What Happens at Your First Midwife Appointment?
If your first midwife appointment is fast approaching you may be wondering exactly what will happen at your first appointment and what kind of information you will find out on the day.
During the first midwife appointment, your health and well-being will be assessed. If this is your first pregnancy, you will likely have many questions to ask your midwife as well.
Your first midwife appointment is the perfect opportunity to discuss any single question that you may have. Remember to take your time and make sure that you walk away with all of the information that you need.
This article will explain everything that you need to know about your first midwife appointment and some common questions to ask your midwife.
How to book your first midwife appointment
Your first midwife appointment should happen before you are 10 weeks pregnant to make sure that all of the necessary health checks and tests are carried out in time.
Tests such as screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia need to be done before you are 10 weeks pregnant.
You should call your GP as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant to make sure that you have a first midwife appointment booked before you are 10 weeks pregnant.
Your first appointment could take place at your home, hospital, GP surgery, or a children’s centre depending on what's available in your area.
How long will the appointment last?
The appointment usually lasts around an hour.
This is to make sure that your midwife has time to carry out all of the necessary health tests, ask you important health questions, share advice and give you plenty of time to ask your own questions.
It's a lot of information to take in which is why you will be given your maternity notes. The notes can be digital or written down and can help you to keep track of appointments, test results and your pregnancy health.
It’s a good idea to also keep your own pregnancy health journal or diary to check in with how you’re feeling every day. There are plenty of free pregnancy apps available that come with built-in diaries and useful tools.
What health tests and checks will my midwife do?
Your midwife will usually carry out general health checks such as measuring your height and weight to calculate your BMI. Your blood pressure will be taken and your urine will be tested for signs of pre-eclampsia. Blood tests will also be taken to check your general health and to see if you have HIV, syphilis, sickle cell, thalassaemia or hepatitis B.
Test results that are sent to a lab usually come back within 5 working days. You can contact your GP practice if you haven’t had your test results back in time.
What questions will my midwife ask me?
Your midwife will ask you personal questions to make sure that you have access to any support services that you may need such as domestic abuse, housing, alcohol, or mental health services.
They may ask you about:
- Your accommodation
- Employment & work
- Your support network
- Genetical health issues
- Lifestyle and habits
- Domestic abuse
- FGM
- Physical and mental health
If you need access to any additional services or support your first midwife appointment is the best time to get the help you need.
You may also wish to do a self-referral to specific services or reach out to relevant support such as Mind, Tommys, Family Lives and Shelter.
Should I bring someone to my first midwife appointment?
You can bring a partner, friend or family member with you to the first midwife appointment although it’s not a necessity.
Please note that you will be discussing personal information, and you should only bring someone with you if you are comfortable discussing personal topics with them.
What are some common questions to ask the midwife?
Common questions that midwives get asked include lifestyle changes that need to be made during pregnancy.
Our early pregnancy do’s and don’ts list covers the lifestyle changes that must be made during early pregnancy and what you should do more of or completely avoid.
Common questions include:
- Can I still do the same amount of exercise?
- What should I eat and what do I need to avoid?
- Can I go in a steam room or sauna?
- What vitamins should I start taking?
If you have recently been to a midwife appointment and forgot to ask a question, we have a free live midwife chat available for you to use online.
Early Pregnancy Information
Your midwife appointments and antenatal classes are excellent places to pick up helpful, reliable and important information during your pregnancy.
You may also wish to find out the answers to questions that you may have online.
At Lansinoh, we have a wide range of resources available on pregnancy for you to read through on your journey to motherhood.
