Starting antenatal care
Antenatal care supports your health and your baby's wellbeing during pregnancy. After learning that you are pregnant, contact a maternity-care professional so you can discuss how to begin care and what arrangements may be appropriate for you.
Antenatal care is not limited to a set of tests. It also gives you time to talk about how you are feeling, ask questions and understand the next steps in your care. Arrangements vary, so your care team should explain what is being offered and why.
Conversations about your health and pregnancy
Early conversations may cover your general health, current pregnancy and any previous pregnancies. Your medical history and individual circumstances help the care team consider what discussions, checks or follow-up may be relevant.
You can also discuss physical and emotional wellbeing. Pregnancy can bring new symptoms, practical questions and changing emotions. Sharing what you have noticed, including anything that is worrying you, helps the care team respond to your circumstances rather than making assumptions about what you need.
Checks, tests and ultrasound
Antenatal care can include blood-pressure checks, urine and blood tests, and ultrasound. These checks can provide different information about pregnancy and health. They do not all happen at every appointment, and the timing or arrangement of each one should be discussed with your care team.
Before a test or scan, you can ask what it is for, what it may involve and when results may be discussed. If a result needs follow-up, ask what the next step is and who will explain it.
Raising questions and concerns
Questions are a normal part of antenatal care. It may help to note them as they arise so you can bring them to an appointment. Useful questions can include:
- What is the purpose of this check, test or scan?
- How and when will the result be explained?
- What follow-up may be needed in my circumstances?
- Who should I contact if I am concerned between appointments?
Preparing for an appointment
Before an appointment, think about changes since your last conversation and any questions you want answered. Be ready to share relevant health information and to say if an explanation is unclear. You can ask the clinician to repeat information or explain how a recommendation relates to your circumstances.
Antenatal care should support informed conversations throughout pregnancy. Understanding the purpose of appointments, checks and follow-up can help you take an active part in those conversations without treating any general schedule as a substitute for individual advice.