Early Pregnancy Scans - 6-10 weeks
Finding out more when there seems to be a problem.
When?
- If you’re experiencing pain or bleeding
- If you’ve had a previous miscarriage
- If you’ve had an ectopic pregnancy
What is it?
- A small probe is placed inside your vagina
- This is to get a clearer picture, as your baby will be so tiny
- It checks the size of your baby
- It checks for the heartbeat
- You may feel a bit nervous, but it’s a simple procedure
- Try to take your birth partner or someone you’re close to along with you
- If you’ve got any questions, ask your midwife or doctor
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Booking Appointment - 8-12 weeks
Your first big check-up.
What is it?
- It’s conducted by a midwife
- Either at a hospital or GP surgery
- They will arrange any tests you need and plan your care
- They will tell you about tests, appointments and the roles of all the healthcare professionals you might meet
- They will ask you lots of questions and answer any questions or concerns you may have
- They will take a blood sample and give you a general physical examination (height, weight and blood pressure)
- You can talk about the options for where to have your baby
Your Maternity Notes/Card
- At this appointment, your midwife may give you your maternity notes or maternity card
- This is to record all details of your pregnancy
- Take this with you to all your antenatal appointments and if you go on holiday in the latter stages of your pregnancy
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Dating Scan - 11-13 weeks
Working out how far along you are and estimating your due date.
What is it?
- It’s standard at many hospitals, but not all
- You can see whether there’s more than one baby
- It gives you an accurate due date
- Your baby’s head, limbs, hands, feet and some organs can be seen
- They’ll check their heartbeat and look for any obvious abnormalities
- They’ll check your ovaries are healthy
- The whole thing takes around ten minutes
- If this scan isn’t offered in your area on the NHS, you can have it privately (UK only)
- You'll be given a report of the scan, which tells you exactly how many weeks you are. It's a good idea to keep it with your maternity notes, so your midwife can see it
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Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan - 11-13 weeks
Assessing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.
- It gives a risk assessment of your baby having Down’s Syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities
- Combined with a blood test, it can estimate the risk of your baby having Down's Syndrome
- Assessment is based on several factors: your age, a blood test, the thickness of the nuchal fold (at the back of your baby’s neck) and her nasal bone
- If you’ve got any questions about having one, ask your midwife or GP
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Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) - From week 11 of pregnancy
Assessing the risk of chromosomal problems.
You’re more likely to be offered this test if:
- you’re over 35
- you have results from a scan or test that show your baby is at higher risk
- you have given birth to a child with a genetic disorder
- you or your partner has a family history of genetic abnormalities
What is it and what’s involved?
- This tests for problems like Down’s Syndrome or other chromosomal problems
- It's an alternative to the amniocentesis test
- CVS can be done earlier than amniocentesis, from about 11 weeks
- The main difference is that it cannot detect spina bifida
- It involves taking a sample of chorionic villi cells, found on your placenta
What happens?
- You’ll have an ultrasound scan to check the position of your baby and the placenta
- A fine needle is passed into the womb
- The doctor removes a small sample of tissue from the placenta
- Your baby’s position and the needle are monitored carefully throughout by ultrasound
- This test is a bit more painful than an amniocentesis test
- It takes around 30 minutes
- You should have the results within around 18 days
It’s a good idea to take things easy after the test. And to make sure you have help looking after any other children.
What is the risk?
- CVS is generally fairly safe. However, two in 100 women develop complications afterwards that can result in a miscarriage
- To make an informed decision, you may want talk it through with your midwife or doctor
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Amniocentesis Test - 15-18 weeks
A sample of amniotic fluid is taken from around your baby to detect chromosomal disorders.
You’re more likely to be offered this test if:
- you’re over 35
- you have results from a scan or blood test that show your baby is at higher risk
- you've given birth to a child with a genetic disorder
- you or your partner has a family history of genetic abnormalities.
What is it?
It’s generally used to detect chromosomal disorders such as Down's Syndrome, Patau's Syndrome, Edward's Syndrome and may also be used to diagnose spina bifida. Although amniocentesis cannot reveal the severity of spina bifida, finding high levels of AFP may indicate that the disorder is present
What happens?
- A sample of amniotic fluid is taken from your uterus (womb) and examined
- You’ll have an ultrasound scan to check the position of your baby and the placenta
- A fine needle is passed into the womb
- A sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby is removed with a syringe and sent for testing
- Your baby’s position and the needle are monitored carefully throughout by ultrasound
- Some mums say they feel a sharp sting as the needle goes in. Others say it’s more uncomfortable than painful
- The whole thing takes around 25 minutes
- You should have the results within a fortnight
- It’s a good idea to take things easy after the test. You may want to get someone to help out if you have other children
What is the risk?
- Amniocentesis is generally fairly safe. However, one woman in 100 develops complications afterwards that can result in a miscarriage
- To make an informed decision, you may want to talk it through with your midwife or doctor
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20-week Scan or Anomoly Scan
A routine scan checking development.
What is it?
- By now, your baby has well-developed limbs, organs and facial features
- At this scan, you could find out whether your baby is a boy or a girl. Or you may want to keep it a surprise
- It takes 15-20 minutes
- It’s offered on the NHS (UK only)
- Most hospitals will let you buy pictures of the scan
It allows the specialist to check your baby from head to toe:
- They’ll look at the spine and abdomen
- Check for any abnormalities in the brain, face, lips, spine, abdomen, heart, stomach, kidneys, bladder, hands and feet
- Check the placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid
- Measurements are taken of head circumference and diameter, abdomen and thigh bone to ensure that they’re growing equally well
- If there should be any signs of problems, you’ll speak with a specialist and be offered another scan or more screening tests
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Growth Scan - Usually week 28 onwards
Checking development.
This test is not routine; it is at the hospital or doctor’s discretion. You are more likely to be offered this test if:
- you’re having twins or triplets
- your baby is smaller than average
- your previous baby was small
- you have high blood pressure or diabetes
- you’ve experienced bleeding during the latter stages of pregnancy
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Glucose Tolerance Test - Approx 28 weeks onwards
A blood test for gestational diabetes.
What is it?
- A test for gestational diabetes, which occurs in 2-3% of mums-to-be
- Unlike other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes usually disappears once your baby is born. It will be followed up about 6 weeks after your baby is born
Those most at risk will tend to:
- be over 35
- have a large baby (confirmed by scan)
- have a mother, father or siblings with diabetes
- be overweight (BMI over 30 at booking)
- have had it in a previous pregnancy
- be Indian, Afro-Caribbean or from the Middle East.
What’s involved?
- You’ll need to eat nothing overnight (fasting for 10-16 hours prior to the test, drinking only water or black tea/coffee without sugar)
- A midwife will take a blood sample
- You will then be given a sweet drink
- After two hours, another blood sample is taken
- The glucose levels in your blood are measured
Results
- If you have gestational diabetes, you’ll be referred to a specialist who’ll give you advice on your diet, followed up by a diabetic specialist team
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Blood and Urine Tests - Throughout Pregnancy
During your pregnancy you can expect to have quite a few blood tests. They check:
Iron levels:
- Pregnancy makes a big demand on your iron supplies, and can occasionally result in anaemia
- It’s important to begin your pregnancy with good iron levels
- Iron-rich foods in your diet such as red meat, green leafy vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals can give you a boost. You can find out more about iron-rich foods and how to help your body absorb iron here.
- You may also need to be prescribed iron tablets to increase your levels
Your blood group and Rhesus factor:
- This blood test shows what blood group you are and whether you are Rhesus negative or positive
- This makes it possible to decide what you can be given safely
- Approximately 15% of women are rhesus negative. This is perfectly normal
- If you are Rhesus negative, you’ll be offered three injections of ‘Anti-D’ (at 28 and 32 weeks, and after birth). This is in case your baby is rhesus positive. It will prevent you from forming antibodies against your baby’s blood, as negative and positive blood types are incompatible
Rubella (German measles):
You were probably given injections to immunise you against rubella as a child. However, if blood tests reveal that you aren’t immune, you’ll need to avoid anyone with measles because it could harm your baby. You will be offered rubella vaccine at your post natal check up.
Other blood tests:
- Women of particular ethnic backgrounds (i.e. African, Afro-Caribbean and Mediterranean) may be carriers of blood disorders like thalasaemia or sickle cell anaemia. If these tests are required, your midwife will discuss this with you at your booking appointment
- At about week 15 you’ll be offered the blood test to screen for Down’s syndrome and spina bifida
- Your blood will also be tested for HIV, Hepatitis B, Syphilis and haemoglobin levels.
- It’s up to you whether you have these tests and the results are confidential
- These tests aren’t something to worry about; they’re simply to make sure your baby is healthy and well cared for
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Urine Tests
Your urine will be tested routinely during pregnancy to check for signs of things like pre-eclampsia, urinary tract infections and gestational diabetes
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