Your Antenatal Appointments
Antenatal appointments are provided in many different ways for women booked with our hospital. You might be seen here on just one occasion or you might need to attend regularly and some appointments may take place in a community clinic close to your home.
What to expect at your appointments
If you are coming to the hospital, please aim to be on time for your appointment and ideally arrive at least 15 minutes beforehand. We will always try to give you a time that is convenient to you and we will keep you informed of any delays.
Our care is based around your needs, so please remember that some appointments may take longer than others and sometimes our specialist medical staff may be called away to deal with emergencies.
We suggest that you allow around four hours for your first visit to us. This will give us time to gather information from you regarding your medical history and previous pregnancy details. Subsequent appointments usually take up to two hours to allow for additional scans and tests.
There are several clinics running at the same time, some with midwives and some with medical and specialist staff, so this may be why some people might appear to be seen ahead of you. Please be aware that you may experience a delay occasionally, we apologise for the inconvenience this may cause.
The waiting areas are small, so we kindly request that you keep visitors to a minimum and arrange child care for your children.
If you are concerned about your waiting time, or if you are unsure about anything, please speak to a member of staff and be sure to make a note of your next appointment before you leave.
Your Booking Appointment
Early Bird Clinic is a new clinic created to ensure booking bloods are taken before 10 weeks of pregnancy. This appointment will be at a local clinic and arranged within one week of receiving your SPA referral.
You will have your initial pregnancy bloods taken, including haemoglobin (iron) levels, blood group and antibody status, sickle cell and thalassemia status and screening for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphilis.
This change has been made to ensure early intervention is in place for any abnormalities found in these blood results. It is important you attend this appointment in addition to your pregnancy booking appointment to prevent any delays in treatment.
If you have been seen in the early bird clinic, blood test results will be discussed. If not, blood tests will be offered here and height, weight, urine, blood pressure and carbon monoxide levels will be tested. You will be given information about future appointments and what to expect during your pregnancy.
Preparing for your booking appointment (Tommy's)
Tests and screening (BWH)
Screening tests for you and your baby (GOV.UK)
Routine tests during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Parental Responsibility (BWH)
Virtual tour of our hospital (BWH)
Electronic Patient Record for BWC - MyChart
Inclusion and Diversity support at BWC
About your Dating Scan & Screening
12-week scan (NHS)
Your scans (BWH)
Screening tests for you and your baby (GOV.UK)
Screening your baby’s body: easy guide (NHS)
Screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome (NHS)
Having more than one baby? (Tommy's)
Low-PAPPA (BWH)
Initial Place of Birth Conversations
Your choice where to have your first baby (NHSE)
Having your baby at home (BWH)
BWH Your Birth Options
Shared decision making (NICE)
Patient experience in adult NHS services (NICE)
Intrapartum care - choices for place of birth (NICE)
Additional Recommended Leaflets/Information
Screening your baby’s body: easy guide (NHS)
Screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia (NHS)
Screening for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis (NHS)
Vaccinations in Pregnancy (Gov.uk – multi-language) Exercising in Pregnancy (Tommy’s)
Vitamins, Supplements & Nutrition in Pregnancy? (NHS)
Risks of Smoking in Pregnancy (BWH)
Smoking, vapes in Pregnancy (Tommy’s)
Illegal or recreational drugs and pregnancy (Tommy's) Alcohol in pregnancy (Tommy's)
Health and Wellbeing (BWH)
Antenatal Pelvic floor exercises (Tommy's)
Temporary Accommodation - Resources for your (LA)
Additional leaflets/information
Hypothyroidism in Pregnancy (BWH)
Blood Clots (Thrombosis) and Pregnancy (BWH)
Bleeding in pregnancy (Tommy's)
BMI and pregnancy (Tommy's)
Caffeine in Pregnancy (Tommy’s)
Consenting to treatment (Birthrights)
Dads and Partners – getting involved (Tommy’s)
Eating Well in Pregnancy (Tommy's)
Mental Wellbeing during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Pregnancy and Post-Birth Wellbeing (Tommy's)
Sleeping on your side (Tommy’s)
Saving Babies' Lives Parent Information Booklets
Saving Babies' Lives Parent Booklet (Arabic)
Saving Babies' Lives Parent Booklet (English)
Saving Babies' Lives Parent Booklet (French)
Saving Babies' Lives Parent Booklet (Pashto)
Saving Babies' Lives Parent Booklet (Polish)
Saving Babies' Lives Parent Booklet (Romanian)
Saving Babies' Lives Parent Booklet (Urdu)
About your Dating Scan & Screening
12-week scan (NHS)
Your scans (BWH)
Screening tests for you and your baby (GOV.UK)
Screening your baby’s body: easy guide (NHS)
Screening for Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome and Patau's syndrome (NHS)
Having more than one baby? (Tommy's)
Low-PAPPA (BWH)
Virtual tour of our hospital (BWH)
Electronic Patient Record for BWC - MyChart
Inclusion and Diversity support at BWC
Your 16-Week Appointment
The midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will discuss blood results, vaccinations in pregnancy, parent education, place of birth options, infant feeding options and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions.
More information here about TRBC available in 10 languages
Getting prepared for your birth - The Real Birth Company birth preparation workshop
Patient experience in adult NHS services (NICE)
Group B Strep (GBS) (RCOG & GBS Joint Leaflet)
Gestational Diabetes (Tommy's)
Infant Feeding choices - multiple languages (UNICEF)
BWH Padlet - Preparing to Feed Your Baby
Vaccinations during pregnancy (BWH)
Place of Birth conversations
Having your baby at home (BWH)
BWH Your Birth Options
Midwife Led Place of Birth Workshop
Information about shared decision making (NICE)
Intrapartum care - choices for place of birth (NICE)
Your 25-Week Appointment
(For women who are pregnant for the first time, or those identified as having more complex needs)
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will discuss vaccinations in pregnancy and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions. If you need a Mat B1 form, it will usually be given at this appointment. If you need it earlier, please contact your Community Midwife, who can send it to you after your 20-week scan.
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
How is baby measured during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Is it serious? Pregnancy warning signs to look out for (Tommy's)
Maternity Triage (BWH)
Place of Birth Conversations
Having your baby at home (BWH)
BWH Your Birth Options
Shared decision making (NICE)
Patient experience in adult NHS services (NICE)
Intrapartum care - choices for place of birth (NICE)
Your 28-Week Appointment
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will offer you blood tests to assess if your iron levels have dropped and to look for antibodies in your blood. They will measure your bump unless you are having regular growth scans. They will discuss vaccinations in pregnancy, infant feeding, connecting with your baby and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions.
Routine tests during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Rhesus disease - Prevention (NHS)
How is baby measured during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Is it serious? Pregnancy warning signs to look out for (Tommy's)
Maternity Triage (BWH)
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Vaccinations in Pregnancy (Tommy’s)
Vaccinations during pregnancy (BWH)
Preparing for Labour and Birth
More information here about TRBC available in 10 languages (BWH)
Getting prepared for your birth - The Real Birth Company birth preparation workshop
Shared decision making (NICE)
Patient experience in adult NHS services (NICE)
Pelvic health support and information — Birmingham and Solihull ICS
Plans for feeding your baby
Infant Feeding Choices - UNICEF Multiple Languages)
BWH Padlet — Preparing to Feed Your Baby
Expressing Breastmilk Antenatally (BWH)
Virtual Antenatal Infant Feeding Workshop (BWH) — Attend between 34-36 weeks
Postnatal Information
How to manage when a baby cries (ICON)
Sleeping on your side (Tommy’s)
Postnatal Pelvic floor exercises (Tommy's)
Postnatal care (NICE)
Mental Wellbeing during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Vitamin K for baby following birth (BWH)
Sex and contraception after birth - NHS
Your 31-Week Appointment
(For women who are pregnant for the first time, or those identified as having more complex needs)
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will discuss vaccinations in pregnancy and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. They will measure your bump (if it has been at least 14 days since your last measurement) unless you are having regular growth scans. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions.
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Mental Wellbeing during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Is it serious? Pregnancy warning signs to look out for (Tommy's)
Maternity Triage (BWH)
Bonding with baby
Resources for expectant and new parents
Relationship changes (Tommy's)
#InThisWithYou - support for Dads and partners (Tommy's)
Preparing for Labour and Birth
Infant Feeding breastfeeding - Baby Friendly Initiative
BWH Padlet - Preparing to feed your baby
Expressing Breastmilk Antenatally (BWH)
Virtual Antenatal Infant Feeding Workshop (BWH) - Attend between 34-36 weeks
Your 34-Week Appointment
(For women who are pregnant for the first time, or those identified as having more complex needs)
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will discuss vaccinations in pregnancy and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. They will measure your bump (if it has been at least 14 days since your last measurement) unless you are having regular growth scans. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions.
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Antenatal Perineal Massage
Mental Wellbeing during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Is it serious? Pregnancy warning signs to look out for (Tommy's)
Maternity Triage (BWH)
Bonding with baby
Resources for expectant and new parents
Relationship changes (Tommy's)
#InThisWithYou - support for Dads and partners (Tommy's)
Preparing for Labour and Birth
Infant Feeding breastfeeding - Baby Friendly Initiative
BWH Padlet - Preparing to feed your baby
Expressing Breastmilk Antenatally (BWH)
Virtual Antenatal Infant Feeding Workshop (BWH) - Attend between 34-36 weeks
Your 36-Week Appointment
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will discuss vaccinations in pregnancy, infant feeding, connecting with your baby, pelvic floor exercises and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. They will measure your bump (if it has been at least 14 days since your last measurement) unless you are having regular growth scans. They will discuss your birth preferences with you. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions.
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Mental Wellbeing during pregnancy (Tommy's)
Is it serious? Pregnancy warning signs to look out for (Tommy's)
Maternity Triage (BWH)
Bonding with baby (NHS)
Resources for expectant and new parents (NHS)
Relationship changes (NHS)
#InThisWithYou - support for Dads and partners (Tommy's)
Plans for feeding your baby
Infant Feeding Choices - multiple languages
BWH Padlet - Preparing to Feed Your Baby
Expressing Breast Milk Antenatally
Planning for your birth
Having your baby at home (BWH)
What to include in your birth plan (NHS)
Your Birth Options at BWH
Induction of Labour (BWH)
Additional Information
If you are not planning a homebirth, this information may help you understand our ward environments, either as an antenatal or postnatal admission.
Welcome to our Antenatal and Postnatal Ward (BWH)
Information about protecting your perineum during the birth
Your 38-Week Appointment
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will discuss vaccinations in pregnancy and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. They will measure your bump (if it has been at least 14 days since your last measurement) unless you are having regular growth scans. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions.
Membrane Sweeps
Induction of Labour (BWH)
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Your 40-Week Appointment
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will discuss vaccinations in pregnancy and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. They will measure your bump (if it has been at least 14 days since your last measurement) unless you are having regular growth scans. They will discuss and book a date for postdates induction. They will offer you a membrane sweep if you wish to have one. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions.
Membrane Sweeps
Induction of Labour (BWH)
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Your 41-Week Appointment
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure, urine and carbon monoxide levels. They will discuss vaccinations in pregnancy and important signs and symptoms to be aware of. They will offer you a membrane sweep if you wish to have one. You will have the opportunity to ask any non-urgent questions.
Membrane Sweeps
Induction of Labour (BWH)
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Labour, Birth and immediately after birth
Induction of Labour
Induction of Labour Workshop – to find out more about it
National Intrapartum Care (NICE)
Shared Decision Making (NICE)
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
Early Labour Support (also called latent phase of labour) (BWH)
Prelabour rupture or membranes (Waters breaking) (BWH)
Planned Caesarean Birth (BWH)
Considering a caesarean birth (RCOG)
Planning a Vaginal Birth After a Caesarean Birth (VBAC) (RCOG)
Information for your baby
Vitamin K for newborn babies (BWH)
Caring for your baby (NHS)
Postnatal Screening for your baby
Screening Tests for you and your baby (UK Gov)
Blood Spot Screening Test (NHS)
Blood Spot Screening Test (UK Gov)
Newborn Hearing Screening Test (UK Gov)
Further Information/Resources
Additional Antenatal Leaflets and Links
Endoanal Ultrasound Scan (BWH)
Movements Matter (Tommy’s)
BWH Fetal Cardiology Service
Ferinject Iron Infusion (BWH)
Antenatal Enoxaparin in Pregnancy (also known as Clexane, blood thinners) (BWH)
External Cephalic Version (ECV) (BWH)
What is pre-eclampsia? (Tommy's)
Postnatal Information
Information for you
Postnatal Enoxaparin (maybe called Clexane/blood thinners) (BWH)
Perineal Care Following Childbirth (BWH)
Postnatal Perineal Scar Massage (BWH)
Third and Fourth degree tears (OASI) (BWH)
Going home with a urinary catheter (BWH)
Endoanal Ultrasound Scan (BWH)
Pregnancy and Post-Birth Wellbeing (Tommy's)
After the birth (Fourth Trimester) (Tommy's)
Your body after the birth (the first 6 weeks (Tommy's)
Birth Reflections Service | Birmingham Women's and Children's
Your post-pregnancy body - NHS
Your 6-week postnatal check - NHS
Planning another pregnancy - NHS
Sex and contraception after birth - NHS
Information for your baby
Newborn Screening/Physical Examination (NHS)
Tongue Tie and its release (BWH)
BCG and Your Baby (BWH)
Infant Feeding Telephone Support Service (BWH)
Donating Breast Milk at BWH
Fetal Medicine Department
Fetal Medicine Centre (BWH)
Diagnostic Testing in Pregnancy (BWH)
Fetal Blood Transfusion and Fetal Anaemia (BWH)
Low-PAPPA (BWH)
Twin to Twin Transfusion (BWH)
Bereavement Care at Birmingham Women’s Hospital
Sadly, some pregnancies will result in the loss of a baby, or babies. This may be very early in the pregnancy, or after birth. Every family is affected differently, and there is no right or wrong way to feel.
The Bereavement Team at BWC are available to help and support families going through baby loss, at any stage and under any circumstances.
Please visit Women's Hospital Bereavement Services, where you will find direct contact details along with other support information.