Antenatal care

You will initially be seen by a midwife who will take information about you to help plan how to best support you during pregnancy. When you meet your midwife, she will discuss with you a plan of care for pregnancy and delivery, and explain your options, such as home birth, midwife led unit or consultant care.  If you have any medical or pregnancy conditions that might require extra support – for example if you are having twins, or have a condition such as diabetes or epilepsy – you will also see a consultant doctor in the hospital, or one of the doctors from the consultant’s team.  All of the information that is gathered will be recorded in your “hand held notes” – an important booklet that you will keep throughout your pregnancy.  It is important that you keep your notes with you wherever you go throughout pregnancy, and to take them to every appointment.

Throughout your pregnancy, you will have regular appointments with your midwife to check that you and your baby are healthy and well.  As well as checking that you are physically and emotionally adapting to pregnancy and feeling well, she will be able to support you if you choose to make any lifestyle changes at this special time.  If you need any support in stopping smoking or maybe improving your diet, for example, your midwife will be able to give you information or refer you to other services that may be able to help.  There is a lot of support available to help you to make your pregnancy a healthy, happy experience.