Included in your care:

A nuchal scan is usually scheduled between 11 and 13+6 weeks to assess your baby’s early anatomy. Your obstetrician will discuss screening for chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, and may also organise pre-eclampsia screening.

During this appointment, you’ll meet our lovely midwives. If your blood group is negative, you will be offered a blood test to determine your baby’s blood group to assess whether you’ll need anti-D during your pregnancy.

A morphology scan is typically performed between 18 and 22 weeks to examine your baby’s anatomy, check the position of the placenta, and assess your cervical length. Your obstetrician will review the scan results with you.

This appointment will be with another member of our obstetric team. It’s an opportunity to meet Dr Rob, Dr Ben, and Dr Mel, ensuring you are familiar with all your care providers in case your primary obstetrician is unable to attend during labour for any emergency.

Blood tests, including the glucose tolerance test to screen for gestational diabetes, are routinely performed between 24 and 28 weeks. You will need to fast before this test, so please organise your appointment in advance. Your obstetrician will review the results with you and check on both your health and your baby’s wellbeing.

This is also an ideal time to organise your pertussis, influenza, and RSV vaccinations. If your blood group is negative, you may receive anti-D at this appointment.

This appointment will be with either Dr Mel, Dr Ben, or Dr Rob. By now, you will have met all members of our obstetric team, so you can feel confident that you are being cared for by someone you know and trust.

This appointment will involve both your obstetrician and our midwifery team. You will learn about expressing, perineal massage, birthing options, and pain relief during labour. If your blood group is negative, you will be given a second dose of anti-D.

Another set of blood tests is usually performed between 34 and 36 weeks. Your obstetrician will review your blood results and scans to ensure your pregnancy is progressing well. This is also when we will start planning for your birth.

From this stage onward, weekly or fortnightly appointments will be scheduled for close monitoring of your pregnancy. During this time, you’ll typically meet with a midwife to discuss breastfeeding and expressing.

If you are having a caesarean section or induction of labour, these are usually planned for around 39 weeks to support further development of your baby and reduce the risks of stillbirth. The timing of your planned birth will be discussed based on your preferences and your pregnancy circumstances.

If you are waiting for spontaneous labour to occur, stretch and sweeps may be offered at these appointments.

If you remain pregnant beyond 41 weeks, your obstetrician will recommend induction of labour to reduce risks such as meconium aspiration, caesarean, and stillbirth.

Additional monitoring will be recommended if your pregnancy extends beyond 41 weeks.