First midwife appointment

You’ll hear the phrase ‘antenatal care’ a lot during your pregnancy. That just means all the care and support you get while you’re pregnant, including all your regular midwife appointments.

Your first midwife appointment (sometimes called a ‘booking appointment’) is the first step in your antenatal care journey, and a really exciting moment in your pregnancy as it all starts to feel real.

But it can also feel a little daunting if this is your first pregnancy and you’re not sure what to expect. That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide of everything you need to know about what happens at your first midwife appointment. 

From your dating scan to how to have a healthy pregnancy, let’s take a look at some of the things you might be chatting about during  your first midwife appointment, and how and when to get it booked. 

Midwives are the experts when it comes to all things pregnancy and birth, and they’re there to support you at every step. Midwives work in both the community and the hospital, and in some circumstances (e.g., if you choose to have a home birth), they’ll visit you at home.

It may be that you see the same midwife throughout your pregnancy, but this isn’t always the case.

If you have any questions about your care, or you’d like to discuss your experience, you’ll be put in contact with the head of midwifery at your hospital who will be able to help or with the team leader of the community services.

So, you’ve taken a home pregnancy test, and it’s confirmed you’re having a baby - congratulations!

The next step is to call your doctor. Some doctors like to see you at their GP surgery first to make doubly sure that you’re pregnant, then they’ll organise your first midwife appointment for you. Or your doctor might decide they don’t need to see you, and instead, they’ll give you a number to call to book a midwife appointment yourself. Some hospitals have self-referral forms you can fill in on their website.

Ideally, you should have your first midwife appointment before you’re 10 weeks pregnant¹. If you start your antenatal care after 10 weeks, your doctor will arrange your first midwife appointment as soon as possible. Your GP surgery is usually responsible for putting you in touch with the nearest maternity unit, but you can also book a midwife appointment through your local council or Children’s Centre.

Your first midwife appointment will likely last about an hour. It can take place at your GP surgery, a children’s centre, a hospital or at your home.

You won’t have your first ultrasound scan yet (your dating scan will happen at around 12 weeks), but your midwife will talk you through your baby’s development and do a few tests to make sure you’re having a good start to a healthy pregnancy¹.

Your midwife will ask you if they can¹:

• measure your height and weight to work out your BMI (body mass index)
• take your blood pressure and a urine sample to check for signs of pre-eclampsia Not for pre eclamsia at booking
• do some blood tests to check your general health

Your midwife will also talk to you about¹:

• how your baby will develop during your pregnancy (we also have handy guides about what to expect each week of your pregnancy if you want to learn more)
• what a healthy pregnancy diet includes
• exercising while you’re pregnant
• what to expect from your antenatal care
• benefits you can get while you’re pregnant, like free prescriptions and dentist appointments this which will be issued via an email at this appointment
• your options for where to give birth
• the tests and scans you can have during your pregnancy, for example screening for Down’s syndrome and Edward’s and Patau’s syndrome. 
• breastfeeding and other options when it comes to feeding your baby
• Vaccinations

That sounds like a lot, but don’t worry if you don’t take it all in right away. Your midwife will give you notes to take home so you can digest it all properly in your own time.

At the end of your appointment, your midwife will also give you your maternity notes. Your maternity notes are a record of all the appointments, tests and scans you have during your pregnancy. They might be written down in a book or updated through a website or app. Keep them safe and bring them with you to each appointment so your healthcare team can keep them updated¹.

At your first midwife appointment, your midwife will ask you some questions about your lifestyle so they can make sure you get the right care. It’s important to be as honest as possible with your midwife so they can look after you and your baby in the best possible way. You’re unlikely to tell them anything they haven’t heard before, and the more you can tell them, the more prepared they’ll be to help.

At your first midwife appointment, your midwife might ask about¹:

• your living situation (where you live and who you live with)
• the other people who may be in your baby’s life, for example, dad, partner or other family members  
• whether you’ve been pregnant before or have any other children
• smoking, alcohol and drug use
• your physical health and mental wellbeing
• any health issues that run in your family
• your job, if you have one
• who you have around you to support you through your pregnancy (e.g. a partner or your family)

Your midwife could also ask you about domestic abuse and female genital mutilation (FGM). You might find these topics difficult to talk about, but they’re really important things your midwife should know about to give you the best care and support¹.

During your first appointment, your midwife will check your blood pressure and test your urine. You’ll also have blood tests to check for conditions like HIV and hepatitis B. These will all help to check you’re having a healthy pregnancy so far and pick up on any potential issues nice and early. All of these tests are optional but strongly recommended by the NHS¹.

If you’re worried about having your blood taken, you’re certainly not alone. Don’t be afraid to let your midwife know so that they can take extra care to put your mind at ease and make sure you’re comfortable.

Your midwife won’t offer to examine you or do an ultrasound scan until your 12-week appointment. This is called a dating scan. Your first midwife appointment is a good time to ask about the other antenatal care you’ll get throughout your pregnancy, and when you can expect other scans and examinations to happen.

Your first midwife appointment is a great time to ask any questions you might have about your pregnancy. No question is too silly and no concern is too small. Your midwife will have helped countless mums-to-be and heard it all before, so they won’t be surprised or shocked by anything you say.

You might want to ask about:

• how to have a healthy pregnancy (e.g. diet, supplements and exercise)
• what antenatal care you’ll receive and when
• what to do with your maternity notes
• options for giving birth
• the difference between breastfeeding and formula feeding

Your midwife will likely cover all of these things in your appointment anyway, but you might want to write down anything you want to know so you don’t forget.

The number of midwife appointments you have will vary from person to person depending on things like how old you are and whether you’ve had a baby before. Usually your midwife appointments will happen more often the further along you are in your pregnancy.

Here’s a list of some of the appointments you might be offered and when to give you an idea²:
 

• 6-12 weeks: booking appointment (your first midwife appointment)
• 11-14 weeks: 12-week scan or dating scan (your first ultrasound) at hospital
• 18-20 weeks: 20-week scan (another ultrasound scan) at hospital
• 24-25 weeks: if you’re an employee, you’ll be issued with your MatB1 form. This is also known as a Maternity Certificate, and will confirm your pregnancy to your employer. It allows you to access any maternity benefits that apply to you, for example, Maternity Allowance  
• 28 weeks: your doctor or midwife will measure your bump and start to talk to you about preparing for labour
• 31 weeks: If this is your first baby, you’ll have an appointment with your midwife at 31 weeks. During the appointment our midwife will measure the size of your uterus, check your blood pressure, and check your urine for protein
• 34 weeks: you’ll have a check-up and talk more about preparing for labour
• 36 weeks: your midwife will start to talk to you about life once your baby arrives
• 38 weeks: you’ll have another check-up and find out what happens if your little one is later than 41 weeks
• 40 weeks: at 40 weeks pregnant, your midwife is likely to discuss what might happen if your pregnancy goes beyond 41 weeks.
• 41 weeks: your midwife will talk about all of the available options for induction if your baby still hasn’t arrived. There are various ways to induce labour, and in the first instance your midwife may offer what’s known as a ‘stretch and sweep’ if they haven’t already done so. You can learn more about this here.

If you’re employed, you have a right to paid time off for midwife appointments in the UK³. Speak to your employer if you’re not sure, or have a look at the government’s guidelines on employee rights during pregnancy.

If you’d like to know more about your midwifery appointments or being pregnant in general, we’re here for a chat. Why not call one of our friendly experts on 0800 977 8880 or hop on a Live Chat any time 8am - 8pm Monday - Friday.