YOUR ANTENATAL APPOINTMENTS
Date & Time
Where
With Whom
Questions
you have
ASHINGTON HOUSE SURGERY
ANTENATAL CARE
Dr Nixon
Dr Farnham
Dr Tomboline
Dr Stephenson
Dr Martin
Dr Steptoe
Community Midwives: Wendy Forman
Health Visitor: Angela Sexstone
Appointments: 01793 614840
Enquiries Desk – open 10.30 – 5.30
Emergency Out of Hours: 111 (24 hours a day)
Antenatal care involves being seen by a doctor or midwife at regular
intervals during your pregnancy to check that all is well with you and
your baby.
Your first antenatal booking visit should be as soon as possible, any
routine 10 minute appointment with the GP . At this appointment you
will be asked about your medical and obstetric history and date of
your last period, in addition to:
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taking your blood pressure
weighing you
checking your urine for infections and blood sugar problems
checking your general well-being
At later appointments these will be included:
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feeling your stomach (to check your baby’s size and position)
listening to your baby’s heartbeat – after approx. 14wks
After this visit, the doctor will write to the hospital to book you in for
delivery, a dating scan at 14 weeks and further tests and scans, this
will also alert the midwife who will arrange to visit you at home.
Scans and screening tests
Throughout your pregnancy you will be offered scans and tests to
see how your baby is developing.
An ultrasound scan involves having a hand-held scanning device
rolled over your stomach. This allows images from inside your
womb to be shown on a screen. You will be offered scans at about
14 weeks and 19 – 20 weeks.
Things you should stop or cut down
 Caffeine - limit tea, coffee, cola, etc. Have no more than 300
mg per day. This is in about three cups of brewed coffee, or
four cups of instant coffee, or six cups of tea.
 Alcohol - have no more than 1-2 drinks, once or twice a
week.
 Smoking - you are strongly advised to stop completely – we
have Smoking Cessation Clinic at the surgery if you need
help- ask at Reception
 Street drugs - you are strongly advised to stop completely.
Other things to consider
 Your medication - including herbal and 'over the counter'
medicines. Is it safe to take when you are pregnant?
 Your work environment. Do you work with chemicals, etc,
which may be harmful?
 Medical conditions. For example, if you have diabetes,
epilepsy, or other medical conditions you may need special
advice before becoming pregnant. Also, if certain conditions
run in your family, you may benefit from genetic counseling.
HINTS AND TIPS
 Arrive on time for your appointment- don’t rush
 Wear lose clothing
 Always bring your Antenatal shared care documents
 Always bring your urine specimen
 We are happy to see you with your partner/husband
 Your postnatal appointment is important – please attend
If you have any suggestions about improving the information in this
leaflet or comments on our service, please contact our Practice
Manager – Elaine Lorton.
KEEPING HEALTHY DURING PREGNANCY
Things you should do
 Take folic acid tablets from before you become pregnant
until 12 weeks of pregnancy. This helps to prevent spinal
cord problems developing in the baby. For most women the
dose is 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) a day. You can buy this
dose of folic acid tablets from pharmacies. The dose is
higher and needs a prescription (5 mg daily) if you have an
increased risk of having a child with a spinal cord problem.
That is: if you had a previously affected pregnancy; OR if
your partner or a first-degree relative have a spinal cord
defect; OR if you have other conditions that affect absorption
from the gut.
 Check if you are immune against rubella.
 Eat a healthy diet. Include foods rich in iron, calcium and
folic acid.
 Wash your hands after handling raw meat, or handling
cats and kittens. To avoid certain germs which can be
harmful to a developing baby.
 Wear gloves when you are gardening. Again, to avoid
certain germs
Things you should avoid
 Too much vitamin A. Avoid liver, liver pâté, cod liver oil &
vitamin A tablets.
 Listeriosis. Avoid undercooked meats and eggs, soft
cheeses e.g. brie or camembert, pâtés, shellfish, raw fish, or
any type of unpasteurised milk.
 Fish which may contain a lot of mercury. Avoid shark,
merlin, and swordfish. Limit the amount of tuna to no more
than 3 oz/week.
 Sheep, lambs, and cat faeces, cat litters - may carry
certain infections.
Peanuts - if you or your family members have eczema, hay fever, or
asthma.
These may be used to:
 determine the size and age of your baby
 check the position of the baby and placenta
 check for physical problems in the baby or placenta
 determine whether you are expecting more than one baby
 support other diagnostic tests
Screening tests
These tests are used to check for conditions such as spina bifida
and Down’s syndrome. If you are offered a screening test, check
with your midwife why you are being offered these tests
Blood tests
During pregnancy, you will be offered a number of blood tests that
provide information that helps you deliver a healthy baby. You will
be able to discuss which test you would like with the Midwife at your
home visit. Discuss any concerns you have with your midwife or
doctor and feel free to take time to consider your options.
Tests may include:
 tests to identify your blood group and Rhesus Factor
 HBV testing (HBV causes hepatitis B)
 tests for conditions such as syphilis, anaemia or sickle cell or
thalassaemic trait
 testing for immunity to rubella (German measles)
 HIV testing (for more information visit the link below)
Other specialist test that can be offered at approx. 10-13 weeks
 Triple test – for all mothers
 Nuchal Translucency Scan – private not NHS cost between
£140 – £230 avaiable free on NHS for multiple pregnancies
 Amniocentesis for mothers over 37 years if high risk result
from NT scan, triple test or if there has been previous
chromosomal abnormalities
If you wish to know more about these ask the midwife or doctor.
Your Antenatal Care
After you have been booked in and attended the dating scan, you
will be seen regularly throughout your pregnancy. The chart below
is a guide to the frequency at which you will be seen but may vary
from person to person depending on need and circumstances.
Weeks
Pregancy
5 – 12 weeks
10 - 12 weeks
8 – 10 weeks
15 – 17 weeks
20 weeks
24 weeks
28 weeks
31 weeks
34 weeks
36 weeks
38 weeks
40 weeks
41 weeks
POSTNATAL
6 weeks
after delivery
of
Place
Tests
GP Antenatal Clinic
Hospital
Midwife home visit
Surgery/hospital
Hospital
Surgery
Surgery
Surgery
Surgery
Surgery
Surgery
Surgery
Surgery/ Hospital
Surgery
Comments
Confirmation
of pregnancy
Dating Scan
Scan
+ bloods
First baby
+ bloods
First baby
Urine sample
Letter will be
Wt,
BP, sent
by
Contraception
Practice
discussion,
Gen. Health
N.B. From conception to full maturity, the true gestation period is 38 weeks, but
internationally human pregnancy is based on 40 weeks length from the date of
the first day of the Last Menstrual Period (LMP), which predates conception by 2
weeks.
We recommend that you buy a good informative book about how
pregnancy develops. There are lots of good books available but we
like:
The New Pregnancy and Birth by Miriam Stoppard– paperback £10.99
The Complete Baby and Childcare by Miriam Stoppard –approx £8.00
Your Post-Natal Care
After your baby is borne in the first 10 – 28 days you will be visited
by the Midwife to see that all is well with the progress of Mother and
Baby.
When the Midwife stops visitng, the role of checking the progress of
both Mother and Baby will be taken over by the Health Visitor.
You will find the Health Visitor very helpful to discuss feeding
problems and any worries or concerns you may have about the
baby’s progress. She is also happy to discuss the childhood
vaccination programme.
All the Practice Clinical staff – Nurses and GP’s will be happy to
give advice and will always see a young baby who is unwell if the
Mother is concerned.
At 8 weeks the baby will be invited for his or her Child Health
Surveillance check by the GP and at the same time the first
vaccinations will be given.