First midwife appointment

So you’ve taken a home pregnancy test and it’s confirmed you’re going to have a baby -  congratulations!

The next step is to call your GP. Some doctors like to see you first to confirm for themselves that you’re pregnant. They will then organise your first midwife meeting, which is sometimes called a booking appointment or your first antenatal appointment.

Ideally, you should have had your first midwife appointment by the time you’re 12 weeks pregnant. If you start your antenatal care after 12 weeks, your doctor will arrange your first pregnancy appointment as soon as possible. Most women choose to get care from their GP as well as their local maternity unit or hospital. This is known as combined antenatal care or ‘shared care’.

Some women choose to get all their antenatal care from their maternity unit or hospital. This option is available in all maternity units and hospitals. The number of appointments varies depending your needs.

Your first midwife appointment is an exciting moment. You are unlikely to be cared for by the same midwife throughout your whole pregnancy and often women see a team of midwives for their antenatal appointments. Your first appointment is an opportunity to ask questions and raise any concerns you might have. You shouldn’t be worried either, or feel the need to hold back - your midwife will have helped countless mums-to-be before, and they certainly won’t be surprised or shocked by anything you say! A midwife is there to help and provide you with any reassurance you should need.

The more information you can give your midwife during your first pregnancy appointment, the more they will be able to help you during the next nine months. That’s why they’ll need to ask a few questions about your medical history and lifestyle. For example, they’ll want to know if you’ve been pregnant before and if there is a family history of diseases. They will also want to know if you smoke, how much you drink and if you’re taking any medication.

In addition to medical history and lifestyle, they’ll want to know when you had your last period so they can calculate your due date. Following this, they will tell you about your birth options so you can start thinking about what you want to do when the big day finally comes. They will want to find out things like where you want to give birth, whether it be at home, in hospital or at a birthing centre.

Your midwife will want to know if you’re feeling a little down or anxious about your pregnancy. This is because they care for you and your baby’s wellbeing. A problem shared is a problem halved, and understanding your mental condition now could help you avoid getting postnatal depression after the baby is born. Although it is important to inform your midwife if you are feeling down, this can be perfectly normal during pregnancy and does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong with your mental condition. Tell your midwife how you are feeling, whether down or anxious, and also be sure to disclose any mental health conditions you have.

These are all important factors your midwife should know about in order to help you as best they can, so don’t feel the need to hold anything back. Anything you say to them will be treated in confidence, so if you are experiencing problems or want to get anything that could impact your pregnancy off your chest, feel free to share anything you want. You should feel supported to discuss issues you have at anytime throughout your pregnancy.

Lastly, your midwife may go through your feeding options and find out whether you want to breast or bottle-feed your baby.

At your first midwife appointment, you’ll have some blood taken and be asked for a urine sample for a range of tests. If you are worried about having your blood taken, don’t be afraid to say - your midwife will put your mind at rest and make sure you’re comfortable. All tests are optional but recommended and your midwife will first gain your consent for all the tests you need.

During your first midwife session why not ask them about the other tests you’ll have to take in the not-too-distant future, like your ultrasound scans and screening tests. Your midwife won't offer to examine you internally at your first antenatal appointment.

Your midwives will not start measuring and palpating (feeling your tummy) until the 25 week appointment. This is also usually the first time they will listen to your little one’s heartbeat using a hand-held device placed on your bump.

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
• antenatal classes available to you
• options for giving birth

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.

If you are an employee and in full-time work, the good news is you have the right to take reasonable time off for your midwife appointments. This includes time needed to travel to your midwife or doctor, without loss of pay. If you’re in any doubt, speak to your employers.

If you'd like to know more about your midwife appointments or being pregnant in general, why not give one of our friendly experts a call on 1800 570 570 (8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 10-5pm Sat). Or, ask us a question online, instantly, using WhatsApp (8am - 8pm Mon-Fri, 10am - 5pm Weekends).