Antenatal visits are regular check-ups during pregnancy. They help you and your health worker notice small changes early, when they are easiest to manage. The World Health Organization recommends at least eight contacts during pregnancy, with the first one in the first twelve weeks.
When to go
Go to your first visit as soon as you think you are pregnant. After that, your clinic will give you dates. A common pattern is one visit before 12 weeks, then visits at around 20, 26, 30, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks.
If you started late, that is all right — go now. It is never too late to begin.
What happens at a visit
Most visits follow the same rhythm, so they quickly start to feel familiar. The health worker will usually:
- ask how you are feeling, and whether anything is worrying you
- check your blood pressure and weight
- test your urine
- feel your tummy to check how your baby is growing, and later listen to the heartbeat
- write everything on your clinic card
Keep your clinic card safe and bring it to every visit, including any visit to a different facility. It tells any health worker your story quickly.
Routine tests
At your first visit, you will usually be offered blood tests for:
- your blood group
- anaemia (a low level of iron in the blood, which is common in pregnancy)
- HIV and syphilis — both can be treated, and treatment protects your baby
- sometimes hepatitis B and blood sugar
You can always ask what a test is for and what your result means. You have the right to understand your own care.
Medicines and vaccines you may be given
- Iron and folic acid — usually a daily tablet for the whole pregnancy.
- Tetanus vaccine — protects you and your newborn.
- Medicine to prevent malaria — usually given at the clinic from the second trimester.
- A mosquito net treated with insecticide, if you do not already have one. Sleep under it every night.
Making the most of your visit
It helps to write your questions down before you go. There are no silly questions. You might ask:
- What did today’s checks show?
- When is my next visit?
- Where will I give birth, and how will I get there if labour starts at night?
Between visits
You do not need to wait for your next appointment if something feels wrong. Go to a hospital straight away if you have:
- bleeding from the vagina
- a severe headache, blurred vision, or swelling of your face or hands
- a fever, or pain in your tummy that does not go away
- fluid leaking from the vagina before labour
- your baby moving less than usual, later in pregnancy
- fits, or difficulty breathing
Trust yourself. You know your body, and it is always right to get checked.