Your First Maternity Appointment
What actually happens?
So, you've found out you're pregnant.
You've made contact with your maternity service.
And now you have your first appointment.
You might be wondering:
What actually happens when I get there?
What will they ask me?
What am I supposed to know?
And perhaps even:
What if I don't know what to ask?
You don't have to arrive with all the answers.
Your first maternity appointment is a chance for you and your maternity team to begin getting to know each other, understand your pregnancy and talk about the care you'll be offered.
What might happen?
Your first appointment can include talking about your health, your pregnancy and your medical or family history.
You may be asked about previous pregnancies or births, medicines you take, how you're feeling and anything you're concerned about.
You may also be offered routine checks, tests or screening as part of your maternity care.
Exactly what happens, and when, can vary depending on your circumstances and your local maternity service.
So if you're unsure about something, you can ask.
“What is this for?”
“Can you explain that to me?”
“What happens next?”
You don't have to pretend you understand something when you don't.
This is your appointment too
It's easy to think of a maternity appointment as something that happens to you.
Someone asks the questions.
Someone gives you information.
Someone tells you what happens next.
But you're part of the conversation too.
You can tell your maternity team about things that matter to you.
That might be a concern about your health.
Something you've experienced before.
A previous pregnancy or birth.
Something you're worried about.
Your culture, faith, family circumstances or support around you.
Or simply something that would help you feel more comfortable and listened to.
You can ask questions.
You can ask for something to be explained again.
You can ask why something is being recommended.
And where there are choices to consider, you can ask what your options are.
You don't need to know the right words.
You can simply say:
“I'm not sure I understand.”
“Can you explain my options?”
“What does that mean for me?”
And remember
Your first appointment isn't a test of how much you know about pregnancy.
It's the beginning of your maternity journey.
You are allowed to ask.
You are allowed to say you don't understand.
You are allowed to tell your maternity team what matters to you.
You don't have to know everything to take part in your care.
You just need to know that your voice belongs in the conversation.
What if you feel nervous?
You might feel excited.
You might feel overwhelmed.
You might feel completely unsure about how you're supposed to feel.
There isn't one right way to arrive at your first appointment.
You don't have to have everything figured out.
You just need to start where you are.
Before you leave
Try to make sure you know:
What happens next?
When is my next appointment?
Who do I contact if I have a question or concern?
And if there's something you wanted to ask but didn't get around to asking, you can write it down for next time.
You can also use our Before Your Walk Into Your First Maternity Appointment Reflection to help you prepare.
Before Your Walk Into Your First Maternity Appointment Reflection →
