Janelle McAlpine MMRes BA (Human Bioscience) BMid
Registered Midwife
Your Pregnancy Journey
Antenatal care
‘Antenatal care’ means the care you receive throughout your pregnancy and before birth (ante = before, natal = birth). Antenatal care aims to ensure a healthy pregnancy for you and your growing baby. Your antenatal appointments aim to check that you and your baby are well. Problems can be picked up before they become serious, and you will have the chance to ask questions.
You may have between eight and ten appointments over the course of your pregnancy. How many you have will depend on your preferences and the health of you and your baby as your pregnancy progresses. Women with complications may have more appointments, whereas women who are low risk may opt for less visits. You can expect to discuss such aspects of your lifestyle as diet, exercise, alcohol and drug intake, and smoking. You will be offered routine screening tests for specific conditions.
Around the world there is a variety of professionals that can provide this care for you. There are also a number of ‘models of care’. A model of care is the format by which your care is provided, and will determine which professionals you have the most contact with. Which model of care is appropriate for you will depend on which country you are in, where you live, what access you have to health care services, your health and pregnancy risk factors and your personal preference. See our “Models of Care” and “Your Health Care Team” page for further information about the options that may be available to you.
Some women like to take along a list of questions so they don’t forget anything, while others like to jot down notes to look at afterwards.
Your first appointment
Your first appointment is usually your longest and one of the most important visits. This is when your care provider will take a thorough medical history from you (and your partner if necessary). This visit includes recommendations for routine blood screening tests and usually takes place when you’re between eight and twelve weeks pregnant. Who you see at this visit will depend on which model you choose for your care.
A detailed history is very important to the ongoing health of you and your baby, so don’t expect to be in and out in five minutes! There’s a lot to get through. Some of the things you can expect at this visit are:
- You’ll be asked about the health of you and your family
- You may discuss options for care
- Your weight, height and blood pressure will be checked
- A sample of your urine may be tested for any underlying urinary tract infections
- Routine blood tests will be discussed and either ordered from a pathology service or taken at this appointment (see Routine Pregnancy Screening)
- You will be encouraged to ask questions about any concerns you may have or other general questions such as how you feel about the pregnancy as well as the physical changes in your body
- Domestic violence and living situation screening is mandatory in Australia and may be conducted at the first suitable opportunity.
Your Hand-Held Record
Most health services will provide a written record to you to carry with you. All your relevant pregnancy information is written in your hand-held record. This is important if you experience any concerns during pregnancy and need to present to a health care facility where there are no record of your notes (eg if you are away on holiday). You should also take them with you to all antenatal visits and when your labour begins. If you have a birth plan it is handy to keep a copy of that with your hand-held record.
Sometimes your notes will be abbreviated or have medical language you may not understand. If you don’t understand something, or have questions, ask your health care provider to explain.