Help! What goes on in ante natal appointments x

Your first appointment with your midwife after your pregnancy is confirmed ( 4-6 weeks) usually consists of just giving you information about the schedule of antenatal appointments, screening tests that are on offer and lifestyle issues now you are pregnant. The next appointment ( about 10-12 weeks) tends to be a little longer, your BMI will be calculated your blood pressure and urine will be checked. You may have been offered a dating scan to accurately date the pregnancy this is usually done at this time as well as any screening test that you would like are done then. Following this appointment your midwife will make a plan of the antenatal care you need depending on your own personal circumstances. Have a look at this link on the NICE guidelines for antenatal care http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG062PublicInfo.pdf. Your partner if he can get time off work can attend any of your antenatal appointments. There is lots of information for dads to be now and many websites run by dads offering advice and information for them. Get him to have a look at the NHS dads to be website http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/pregnancycareplanner/pages/Dadshome.aspx. Hope that has helped a little.

I had my first appt. at 9 wks. for bloods general checks and lots of form filling in. Then had scan at 12 wks and husband came to that one. Saw a midwife after scan as I am under consultatn care as I have a back problem. Then had 15 wk. check last wk. which husband came to as I knew we might get to hear the heartbeat which we did and it was amazing! Had all other checks like urine bp too. Then having next scan at 20 ish weeks and will see midwife again at 22 wks.

You should be fine with your plan.

Write your questions down as I still have some to ask which I keep forgetting to ask!

Thanks girls for all you messages! You have all put my mind at rest! Im just going to relax and enjoy each and every experience xxx

hi, congratulations x first appointment- like the other girls said is all about getting info! your medical history and partners- by the way he can certainly attend all your appointments- especially scans! if you have any medical conditions in the family-yourselves, parents and grandparents on both sides let them know- things like whether twins run in family too! they might take bloods to check for immunity to certain things and for anaemia-if you are anaemic you get iron tablets it's no problem! they book you in for scans at 12 weeks (dating scan) and around 20 weeks (anomaly scan)At every appointment they will take a urine sample from you and check your blood pressure and listen to the baby's heart beat with a little device called a sonic aid! which is great and really reassuring. As pregnancy progresses they will also measure your bump and talk to you about birth plans and breast feeding etc, but they give you loads of info to read so you can make decisions about what you want. You will be given your maternity notes, which you keep with you and bring to each appointment and to the labour ward when baby decides to put in an appearance- it seems like forever away but it soon comes round! best of luck and welcome to the site you can come on to ask ?'s or have a moan just whatever

Ah hello there and welcome to the most awesome rollercoaster ride that is pregnancy!!Im one of the lucky ones with no real bad experiences as yet and im almost 29weeks...
I totally remember the early stages and that feeling of wanting to burst with anticipation and a million questions.what i did was read loads of fun books on pregnancy.dont worry that your first app is'nt for a few wks honey coz really only take bloods and urine test.your first scan wont be untl 12 wks so you can start getting excited about that!!!so fab!!keep us posted and enjoy x

your first antemnatel is usually around 10 weeks and they will check dates of your last period dip a stick thing in a water sample take all your details address etc any previous pregnancy history partners name etc then they may have a feel of ure tummy they will take blood to check for iron levels immunity to measles blood group etc and make arrangements for you to have a scan to get a definate due date
they usually wait until around 10 weeks because the risks of miscarriage are lower than at 5 so dont worry that it seems ages away
congratulations and let us all know how you get on

Hi all What happerns on your first anti natal appointment? Will i get a scan and is my partner allowed to attend? Also im five weeks gone but i can only get my first anti natal appointment for 4 weeks as that was the only availble one. Is this ok or should i ring back up and see if they have got anything else a little closer. Thanks im brimming with questions! x