Starting your care

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Starting your care

When you first find out you are pregnant you can book an appointment directly with a midwife, or with your GP, to get all the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy. This might include advice about starting folic acid supplements or help to stop smoking. Your GP surgery can advise you how to contact your local midwifery service.

Your antenatal care

Antenatal care is the care you receive from health professionals during your pregnancy. You will usually have an initial appointment with a midwife who will ask you lots of questions about your health, your family’s health and what support you have around you. You will have time to sensitively discuss any concerns you may have about your mental health, social care support or issues such as domestic abuse or substance use.

Your midwife will check your blood pressure, test your urine and organise early pregnancy blood tests and screening tests which will help to plan the rest of your care.

Visit the NHS website for further information about all your antenatal appointments, blood tests and scans.

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Resources for planning a family

2 2Seas

PATH – PerinAtal menTal Health – is part of the Interreg VA 2Seas programme and receives funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

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