here - Health Promotion Agency

7 Antenatal
care and
antenatal classes
Throughout your pregnancy you will have regular care, either at a
hospital antenatal clinic or with your own GP or community
midwife. This is to check that you and the baby are well and that
any problems can be picked up as early as possible. This is the time to
get answers to any questions or worries and to discuss plans for your
baby’s birth.
T HE FIRST VISIT
Remember that, if you’re
working, you have the right
to paid time off for your
antenatal care (see page 142).
If you don’t speak English,
telephone your clinic so that an
interpreter can be arranged for
when you have an appointment.
Most women have their first, and
longest, antenatal check-up around
the 8th to 12th week of pregnancy.
The earlier you go the better. You
should allow plenty of time as you
will probably see a midwife and a
doctor, and may be offered an
ultrasound scan.
QUESTIONS
You can expect a lot of questions
on your health, on any illnesses
and operations you have had, and
on any previous pregnancies or
miscarriages. You will be asked
about you and your baby’s father’s
origins (whether there are twins on
your side or any inherited illness, for
example). You will also be asked
about your family origin. This is
because certain inherited conditions
that need attention in early
pregnancy are more common
depending on family ancestry.
There may also be questions about
your work or your partner’s work
and what kind of accommodation
you live in, to see if there is anything
about your circumstances that might
affect your pregnancy.
All this information will help to
build up a picture of you and your
pregnancy so that any special risks
can be spotted and support provided.
The midwife or doctor will want
to know the date of the first day of
your last period, to work out when
the baby is due. You will probably
want to ask a lot of questions
yourself. This is a good opportunity,
and it often helps if you can write
down what you want to say in
advance, as it’s easy to forget once
you are there. It’s important to find
out what you want to know and to
express your own feelings and
preferences.
TELL YOUR MIDWIFE
OR DOCTOR IF:
• there were any
complications or infections
in a previous pregnancy
or delivery, such as
pre-eclampsia or
premature delivery;
•
you are being treated for
a chronic disease such as
diabetes or high blood
pressure;
• you or anyone in your
family have previously
had a baby with an
abnormality, for example
spina bifida, or there is
a family history of an
inherited disease, such
as sickle cell disorders
or cystic fibrosis.
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