Appointments, tests and scans

At your 28 week appointment your midwife will:

• Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
• Offer more screening tests – for anaemia and antibodies
• Offer you an anti-D treatment if you are rhesus negative
• Consider an iron supplement if you’re anaemic
• Reminder to consider antenatal classes/reading
• Discuss and book your 31 week appointment

Your midwife will discuss with you which third trimester scans and tests you are likely to have done during this appointment. 

Between 28-34 weeks you will have a visit from your health visitor. Your health visitor will contact you to arrange this. At this visit, your health visitor will talk to you about how they will support you and your baby after the birth. They will also give you your baby’s Personal Child Health Record book, often known as the red book and talk to you about this.

If you haven’t heard from your health visitor by 36 weeks please contact them to arrange a visit. You can find out who your health visiting team will be here.

First time parents and anyone needing closer observation will have a 31 week appointment with the midwife. At this appointment your midwife will:

• Review, discuss and record the results of any screening tests from the last appointment
• Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
• Discuss and book your 34 week appointment

At this appointment your midwife will give you information about preparing for labour and birth, including how to recognise active labour, pain relief options of coping with pain in labour, and your birth plan. Your midwife will talk through all the options available to you and help you make the decisions that are right for you and your family.

At the 34 week appointment your midwife or doctor will:

• Review, discuss and record the results of any screening tests from the last appointment
• Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
• Remind to consider antenatal classes/reading
• Discuss and book your 36 week appointment

At this appointment your midwife is likely to give you information about caesarean section. This is because around one in four women will need a caesarean. Your midwife will explain the reasons why a caesarean might be offered, what the procedure involves, risks and benefits, and implications for future pregnancies and births. You can also find out more about having a caesarean in Dorset here.

At the 36 week appointment your midwife will:

• Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus
• Check the position of your baby
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
• Offer external cephalic version (ECV) if your baby is in the breech position
• Discuss any birth plan queries
• Discuss signs of labour and when to seek support/help
• Discuss and book your 38 week appointment

At this appointment your midwife will give you information about:

• Breastfeeding
• Caring for your newborn baby
• Vitamin K and screening tests for your newborn baby
• Looking after yourself after your baby is born
• Postnatal depression advice for parents

As your due date approaches, your midwife will talk to you about what happens if your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 weeks and the options and choices you will have.

At the 38 week appointment your midwife will:

• Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
• Discuss and book a 40 week appointment

If this is your first baby or if you have required closer observation during your pregnancy, you will have a 40 week appointment with your midwife.

Your midwife will talk to you more about what happens if your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 weeks.

At this appointment your midwife will:

• Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
• Discuss and book a 40 week appointment

At your 41 week appointment your midwife will:

• Use a tape measure to measure the size of your uterus
• Measure your blood pressure and test your urine for protein
• Offer a membrane sweep to help encourage labour
• Discuss the options and choices for induction of labour

If you have not had your baby by 42 weeks and have chosen not to have an induction, your midwife will offer you additional monitoring to keep an eye on the baby and a discussion may need to take place with an obstetrician in order for you to make a fully informed choice.