When do you have your first appointment when pregnant

It’s best to make the appointment when you think you may be pregnant or at around 6-8 weeks into your pregnancy. Your first appointment may be with a midwife, your GP or at a clinic or hospital — you can choose.

Finding out about you

During the visit, your doctor or midwife will take a detailed medical history and family history as part of assessing your overall health. This includes finding out about any prior pregnancies, illnesses or operations and what medicines you’re taking, including those from a pharmacy or supermarket. They will also want to know if you have any current health problems and if you are allergic to any medicines.

Your doctor or midwife will ask you if you smoke, drink alcohol or take recreational drugs. They will also ask if you are stressed, have any signs of depression or anxiety and about the support you could receive from people at home and at work. If you are experiencing any family violence you should let them know, since it’s important to get professional help and they can support you to do this.

Finding out about the health of your family is also important because it could affect you or your baby. This includes any family history of twins, genetic disorders, or chronic illnesses such as diabetes. You may wish to do screening tests for being a carrier of other genetic conditions. Discuss this with your doctor or midwife.

Your doctor or midwife will check your blood pressure, weight and height. You will also be offered a blood test to check your blood group and whether you have anaemia, any infectious diseases or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as checking whether you have rubella immunity.

They may suggest a urine test to see if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Find out more here about the check-ups, tests and scans you will have during your antenatal visits.

Finding out about your baby

Your doctor or midwife will calculate how many weeks you have been pregnant and the due date of your baby. If you’re not sure when your last period was, they may schedule a dating scan. This is an ultrasound that will help determine which week of pregnancy you are in.

They will also offer a test to see if your baby is at high risk of having Down syndrome or other abnormalities. Other tests may be suggested such as an amniocentesis, or chorionic villus sampling (CVS) if you are over 35 years old or have a higher than normal risk of problems.

Discussing your antenatal care options

During this first appointment, your GP or midwife will give you information and discuss which model of care you would like to have for your antenatal appointments and the birth. You'll be able to discuss:

• who will be your main antenatal carer
• where you would like to receive your antenatal care
• how many antenatal visits you will have and when
• where you would like to give birth
• where to find local antenatal classes or education sessions

Information that will help you

Your midwife or GP will give you information during this appointment to help you keep healthy and ensure you have good support and care.

This includes:

• help to stop smoking or drinking alcohol (if needed)
• advice about healthy eating, exercise and weight gain expectations
• letting you know which vitamins and minerals you should take or avoid during pregnancy
• referrals to support services or professional help if you need them
• answering questions about issues that worry or concern you
• letting you know if you have a higher risk pregnancy and what can help reduce or remove this risk

Occasionally, a pregnancy starts off normally but develops a problem later so the relevant information may not be available during this first visit. It's always a good idea to remain flexible.

Further information and support

You can call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak to a maternal child health nurse about any concerns you have about your pregnancy or antenatal care.

Here’s a guide to planning your prenatal visits, plus a few tips to help you prepare for your first appointment. It’s going to be a busy but exciting nine months, so this guide will help you keep things simple.

Planning Your Prenatal Visits

You’ll probably be seeing your doctor more than you’re used to during your pregnancy.  Here’s a schedule of the visits to expect, plus common things that happen at each one.

Remember, every pregnancy is different, and this schedule is based on an uncomplicated pregnancy. If your pregnancy is high risk, you’ll see your doctor more often. Ask your provider if you have questions about your specific situation.

1. First Prenatal Visit

Your first prenatal visit usually takes place when you are about 10-12 weeks pregnant (a pregnancy confirmation visit and possibly an early ultrasound typically occurs between 5-8 weeks). This appointment is often the longest, and will include a general physical and routine prenatal labs.

You probably have a lot of questions about your pregnancy, and your first prenatal visit is a great time to get a lot of questions answered. What should be on your list to ask? Check out our guide to Making the Most of Your First Prenatal Visit, including 10 Questions You Need to Ask Your Provider.

2. Routine Check-Ups

For uncomplicated pregnancies, you should expect to see your provider every four weeks through 28 weeks. Between 28 and 36 weeks, expect to see your doctor every two weeks. From 36 weeks to delivery, expect to see your provider weekly.

Each check up will include a weight check, blood pressure check, and chance to listen to the fetal heartbeat. The fetal heartbeat is usually first detectable with a hand-held doppler between 10 and 12 weeks.

Remember, this is a general guide. You’ll need to see your doctor more frequently if you experience any pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes or a multiple pregnancy.

3. Screenings

In addition to routine check ups, some of your prenatal appointments will include health screenings. Check out our complete prenatal care kit to learn when screenings usually occur.

Preparing for Your First Prenatal Visit

One of the most important things you can do to prepare for your first prenatal visit is to gather information about your medical history. In addition to general information you're used to providing at checkups, also be prepared to share information about your family medical history, fertility history, infection exposure, and mental health history.

Since your first prenatal visit is often your longest, it's also a great time to ask questions. Want to know how much weight you should expect to gain? Wondering if your favorite exercise routine is safe for baby? There are no silly questions, and your provider will be happy to help you plan for a safe, healthy pregnancy. 

Have more questions? Check out our guide on How to Make the Most of Your First Prenatal Visit, including 10 Questions You Need to Ask!