Timeline

TIMELINE OF PREGNANCY VISITS

A typical outline of pregnancy visits is depicted below. The frequency of visits may need to be increased if there is a clinical indication during pregnancy.

• 8 WEEKS GESTATION

Many parents want an early reassurance visit to confirm pregnancy viability and discuss how to best cope with pregnancy and lead a healthy lifestyle.

• 12 WEEKS GESTATION

This is the commonest time to have the first pregnancy visit and an ideal time to identify potential problems and solve them before they cause complications in the pregnancy. During this visit, we would review the booking blood and nuchal scan results and discuss their meaning and the potential implications for the pregnancy. Having a baseline of mother’s blood pressure, urine and blood levels, will allow us to monitor changes later in pregnancy. Parents who wish to have non-invasive prenatal screening, as an additional screening for Down’s syndrome, can have this privately at the Fetal Medicine Centre (https://fetalmedicine.com). Parents who have been travelling or have concerns about their diet choices, may wish to have an infection screen to exclude the presence of antibodies (optional).

• 22 WEEKS GESTATION

During this visit, we would review the results of the second trimester (anomaly) scan of the baby and formulate a plan for follow-up of baby’s growth. Mum’s blood pressure and urine will be tested. Mothers who had screening for infections, will have a repeat blood test at this point (optional). If all well, a subsequent visit at 28 weeks will be planned.

• 28 WEEKS GESTATION

This visit will focus on testing the mother’s bloods to exclude anaemia and gestational diabetes. In addition, baby’s growth and mum’s blood pressure and urine will be tested. If all normal, the next visit will be planned for 32 weeks.

• 32 WEEKS GESTATION

From 32 weeks onwards, visits will focus on baby’s growth and mum’s blood pressure and urine testing. Mothers who had screening for infections previously, will have the last blood test (optional). Visits from this point onwards, will be planned every 2 weeks, assuming no concerns arise from previous tests.

• 34 WEEKS GESTATION

A growth scan for the baby and mum’s blood pressure and urine tests will be performed. If all well, plans for subsequent visits and delivery will be made at this point. An appointment for a “birth talk” with our midwives can be also arranged for this or subsequent visit (optional).

• 36 WEEKS GESTATION

A growth scan for the baby and mum’s blood pressure and urine tests will be performed. In addition, we recommend a vaginal swab to exclude Group B Streptococcus for mums planning to have a vaginal delivery.

• 38 WEEKS GESTATION

A growth scan for the baby and mum’s blood pressure and urine tests will be performed. Furthermore, an additional appointment for a “breastfeeding talk” with our midwives can be arranged for this visit (optional).

• 40 WEEKS GESTATION

For those mums who will not have delivered yet, this visit will reassure us that it is safe for both mum and baby to wait another week for spontaneous labour. A growth scan for the baby and mum’s blood pressure and urine tests will be performed.

• POSTNATAL VISIT:

For most mothers, a visit 6 weeks after delivery will allow us to review the maternal recovery from the delivery and discuss about contraception and planning subsequent pregnancies. Rarely, more frequent visits may be needed if specific issues arise after discharge from hospital.