You may have just found out you are pregnant and that positive pregnancy test has got your head spinning.
It’s a whirlwind of emotions and changes. However, this means you need to book an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.
The first step is to call your GP practice to tell them you have had a positive pregnancy test.
The GP will refer you or ask you to self-refer yourself to the Antenatal care unit of your nearest hospital.
In my instance, I was asked to self-refer and I was sent out my first appointment letter after 2 weeks of filling out the self referral form online.
Try to refer yourself as soon as you find out you are pregnant as you will be able to get all the tests needed for your maternity journey.
My first obstetrics appointment was scheduled for when I was just over 8 weeks pregnant.
The first appointment will be able to confirm your pregnancy, any risks you need help with, your health status and all the information you need to know for your pregnancy.
Although, I have gone through a previous successful pregnancy. To be honest it’s been so long I had no idea what to expect at this appointment as over 5 years have gone past and there may have been so many changes.
How to prepare for your first midwife and obstetrics appointment
Make sure that before attending you drink enough water to provide your urine sample. Also, it is important you are hydrated as they will be conducting a blood test.
The more hydrated you are the easier it is for them to draw the blood.
Come with a list of any health conditions you may have, medications you may take and make sure you know both yours and your partners health information.
The so ask you to do a lateral flow test before you attend but in all honesty so far has never checked even one of them.
Masks are not compulsory but if you may wish not to wear one they are more than accommodating with this.
Be mentally prepared to be questioned about your full life medical history.
If you are going with your partner or family member you may wish to keep them outside so you can share comfortably anything you may want to share.
This is a health risk assessment to put in place consultant appointments or appointments with services you may need to make your pregnancy easier.
What happens at your first midwife/ obstetrics appointment?
Wether you are booked in as an outpatient appointment with a midwife or obstetrics team, you will actually most likely first see a midwife.
When you arrive you will be asked to fill out a form with your details.
The midwife will assign you to a specific Midwifery Team depending on your medical information.
This midwifery team will be on hand 24 hours a day for support throughout your pregnancy.
However, if you have a high risk pregnancy or health related issues a consultant team will also manage monitoring your pregnancy.
They will give you Antenal notes. At the front of this it will give you the name of your Midwifery team and contact number.
It will also have your hospital number, date of birth, name and surname.
Your antenatal notes will have to always be with you. These will include all your important pregnancy health information as well as a clear outline of the timelines and contact numbers.
If you are Group B Strep positive which you will find out after your first appointment’s urine test they will put a yellow sticker on your notes as you will need Intravenous antibiotics in labour.
You will be asked to provide all your medical information as well as if you work, have housing or are possibly in a safeguarding situation.
Which tests will you be given at your first antenatal appointment?
You will undergo the following tests at your first midwife maternity appointment :
- A urine test – they will ask for a sample of urine which you will provide at the appointment. This will ensure you don’t have a UTI or any other health related issue.
- A blood test – this blood test is for a full blood count, ABO group and D type antibodies, sickle cell, thalassaemia, Vitamin D, Hepatitis B, Syphillis, HIV, MSU and Hepatitis C.
- CO screening which ensures you are not smoking and you can be referred to the appropriate services to help.
- Blood pressure test
- Weight measurement and height for BMI
- Risk assessment for Venous thromboembolism.
What will be discussed at the first antenatal appointment ?
The midwife will discuss the following:
- Your medical history
- Your partner medical history
- Medical conditions
- Obstetrics factors
- BMI
- Safeguarding factors
- Mental health factors
- Diet, exercise and lifestyle advice (what to eat or not to in pregnancy)
- Vaccines to be taken during pregnancy (whooping cough, flu , Covid)
- Your CO reading result – for the smoking risk assessment
- Your partners role during and after pregnancy
- Your routine blood test
- They will confirm the date of your combined screening appointment which is around the 12 week mark. However if you are over 14 weeks they will book you in for the quad test instead.
- They will confirm your nuchal first trimester scan date which is also part of the combined screening appointment and acts as a dating scan for your pregnancy.
How long will the first antenatal appointment last?
Be prepared for an appointment that lasts a minimum of 30 minutes. It can last over an hour if you have any extra issues.
When will I know the results of all my tests from my antenatal appointment?
The midwife will refer you to any service you may need for any health, safeguarding or social concern.
She will also provide a lot of information of support available.
The urine test results depending on the day can come back after 3 working days.
The blood tests can take up to 2 weeks to come back.
If there’s any concerns a member of the team will contact you.
All the other test results will be discussed at this appointment.
Will I be given a maternity pack?
You will be given a maternity zip lock pouch which contains:
- Your antenatal notes book
- Information about your midwifery team with all the names of the staff assigned to you.
- Information on any concerning symptom you may be experiencing and what to do about it. Remember no concern is to big or small.
- Information on reduced Fetal movements and what to do.
- A guide to staying active in pregnancy
- A £20 voucher for bio-degradable wipes.
- A mum to be pack where if you download their app you can get a few Mum to be pack.
- An immunisation information leaflet.
- A discount code for pregnacare vitamins. As well as a sample of their pregnacare vitamins during pregnancy.
- A bounty baby guide.
- A pregnacare pen.
I hope you found this post useful as I was scourging the internet for this prior to my visit and struggled to find anything.
I am so happy to be able to take you through my pregnancy journey.
If you want to find out how my first trimester and symptoms were click here.
Are you a first time mom? Comment below on which pregnancy you are on and if you found this useful.
