Information for the public

When you become pregnant

When you become pregnant

Your midwife or doctor will give you advice about keeping yourself and your baby healthy.

The first time you talk to a doctor or nurse (or any other healthcare professional) about your pregnancy, they should let you know about the antenatal care you should have. If you want to carry on with the pregnancy, they will offer you an appointment with a midwife or doctor. This is called the 'booking appointment' and you should have this appointment before you are 10 weeks pregnant if possible. At the booking appointment you can talk to your midwife or doctor about your care and where you will have your baby. They will tell you about the tests that are available to check on the health of your baby (known as 'screening tests') and when you can have them. They will also give you advice about keeping yourself and your baby healthy, and about antenatal classes you can go to during your pregnancy.

There is more information about the booking appointments and antenatal classes in NICE's information for the public on routine antenatal care for healthy pregnant women (see Other NICE guidance).

If you are not sure you want to have the baby, and are thinking about having an abortion, you should be offered an appointment at a clinic to talk about this.

Your 'hand-held maternity notes'

At your booking appointment the midwife or doctor will write your details in a set of notes called 'hand-held maternity notes'. You will be asked to keep these notes at home and bring them with you to all of your antenatal appointments. At each appointment the midwife or doctor should write in the notes what antenatal care you have received, such as check-ups and the results of any tests you have had. If you are moving to a new area, tell your midwife or doctor. You should be able to take your hand-held maternity notes with you to your new hospital or birth centre.

Tell your midwife or doctor if you are moving to a new area.

Questions to ask at the booking appointment

  • Can I choose where to have my antenatal appointments?

  • Can I choose where to have my baby?

  • Can you give me a leaflet or other information about

  • antenatal care?

  • Is there any help, like an interpreter, for women who don't speak or read English?

  • How can my family or partner help me during my pregnancy?

  • Are there any support groups or drop-in centres nearby that could help me during my pregnancy?

Questions for your family or partner to ask your midwife or doctor

  • What can I do to give support during the pregnancy?

  • Are there any organisations or groups nearby where we could get support?

If you have a problem with alcohol or drugs

If you have a problem with alcohol or drugs, the doctor or nurse should offer to put you in touch with people who run programmes that can help with these problems. For more information see Pregnant women who have problems with alcohol or drugs.

Questions to ask about an alcohol or drug treatment programme

  • What will the programme involve?

  • How long will it take?

  • How will it help me?

  • Why have you decided to offer me this particular programme?

  • What will happen if I choose not to do the programme?

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