Maternity
Your first antenatal visit: what to bring and what we check
Maternity team29 July 20265 min read
A calm walkthrough of the first appointment — the tests, the scan, the questions to ask, and how we build a birth plan with you.
The first antenatal visit sets the tone for the whole pregnancy. It takes about an hour, and you will leave knowing what happens next.
What to bring
Any previous medical or pregnancy records, the medicines you are taking, and the date of your last menstrual period if you know it. Bring your partner or a relative if that helps you feel comfortable.
What we check
Weight and blood pressure, blood group and haemoglobin, blood sugar, and screening for malaria, syphilis, hepatitis and HIV — all with counselling and full confidentiality.
A dating scan confirms how far along you are and, later in pregnancy, how the baby is growing.
Your birth plan
Before you leave we agree a plan in plain language: where you intend to deliver, who will be with you, how you will get here, and what we do if something changes. It is written down and reviewed at every visit.
Have a question about this?
Book a consultation and talk it through with a doctor who will explain everything in plain language.
