This information is for general guidance only.
It does not replace advice from your midwife, GP or healthcare team.
NHS Antenatal Appointments
A complete guide to your NHS antenatal care schedule in England and Wales. First-time parents are offered up to 10 appointments; parents who have had a baby before are offered 7.
All appointments are free on the NHS. Use our due date calculator to work out when your appointments are likely to fall.
- Before 10 weeks
Booking appointment
MidwifeYour first midwife appointment is the longest, lasting around one to two hours. Your midwife will take a full medical and pregnancy history, arrange blood and urine tests, and discuss your lifestyle and pregnancy options. You will receive information about antenatal screening tests and be given your notes.
- Blood tests: blood group, full blood count, rubella immunity, syphilis, hepatitis B, HIV
- Urine test for protein and bacteria
- Blood pressure measurement
- Referral for dating scan (12-week scan)
- Prescription for folic acid and vitamin D if needed
- 10 to 14 weeks
Dating scan (12-week scan) and combined screening
ScanYour dating scan measures your baby from crown to rump to confirm your due date. This is also when combined screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome, and Patau's syndrome is offered. The screening involves an ultrasound measurement of fluid at the back of the baby's neck (nuchal translucency) alongside your booking blood test results.
- Confirms your estimated due date
- Checks for twins or multiples
- Nuchal translucency measurement for Down's syndrome screening
- Combined screening result gives a risk estimate (not a diagnosis)
- Diagnostic tests (CVS or amniocentesis) can be offered if screening shows higher risk
- 16 weeks
Second midwife appointment
MidwifeA routine midwife check to review your health and any screening results. Your blood pressure and urine will be tested. You will have the chance to discuss any worries or questions.
- Discussion of screening results from the combined test
- Blood pressure and urine check
- Opportunity to discuss any concerns
- Information about the anomaly scan
- 18 to 21 weeks
Anomaly scan (20-week scan)
ScanThe anomaly scan checks your baby's physical development in detail. Sonographers look at the heart, brain, spine, kidneys, and other structures. The position of the placenta is also checked. This scan does not always detect every condition, but it is an important health check.
- Detailed check of baby's physical development
- Checks heart, brain, spine, kidneys, face, limbs
- Placenta position noted (low-lying placenta may need a follow-up scan)
- You may find out your baby's sex at this scan if you wish
- Further scans may be arranged if needed
- 25 weeks (first-time parents only)
Midwife appointment
MidwifeA routine check for first-time parents. Blood pressure, urine, and fundal height (measurement of uterus growth) are all checked. A good opportunity to discuss birth options.
- Fundal height measured for the first time
- Blood pressure and urine checks
- Opportunity to discuss birth plan
- 28 weeks
Midwife appointment and blood tests
MidwifeAn important appointment that includes further blood tests to screen for anaemia and other conditions. If you are RhD negative, you will be offered an Anti-D injection to protect future pregnancies. Your fundal height will be measured.
- Blood tests for anaemia and antibodies
- Anti-D injection offered if you are RhD negative
- Fundal height measurement
- Blood pressure and urine checks
- Discussion of birth preferences
- 31 weeks (first-time parents only)
Midwife appointment
MidwifeRoutine checks including fundal height, blood pressure, and urine. A chance to discuss your birth plan and ask any questions as you approach the final stretch.
- Fundal height measurement
- Blood pressure and urine checks
- Birth plan discussion
- 34 weeks
Midwife appointment and birth plan discussion
MidwifeAt this appointment, your midwife will review your birth preferences in detail, discuss pain relief options, and talk about what to expect in labour. If you had the first Anti-D injection at 28 weeks, a second may be offered now.
- Birth plan discussion and review of preferences
- Pain relief options explained
- Second Anti-D injection if RhD negative
- Fundal height, blood pressure, and urine checks
- 36 weeks
Midwife appointment and position check
MidwifeYour midwife will check the position of your baby. If your baby is still in a breech position (bottom-down), you will be offered an ECV (external cephalic version) to try to turn the baby, and options including planned caesarean section will be discussed.
- Baby's position checked (head-down or breech)
- ECV offered if baby is breech
- Discussion of what to expect as labour approaches
- Signs of labour explained
- Fundal height, blood pressure, and urine checks
- 38 weeks
Midwife appointment
MidwifeA routine check as you approach your due date. Blood pressure, urine, and baby's position and heartbeat are all checked. Your midwife will discuss what happens if labour does not start naturally.
- Fundal height, blood pressure, and urine checks
- Discussion of induction and what to expect
- 40 weeks (first-time parents only)
Midwife appointment
MidwifeIf this is your first baby and labour has not started by your due date, you will be offered an appointment to discuss your options and monitor your health.
- Routine checks
- Discussion of induction and waiting for natural labour
- 41 weeks
Membrane sweep and induction discussion
MidwifeIf labour has not started, a membrane sweep will be offered and induction of labour discussed. Induction is typically offered between 41 and 42 weeks as the risk of complications increases slightly after 42 weeks.
- Membrane sweep offered to encourage labour
- Induction of labour discussed and planned if needed
- Options for monitoring if you wish to wait longer
Additional scans and appointments
Some pregnancies require additional monitoring. Extra scans and appointments may be offered if you have a higher BMI, if your baby is measuring larger or smaller than average, if you have a multiple pregnancy, or if previous tests have raised any concerns. Always follow the advice of your midwifery and obstetric team.