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Prenatal (Antenatal) Appointments and Tests: A Simple Overview

What routine check-ups, blood tests and scans are for.

Before you use this guide: This is general educational information, not an individual medical assessment. We do not identify a clinician reviewer on this page, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor, midwife or paediatrician.

Antenatal (prenatal) care helps your healthcare team check that you and your baby are well and spot any problems early. The exact schedule varies by country and by your individual needs, so follow your own provider's plan. This guide gives a general overview of what to expect.

How often will I be seen?

• In the UK, routine care for a first pregnancy is usually about 10 appointments, and fewer for later pregnancies, mostly with a midwife.
• In the US and many other countries, visits are commonly every four weeks until about 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until the birth.
• If you have a medical condition, a multiple pregnancy or a higher-risk pregnancy, you will probably have more visits, some with a specialist.

The booking or first visit

This is usually between about 8 and 12 weeks. You will be asked about your health, your family history, previous pregnancies, medicines and lifestyle. It is a good time to ask about food, vitamins and anything else you are worried about. You will usually have blood and urine tests, and your height, weight and blood pressure will be checked.

Routine checks at visits

• Blood pressure and urine tests, which look for signs of pre-eclampsia, infection and diabetes
• Measuring your bump from about 24 to 26 weeks to track baby's growth
• Listening to your baby's heartbeat
• Asking about your baby's movements from the second half of pregnancy
• Discussing how you feel physically and emotionally

Blood tests

• Blood group and Rhesus status. If you are Rhesus negative, you may be offered an injection (anti-D) later in pregnancy.
• Haemoglobin and iron levels, to check for anaemia, usually early on and again at about 28 weeks
• Infection screening, usually for HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis and rubella immunity. Some places also screen for hepatitis C
• Screening for sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, depending on your family origin or the local policy
• Screening for gestational diabetes, usually at about 24 to 28 weeks, or earlier if you have risk factors. See our guide to gestational diabetes.

Ultrasound scans

• Dating scan, around 8 to 14 weeks: confirms how many babies there are, the due date and checks the baby's heartbeat.
• Screening for conditions such as Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome: often at 11 to 14 weeks, using a nuchal translucency scan and blood tests, or a non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) on a blood sample from about 10 weeks. These tests give a chance, not a diagnosis.
• Anatomy or anomaly scan, at around 18 to 22 weeks: a detailed check of the baby's organs, spine, limbs and the placenta. Many people can also find out the baby's sex, if they wish. See when you can find out your baby's gender.
• Extra scans if your doctor wants to check growth, fluid or the placenta.

Ultrasound scans are considered safe for you and your baby.

Screening and diagnostic tests

Screening tests tell you how likely it is that your baby has a condition. They cannot give a definite answer. If a screening test shows a higher chance, you can choose a diagnostic test such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis. These give a clear answer, but they carry a small risk of miscarriage, so you can take time to think. All tests are optional. You can ask for information before deciding, and you can say no.

Other things you may be offered

• Vaccines recommended in pregnancy, including whooping cough, flu and, in some countries, RSV and COVID-19
• A swab test for group B streptococcus at about 36 to 37 weeks in some countries, such as the US
• A check on your baby's position in the last weeks
• Discussions about feeding your baby, birth options, pain relief and a birth plan
• A conversation about your mental health

Tips for your appointments

• Write down questions before each visit so you do not forget them.
• Bring a partner or friend for support if you wish, and if the clinic allows it.
• Ask for explanations of anything you do not understand. There are no silly questions.
• Keep your maternity notes with you, and take them to every appointment and to the hospital.
• Ask who to call between appointments and keep the number handy.
• If you cannot attend, rearrange rather than skip.

Do not wait for your next appointment if

You have bleeding, severe pain, a severe headache or vision changes, leaking fluid, reduced baby movements or any symptom that worries you. See our guide to pregnancy warning signs.

Where to check current advice

Schedules and screening tests differ between countries and over time, so follow your own provider's plan and check the latest advice from the NHS and NICE in the UK, the HSE in Ireland, ACOG in the US, the SOGC in Canada and RANZCOG in Australia.

This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.