Antenatal care: what's usually offered

Antenatal appointment schedules differ between countries, and your care plan can reflect your needs. You can contact your maternity team between appointments. NHS guidance says you do not have to wait until your next appointment if you are worried about your health or your baby’s health.

Arranging your first appointment

In the UK, tell NHS maternity services about your pregnancy by referring yourself for pregnancy care as soon as you know you are pregnant. If you have referred yourself but have not received an appointment, contact local maternity services to ask for one.

The first midwife appointment is usually at 8 to 12 weeks and is often called the booking appointment. The conversation covers your health, earlier pregnancies, mental health, work and home circumstances. You can ask questions and discuss concerns. This helps the midwife plan care around your needs and preferences.

You will usually be offered blood pressure and urine checks, as well as a blood test to find your blood group. Your maternity notes may be held in an app, a folder or on a secure website. They include appointments, results and useful contact numbers. The NHS advises keeping them with you until your baby is born, so staff can access your pregnancy information if you need urgent care.

The NHS appointment pattern

The NHS offers at least 10 antenatal appointments for a first baby and at least 7 if you have given birth before, plus 2 ultrasound scans. The schedule below describes the NHS offer; use the dates your own team gives you.

Stage	What is usually offered
8 to 12 weeks	First midwife or booking appointment.
11 to 14 weeks	Dating scan and a discussion of screening choices.
16 weeks	Wellbeing review, earlier screening results, blood pressure and urine checks.
18 to 21 weeks	Mid-pregnancy screening scan.
25 weeks	An appointment if this is your first baby.
28 weeks	Health review, blood tests and a discussion of movements.
31 weeks	An appointment if this is your first baby.
34, 36 and 38 weeks	Further checks and conversations about birth.
40 and 41 weeks	Further checks and discussion of your options if pregnancy continues.

Later appointments include discussions about mental health, your baby’s movements and preferences for giving birth. You can put these on your question list too. If something is getting in the way of attending, tell the team what the difficulty is and ask what arrangements are possible.

US care is becoming more tailored

ACOG’s 2025 guidance supports a care plan shaped around medical needs, social circumstances and personal preferences. Its clinician guidance describes evidence supporting eight to nine visits for people without chronic or pregnancy conditions. Whether that schedule suits you depends on your pregnancy.

Some appointments may use telemedicine or group care. The plan can change as pregnancy progresses. It should give you access to a clinician for questions or assessment between visits. Ask your obstetric practice which appointments need you there in person, how to contact someone outside office hours and how a change in your health would change the plan.

WHO contacts and local arrangements

WHO recommends a minimum of eight contacts. Its model begins in the first 12 weeks, followed by contacts at 20, 26, 30, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks. Each contact includes care and support. Countries can adapt how care is delivered to their health services and communities.

Getting help before the next visit

Call your midwife or maternity unit now in the UK, your obstetric clinician in the US, or your doctor or midwife elsewhere if your baby is moving less, has stopped moving or has changed its usual pattern. Do not wait until tomorrow, even at night.

For appointment planning, write down who holds your care plan, the next visit and the number to use for urgent concerns. Ask the team to explain any part of the plan that is unclear. If you are starting care later than expected, contact the service now to arrange an assessment.