What is prenatal care?

What is prenatal care?

What is prenatal care?

Prenatal care or "pregnancy care" is the health care and support you receive during your pregnancy. This is to ensure that you and your baby are as healthy as possible during your pregnancy.

Prenatal appointments are scattered throughout the pregnancy. Your midwife:

• Check your health and the well-being of your child
• Pay attention to any problems so you can get help quickly
• Providing special care for you and the fetus if you need it
• Provide you with information on how to take care of your health and that of your child
• Answer all your questions
• Help you plan the birth of your baby
• Connects you to any other support you may need.

The first prenatal appointment is known as a "booked appointment." This usually happens between 8 and 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Where will I get prenatal care?

Depending on your state of health, your situation, and your place of residence, prenatal care may be offered to you:

• The local health center, maternity, children's center, or youth project
• your doctor's office
• your local hospital
• Your home with visits from your midwife or doctor.

If you are pregnant with twins or triplets or have other risk factors, you will likely have at least two prenatal appointments with your hospital obstetrician.

How can I find a midwife for prenatal appointments?

As needed, your GP can send you to a midwife-led hospital for prenatal care. However, many NHS hospitals/midwifery teams also offer the option of self-referral. If you know which hospital or trust you want prenatal care and your baby to, you can refer yourself. The hospital's website should have more details. 

Note: Not all hospitals may allow self-referral.

If you are unsure of the trust or hospital where you are allowed to register for antenatal care, your GP can let you know. You can also find maternity services near you by entering your postcode into the NHS search box.

If you want a private midwife, visit the Independent Midwives UK website and enter your postcode into the search field to find details of midwives in your area.

Why are prenatal appointments important?

Regular prenatal appointments are important for:

• Watch how your child grows.
• You catch certain conditions like pre-eclampsia and urinary tract infections - these may not have any early symptoms you'll notice, but routine blood pressure checks and urine tests can pick them up, although you feel better.
• Check your baby's health with blood tests and ultrasounds.

If you don't want to go because you're worried about having blood tests, talk to your midwife.

If you can't make it to your antenatal appointment, tell your midwife or the hospital so you can make another appointment.

Will I be subject to internal reviews?

No, you are unlikely to have an internal exam (inside your vagina) until you have given birth unless there is a problem that needs investigation.

Towards the end of your pregnancy, you will be offered a membrane scan if it appears that your baby will be delayed. This involves the midwife placing a finger inside the vagina to reach the cervix and making gentle sweeping motions to separate the membranes.

Once you give birth, you will have one to see how far your labor is progressing.

Can I bring someone with me to prenatal appointments?

You can go to your appointments alone or have someone accompany you. If you bring someone, they can stay in the waiting room or come to the room with you, depending on your preference.

If you decide to bring someone with you, the midwife will probably ask to see you alone at least once. This is in case you want to say something to him that you wouldn't say in front of the other person.

How many appointments will I attend?

Depending on your health status, for example, if this is your first pregnancy, you will have up to 10 prenatal appointments, and if you have given birth before, the number will be reduced to about 7 appointments only.

If you have medical conditions or develop medical conditions during pregnancy, There may be a need for more appointments.

How long do prenatal appointments last?

The first prenatal appointment is known as the "booked appointment" and takes the longest; it can last up to an hour. You will be asked many questions about your health, the health of your family, and the health of the baby's father - especially questions about family illnesses that might affect your baby.

The midwife will find everything you need to make sure she can support you and your baby during your pregnancy.

After your appointment, your visits will be much shorter. This will take around 10-15 minutes if your pregnancy is uncomplicated - enough time to measure your blood pressure and urine test and feel how your baby is developing over the following months.

If you have any questions about your pregnancy, you can ask them during these appointments.

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