Routine antenatal visits

A comprehensive medical history needs to be taken at the initial visit where any areas of interest or concern would be recorded.

Racial origin, ethnicity, and maternal weight will be noted so that we can try and assess expected fetal growth rates and to establish customised fetal growth graphs for you as an individual.

A general examination will be performed and a dating ultrasound scan will be conducted to confirm dates and viability.

A comprehensive list of antenatal tests is arranged for 10 weeks gestation. These will be the routine antenatal tests and will also include viral serology to check on a patient’s immunity to viruses that can spread transplacentally.

Learn more about Routine investigations

It is routine to discuss screening for chromosome problems and the benefit of either a combined first trimester screen (10 week blood and 12 week scan) vs. a NIPS test would be discussed. In certain cases the place of diagnostic testing will be discussed.

The usual monitoring for a normal pregnancy involves 4 weekly visits until 28 weeks, 2 weekly visits until 36 weeks and weekly visits thereafter.

Further blood tests are performed at 28 and 36 weeks gestation to recheck the blood count, iron and Vitamin D levels.

Testing for diabetes, monitoring fetal growth and fetal well-being will be performed.

Routine ultrasound scans are always performed at 12, 20 and 34 weeks gestation to check on chromosome problems, fetal anomalies and fetal growth respectively.

All relevant tests need to be performed.

All problems will be pursued.

All risks will be assessedand managed in all pregnancies.

There is no place for “short cuts” in pregnancy.