My Pregnancy Journey

Have you had a positive home pregnancy test?  Congratulations!

The next step is to contact your local midwife or GP

1^st  contact with a  midwife.  You will discuss the following:

• Folic acid supplementation (400mcg/day).  Ideally started 3 months before getting pregnant and continued for the first 12 weeks
• Food hygiene & food acquired infections:
  • We advise you only to drink  pasteurised milk
  • Avoid cheeses such as Camembert, Brie and blue vein cheese
  • Avoid all pates, uncooked or undercooked ready prepared meals
• Alcohol-it is best to avoid alcohol altogether, particularly in the first 3 months because there is uncertainty about a safe level. If you choose to drink alcohol, a maximum of 1-2 units once or twice a week is recommended.  A guide to alcohol units is available here
• Smoking cessation and recreational drug use = benefits of quitting
• Antenatal Screening:
  • blood tests to check that you are healthy and are free of infections that could harm your baby if untreated (such as rubella, hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis)  
  • ultrasound scans and other tests available
• Medicines - Very few medicines are thought to be safe to use in pregnancy, please seek advice before taking.

Booking appointment

Ideally by 10 wks

We will discuss your health and family details with you:

• Provide and discuss with you the green hand held pregnancy notes
• Explain your first appointment and your pregnancy plan of care
• Offer antenatal classes
• Consider  whether you would benefit from additional care                      
• Choices of where to have your baby
• How your baby develops
• General healthy diet advice
  • Avoid Vitamin A -liver and liver pate
  • Vitamin D supplement recommended (10microgrammes per day)
• Exercise – moderate exercise is not associated with adverse outcome. Pelvic floor exercises are recommended.
• Breastfeeding
• Maternity Rights and benefits
• Miscellaneous
  • Woman’s occupation to identify potential risks
  • Genital mutilation

1^st scan

either at: Birmingham Women’s Hospital or

Community Clinic

Scan photos £6 each (please bring pound coins with you)

• You will be offered a scan to be sure when your baby is due
• You will then meet a midwifery assistant who will:
  • Measure your height and weight and blood pressure & calculate your Body mass index
  • Take your and booking bloods.
  • Test your urine

15-16 weeks

With community midwife

• We will discuss and record the results of your screening tests
• Explain your GROW chart
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Take blood for the triple test - if you have chosen to have this test
• Check iron levels in your blood and consider iron supplements if neccesary (if Hb is below 11g/dl)

• Scan: you will be offered this to check that you baby is growing normally and to look and see if there are any problems.
• Leaflet: ‘Your new baby-off to a good start’?

25 weeks

for 1^st time mums only

At this appointment: the midwife will:

• Measure your baby’s growth
• Take your blood pressure and test your urine.
• Provide you with a MAT B1 certificate (if needed)
• Check that antenatal classes have been booked if this is your choice

25 weeks

for 1^st time mums only

• Offer a second screening for anaemia and atypical antibodies
• Check iron levels and consider iron supplements if neccesary (if Hb is below 10.5g/dl)
• Offer anti-D to rhesus-negative women
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Measure your baby’s growth
• Discuss Birth Centre option

28 weeks

(for all women)

With community midwife

• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Measure your baby’s growth
• Review, discuss and record 28 week screening results.
• Issue parenting book -1^st time mums only

31 weeks

for 1^st time mums only

• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Measure your baby’s growth
• Review, discuss and record 28 week screening results.
• Issue parenting book -1^st time mums only

34 weeks

For women not seen at 31 wks

• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Measure your baby’s growth
• Discuss antenatal classes
• Preparation for labour and birth
• Information about coping in labour and birth plan
• Recognition of active labour
• Offer anti D for Rh negative blood group

Review, discuss and record 28 week screening results. Investigate Hb below 10.5g/dl and consider iron supplementation

36 weeks

With community midwife

• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Measure your baby’s growth
• Check baby’s position if ? breech - offer scan. If breech confirmed discuss the offer of having baby turned (ECV)
• If placenta low lying at 20 weeks – follow-up scan offered
• Breastfeeding including technique and good management practices
• Newborn screening tests and Vitamin K
• Postnatal self-care
• Awareness of ‘baby blues’ and postnatal depression

38 weeks

With community midwife

• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Measure your baby’s growth
• Information / options for prolonged pregnancy

40 weeks

With community midwife

• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Measure your baby’s growth
• Information / options for prolonged pregnancy

41 weeks

With community midwife

• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine
• Measure your baby’s growth
• A membrane sweep should be offered
• Induction of labour should be offered