All About Your First Pregnancy Appointment (Aka Booking Appointment)!

It can be a bit of an anti-climax when you first realise you’re pregnant. You’re desperate for some sort of official acknowledgment of the blessed state of your uterus, and then you find out you won’t have an actual appointment for another few weeks. A long, anxiety-inducing few weeks, full of obsessive Google searches and possibly a fair bit of morning sickness.

But then it arrives - your booking appointment! This is usually the first appointment you’ll have, at around week 8 to 10 of pregnancy (based on the due date you’ve figured out yourself - which may change). And it’s all quite exciting. Want to feel prepared? Here’s what you need to know…

Where does the appointment take place and who is it with?

Your booking appointment will be with your midwife - possibly the same midwife you’ll see at future appointments, but not necessarily. Depending on pregnancy services in your area, it could take place at your GP surgery, a children’s centre, a hospital or even your home. 

Should I take someone with me to my pregnancy booking appointment?

It’s not necessary at all, as this is an appointment very much focused on you, your pregnancy and health. However, if you’re more comfortable attending with your partner (or another loved one) in tow, they will be welcome. Your midwife might ask questions about your relationship, any previous pregnancies and any issues that could affect this pregnancy, so do bear this in mind if there’s some stuff you might not want them to hear. 

How long does my pregnancy booking appointment last?

Despite being at an early stage of your pregnancy, it’s actually one of the longest appointments you’ll have (until the birth. Ha), potentially lasting around an hour.

What will the midwife want to know at my pregnancy booking appointment?

Loads! But don’t worry, these are questions you’re likely to know the answers to off the top of your head, rather than anything you need to prepare for, for instance:

• Your living situation
• Who the baby’s father is
• Whether you’ve been pregnant before 
• Medical stuff: from smoking, alcohol and drug use, to mental health issues and any health issues in your family
• Any experiences of domestic abuse
• Any experience of female genital mutilation (FGM)
• What you do for a job, if you have one
• Who is in your support network

If some of this sounds a bit heavy, don’t panic - your midwife just needs to know that she can give you whatever support you need and advise you on anything you’re worried about.

Will I need to have a blood test at my booking appointment?

Alongside all the other tests you’ve been doing recently, you’ll also be offered a blood test during your booking appointment. If you’re not fond of needles, that’s okay. Let your midwife know and they’ll be able to help you make an informed decision.

You’re offered a blood test at your booking appointment to check for:

• Your blood type and rhesus status

• If you’ve got an infections that need to be treated (like hepatitis B or HIV)

• If you have an iron deficiency 

• Whether you carry the gene for sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia.

Will the midwife check if I’m pregnant at my booking appointment?

You’re about to spend the next few months becoming a pro at weeing into tiny pots, starting now - rather than bringing along a urine sample to the appointment, you’ll generally be asked to nip to the loo there and then, so make sure you don’t go along dehydrated. Not only will this sample confirm your pregnancy status, it will also be tested for protein in your urine, which can be a sign of pre-eclampsia (which is very rare before week 20 of pregnancy).

Will anything else be discussed?

Your midwife will probably chat to you about general pregnancy stuff - how you’ve been feeling, any foods you should avoid and the tests and scans you’ll have further ahead. They may also chat to you about antenatal classes, pelvic floor exercises, benefits you’re entitled to (such as free prescriptions and dental care), options for the birth and more. This might all sound a little overwhelming, but it’s more of a “getting to know you” appointment and you’ll have plenty more opportunities to discuss this stuff over the coming weeks and months. Plus you’ll almost certainly be packed off with an absolute ton of leaflets to refresh your memory at home.

What else will I take home?

You’ll likely be given your maternity notes, which is where your appointments and test results during pregnancy will be kept track of. It’s a good idea to keep them close at hand for the rest of your pregnancy - some people carry them everywhere in case of any medical drama, but it’s really down to you (if the baby brain has kicked in already, you might want to keep them in one place…).

Will I get to hear the heartbeat at my booking appointment?

Afraid not - or at least it’s unlikely if you have your booking appointment at around 8 weeks, since the baby’s heart is still too diddy to be heard at this point. 

What happens next?

You’ll be invited to your 12 week scan - exciting times, huh?

Feeling more prepared now? We hope so!