Antenatal appointments
First appointment with your personal midwife
This is the first opportunity to meet the midwife who will look after you and support you throughout your pregnancy, birth and into the transition to motherhood.
Every woman is unique and this consultation will give you the opportunity to discuss plans for your pre-natal care and explore the delivery options that are available to you.
At the session, you will be given a personal Prenatal Company pregnancy diary which will provide you with information about each stage of your pregnancy, as well as listing your appointments with us.
Some basic tests will be carried out, including blood pressure, urine analysis and body mass index. The scans and other tests which are routinely carried out during pregnancy will be explained to you and you will have an opportunity to discuss any concerns and any additional investigations you may wish to have.
Nutritional requirements during pregnancy differ from woman to woman and have an important role in ensuring the health and well-being of you and your baby. We will monitor your pre pregnancy weight and guide you closely as to what is expected weight gain in a healthy pregnancy. Your midwife will give you advice on diet and exercise in order to maintain a healthy and happy pregnancy.
Pelvic floor exercises are a valuable tool to pregnant women and are often undervalued in pregnancy due to a lack of understanding. Pelvic floor exercises will be taught in a supportive environment so that your body can quickly recover after the birth of your baby.
Our aim is for you to feel empowered and supported to make informed choices about your prenatal care and delivery.
Second appointment
Your second appointment with your personal midwife will give you an opportunity to build upon, and further discuss, the decisions you have already made. In particular, this appointment will be an opportunity to discuss in more detail your birthplace choices and the various options open to you.
At this stage in your pregnancy you may be experiencing some early pregnancy symptoms, such as morning sickness, and your midwife will advise you on ways of alleviating these symptoms, including methods avoiding the use of pharmaceutical medications.
Basic blood tests will be carried out at this session as well as routine urine tests and blood pressure measurements. Your midwife will also order any additional screening tests that you may need at this early stage of pregnancy.
16 weeks pregnant
The results from your previous tests will be explained and discussed with you. Common problems in pregnancy, like anaemia, may be detected at this stage allowing plenty of time for them to be corrected.
It will soon be time for you to start antenatal classes. There is a abundance of classes available to you, and your midwife will explain the benefits of each to help you chose the class that best suits your needs, lifestyle and beliefs.
18-20 weeks pregnant
The scan, performed between your 18th and 20th week of pregnancy, can be a very nervous time for parents. This appointment will therefore be scheduled after your nuchal scan so we can discuss the details of your scan and any fears or questions that you may have. Routine blood pressure and urine analysis tests will be carried out.
24 weeks pregnant
This appointment is often an exciting one for our expectant mothers. You will be able to listen to your baby’s heart beat as your midwife checks how your baby is growing. At this appointment we can talk and refine some of your birth choices and answer any questions you may have surrounding the birthing process. Routine blood pressure and urine tests will be carried out.
28 weeks pregnant
At this appointment a second blood test will be taken to check for anaemia and antibodies will be taken. Anaemia is a common complication in pregnancy as your baby makes demands on your body which can leave you feeling exhausted. Thankfully, it is easily detected with a simple blood test and with prompt treatment your energy levels can be increased leaving you to get the best out of your pregnancy and continue with everyday life. Routine urine analysis and blood pressure will be repeated. We will check on the baby’s growth and listen to the heart rate with you.
There are many choices and opinions surrounding the best way to feed your baby. At this appointment your midwife will present you with facts surrounding the issue. The Prenatal Company aims to empower women to make choices that suit their beliefs and lifestyles.
Vitamin K is an injection that is routinely given to babies’ after they are born to prevent haemorrhagic disease of the newborn. Mothers are often provided with little information about this and do not expect to have to make this decision so soon after the birth. This is an opportunity to discuss this with your midwife and have an informed decision in mind, leaving you to do nothing but enjoy your baby following birth.
Routine pregnancy tests to include your blood pressure, urine analysis and blood tests will be repeated. We will check on the baby’s growth and listen to the heart rate with you.
32 weeks pregnant
At this appointment the results from your previous blood tests will be available and explained to you.
This session will focus primarily on you and your holistic well being, both during your pregnancy and after birth.
At this later stage in pregnancy we like to prepare women for life after birth. We will talk about how to look after yourself and likely mood changes to expect are discussed and prepared for.
Routine pregnancy tests to include your blood pressure, urine analysis and blood tests will be repeated. We will check on the baby’s growth and listen to the heart rate with you.
34 weeks pregnant
Routine pregnancy tests to include your blood pressure, urine analysis and blood tests will be repeated. We will check on the baby’s growth and listen to the heart rate with you.
You will have time to discuss any questions you may have for your midwife at this appointment and may want her help with your birth plan. We will also discuss perineal massage with you. This is a form of massage which can help the muscles in your vagina soften for birth and help prepare you for the sensation you will feel when your baby is being born. It is something you can chose to do yourself on your own or with your partner at home.
36 weeks pregnant
At this stage in your pregnancy your midwife will gently palpate your baby to discover what position he or she is lying in.
It is not uncommon for your baby to be in a ‘breech’ position at this stage, meaning that the baby is not 'head down'. Your midwife will be able to talk to you about what this means for you and your birth.
Routine pregnancy tests to include your blood pressure, urine analysis and blood tests will be repeated. We will check on the baby’s growth and listen to the heart rate with you.
This is when many women chose to transfer their care to their birthplace of choice. With your consent at this point we will comprehensively hand over your care to the birthplace or independent midwives of your choice. We will continue to book visits or telephone appointments with you until we have supported you through the rest of your pregnancy.
38 weeks pregnant
If you have not already transferred your care to your birthplace of choice we will continue to see you. At this late stage in your pregnancy we appreciate that you may feel tired and want to rest at home. For this reason we offer this appointment at your home where we will check on the baby’s growth and listen to his or her heart rate with you. We will also check the baby’s position again.
Routine pregnancy tests to include your blood pressure, and urine analysis will be repeated.
40 weeks pregnant
Only 5% of babies are born on the due date. Seeing as so few babies arrive on or before their due date we still expect to see or speak to you on your due date and see how you are getting on.
41 weeks pregnant
Your personal midwife will telephone you to check on your progress and answer any questions that you may have.
We can offer or arrange for additional breastfeeding support and your midwife will be able to give you more details.
Post natal visits
Your personal midwife will be there to help settle your new family in at home and will be there to support you and your new family in everything from feeding to bathing and routines for six weeks after birth.
Birth choices consultation.
Have you heard mixed reviews about your local hospitals? Do you feel you need some more guidance on your local pregnancy and birth choices?
At The Prenatal Company we are midwives who have valuable local knowledge and contacts about everything from hospitals to exercise classes. We can tell you which hospitals are better at normal birth, epidural births and caesarean section birth depending on what you are aiming for. We can offer impartial advice on all aspects of pregnancy, birth and postnatal choices.
We will discuss your birth choices with you, explore what kind of birth you would like and then advise you on aspects of your pregnancy and birth options to help you achieve this.
Birth plan consultation
Have you had inconsistent information about your birth choices? Do you need more guidance on your birth plan?
We offer you the chance to sit down with your partner and talk through your thoughts for your birth with a midwife. We can help you plan for the birth you want and help you prepare for how you are going to achieve this. We also offer the option of planning for different types of birth should you want more than one plan.
Dad to be consultation
Sometimes fathers to be have questions and things they need to know. We offer your partner the chance to talk to a midwife about his needs, and address any anxieties he may have.
