NHS antenatal care
Your pregnancy appointments, week by week.
What usually happens at each NHS appointment, what to bring and what to ask. Tap an appointment to open it.
To see roughly when each appointment falls.
- 8 to 12 weeks
Booking appointment
Usually your first appointment with a midwife. It takes about an hour.
What usually happens
- Questions about your health, past pregnancies, lifestyle, home and work
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Blood tests, including your blood group
- You’re given your maternity notes
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- Which tests and scans will I be offered?
- Who do I call if I have bleeding or pain?
- Should I keep taking the medicines I'm on?
- 11 to 14 weeks
Dating scan
An ultrasound scan to check your due date.
What usually happens
- Checks your due date and how your baby is developing
- Checks whether you’re expecting more than one baby
- You can choose screening for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndromes
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
Questions you might want to ask
- When is my due date?
- What does the screening test check for?
- When will I get the results?
- 16 weeks
16-week appointment
A check-in with your midwife.
What usually happens
- A check on your health and wellbeing
- Your earlier screening results
- What happens at your next scan
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- What did my blood test results show?
- When is my 20-week scan?
- When should I have the whooping cough vaccine?
- 18 to 21 weeks
20-week scan
An ultrasound scan that checks how your baby is developing.
What usually happens
- Checks how your baby is developing
- If you have a higher chance of gestational diabetes, you’ll be offered a test between 24 and 28 weeks
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
Questions you might want to ask
- What does this scan check for?
- When will I know the results?
- What happens if something needs a closer look?
- 25 weeksFirst babies
25-week appointment
A check on you and your baby’s growth.
What usually happens
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Measuring your bump and talking about your baby’s movements
- How you’re feeling, including your mental health
- Your birth preferences and screening results
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- Is my bump growing as expected?
- How do I get to know my baby's pattern of movements?
- Where can I find antenatal classes?
- 28 weeks
28-week appointment
Checks, blood tests and information about labour and birth.
What usually happens
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Measuring your bump and talking about your baby’s movements
- How you’re feeling, including your mental health
- Your screening results
- Blood tests, including your iron levels
- Anti-D, if your blood type is rhesus negative
- A chance to talk about the RSV and whooping cough vaccines
- Information about labour, birth and your baby’s newborn checks
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- Should I have the RSV and whooping cough vaccines?
- Do I need anti-D?
- What are today's blood tests for?
- 31 weeksFirst babies
31-week appointment
Getting ready for the birth.
What usually happens
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Measuring your bump and talking about your baby’s movements
- How you’re feeling, including your mental health
- Getting ready for the birth and your birth preferences
- How to tell when labour has started
- Your screening results
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- What did my 28-week blood tests show?
- What should I think about for my birth plan?
- What antenatal classes are near me?
- 34 weeks
34-week appointment
Getting ready for the birth.
What usually happens
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Measuring your bump and talking about your baby’s movements
- How you’re feeling, including your mental health
- Getting ready for the birth and your birth preferences
- How to tell when labour has started
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- Where can I give birth, and what are my options?
- What pain relief can I have?
- What should I pack in my hospital bag?
- 36 weeks
36-week appointment
Checking your baby’s position.
What usually happens
- Feeling your bump to check your baby’s position
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Measuring your bump and talking about your baby’s movements
- How you’re feeling, including your mental health
- Getting ready for the birth and your birth preferences
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- Is my baby head down?
- What happens if my baby is breech?
- When should I call the maternity unit in labour?
- 38 weeks
38-week appointment
What happens if your baby is late.
What usually happens
- Your options if you’re still pregnant after 40 weeks
- Feeling your bump to check your baby’s position
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Measuring your bump and talking about your baby’s movements
- How you’re feeling, including your mental health
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- What are the signs that labour has started?
- What happens if I go past my due date?
- When could I have a membrane sweep?
- 40 weeksFirst babies
40-week appointment
What happens if your baby is late.
What usually happens
- Your options if your baby hasn’t arrived yet
- Feeling your bump to check your baby’s position
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Measuring your bump and talking about your baby’s movements
- How you’re feeling, including your mental health
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- Can I have a membrane sweep?
- When would I be offered an induction?
- What checks can I have if I wait for labour?
- 41 weeks
41-week appointment
If your baby hasn’t arrived yet.
What usually happens
- Your options now, like a membrane sweep or induction
- Feeling your bump to check your baby’s position
- Your blood pressure and a urine test
- Measuring your bump and talking about your baby’s movements
- How you’re feeling, including your mental health
Read the full guideWhat to bring and questions to ask
What to bring
- Your maternity notes, or the app your hospital uses
- A urine sample, if you’ve been asked for one
- Any questions you have
Questions you might want to ask
- What happens during an induction?
- What are my options if I don't want to be induced?
- How will my baby be checked?
Good to know
This is the usual NHS schedule, and yours may be different. You might have more appointments if you’re expecting twins or need extra care. Your midwife will tell you which ones you’ll have. If you’re not sure how to get your first appointment, see just found out? Start here or read about your first midwife appointment.
This is general information based on NHS and other UK guidance. Every body is different, so speak to your midwife or GP if you’re unsure about anything.
When it’s more than a question
Ask a midwife in the Dearbump app.
Chat to a midwife, keep track of your pregnancy and get a note from us every morning. Midwives reply Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm and 4pm to 8pm.
Free to download. Midwife chat from £9.99 a month.
20,439+questions answered by our midwives
76,510+mums in the Dearbump community