Antenatal care
Below are lists of the scans and appointments you will have during your pregnancy. They are slightly different for mothers having their first baby than for mothers who have had a baby before.
Your appointments
You will have a number of antenatal appointments during your pregnancy. You will see a midwife or sometimes a doctor, and blood pressure and urine tests will be offered at most appointments.
This page lists these appointments, and when you should have them. They will be slightly different if you have had a baby before, and you may be offered more appointments if you need them.
For further information please visit:
Your antenatal appointments - NHS website
We encourage you to discuss your care and make plans for your pregnancy, birth and early parenting at every appointment.
Antenatal care during COVID-19
Important: if you have a face to face appointment booked, but have tested positive for COVID-19, have symptoms or are self-isolating to protect someone you live with, contact your community midwife. Do not attend your appointment as they will not be able to see you.
We may be able to arrange a telephone appointment or rearrange your appointment for a later date.
COVID-19 and pregnancy care
Your first baby
Booking (first) appointment
Face to face appointment with your community team to discuss your history and plan your care. We will tell you about the screening tests you will be offered during your pregnancy and after birth.
For more information please visit:
Antenatal screening
If you cannot attend for the reasons above, we will arrange a telephone appointment. When we are able to see you we will offer to do blood and urine tests and check your blood pressure.
10-14 week scan
Face to face appointment with sonographers at either the John Radcliffe or Horton General Hospital to estimate when your baby is due, check the physical development of your baby, and screen for possible conditions, including Down's syndrome.
16 weeks
This appointment may be face to face or via the telephone and is to follow up on any results and discuss you care plan moving forwards.
Anomaly 20 week scan
Face to face appointment with sonographers at either the John Radcliffe or Horton General Hospital to check the physical development of your baby.
25 weeks
This appointment may be face to face or via the telephone depending on your circumstances.
28 weeks
Face to face appointment with your community team.
Blood tests will be offered as part of the routine screening.
31 weeks
Face to face appointment with your community team.
34 weeks
Blood tests may be offered as part of routine screening follow-up.
We will discuss your options and personalised plan for birth, including giving you information about normal birth and caesarean sections so you can make an individual decision around your birth preferences.
36 weeks
Face to face appointment with your community team.
You will be offered a scan to review the health of your baby.
38 weeks
Face to face appointment with your community team.
41 weeks
Face to face appointment with your community team.
If labour has not started, we can offer you a 'stretch and sweep' and discuss your options for an induction at the safest time for you.
If you have had a baby before
Booking (first) appointment
Face to face appointment with your community team to discuss your history and plan your care. We will tell you about the screening tests you will be offered during your pregnancy and after birth.
For more information please visit:
Antenatal screening
If you cannot attend for the reasons above, we will arrange a telephone appointment. When we are able to see you we will offer to do blood and urine tests and check your blood pressure.
10-14 week scan
Face to face appointment with sonographers at either the John Radcliffe or Horton General Hospital to estimate when your baby is due, check the physical development of your baby, and screen for possible conditions, including Down's syndrome.
16 weeks
This appointment may be face to face or on the telephone, and is to follow up on any results and discuss your care plan.
Anomaly 20 week scan
Face to face appointment with sonographers at either the John Radcliffe or Horton General Hospital to check the physical development of your baby.
28 weeks
Face to face appointment with your community team.
Blood tests will be offered as part of the routine screening.
34 weeks
Blood tests may be offered as part of routine screening follow-up.
We will discuss your options and personalised plan for birth, including giving you information about normal birth and caesarean sections so you can make an individual decision around your birth preferences.
36 weeks
Face to face appointment with your community team.
If you were anaemic (lacking iron) at 28 weeks we advise a repeat blood test.
You will be offered a scan to review the health of your baby.
38 weeks
Face-to-face appointment with your community team.
41 weeks
Face-to-face appointment with your community team.
If labour has not started, we can offer you a 'stretch and sweep' and discuss your options for an induction at the safest time for you.
Parent education
Our Oxford University Hospitals online antenatal education workshops are led by our Parent Education Midwives.
For more information please visit:
Parent education workshops
Last reviewed:02 January 2024