugar levels as an indication of gestational diabetes, protein levels for hypertension and ketones to see how your kidneys are coping with pregnancy.

Blood tests
Blood tests will be carried out a few times during your pregnancy, but typically they will happen at your first visit, around 15 weeks, 24-26 weeks (during your glucose test) and at 34 weeks. The blood test tests for conditions such as HIV, Syphillis, Hepatitis B, Sicle Cell anaemia and anaemia. The early blood test at around 15 weeks is designed to test for conditions such as Downs Syndrome and Spina Bifida.

Physical examination
Depending on your antenatal clinic you may or may not have a physical examination at the start of your pregnancy. More then likely you will be weighed and your height will be measured. In your booking-in visit you will be asked about your family history and your general health.

Internal examination
You will probably not need an internal examination unless it is deemed necessary.

Your baby's heartbeat
After about week 14 you should be able to hear your baby's heartbeat at every check-up. The midwife will listen to it with a doppler; is a long device which measures your baby's heartbeat through your abdomen.  Sometimes if your baby is a wriggler, it can be hard to locate the heartbeat, but don't worry, even if it takes time they'll find it!

Palpation
Palpation basically describes when a midwife or doctor feels your abdomen to discover how your baby is lying in the womb, the size of your belly and also if the baby has engaged in the last stages of pregnancy.


Lots of women opt for shared care, which is when your midwife and your local GP share your antenatal care. This can be beneficial in the later stages of pregnancy when you are getting big, if your GP is close to home.

You should always tell your midwife or doctor about any concerns you may have, from swelling ankles, varicose veins to piles or feeling uncomfortable.

Last Modified: 20/06/2007