Health checks during your pregnancy

It is important to undertake health checks at different stages of your pregnancy.

Visits, tests and baby development

• At 12 weeks, the foetus is fully formed, from now on it has to grow and mature.
• Please note the schedule of visits outlined is in line with Australian standards but may vary depending on your assessed needs during your pregnancy.

Between 7 and 10 weeks

This appointment is usually with your doctor/GP. They will then provide a referral to us.

Tests to be offered/discussed at this visit

• Serum screening (Down Syndrome Test) and scan
• Dating scan and discuss 18 20 ultrasound scan that looks at foetal development and wellness
• Height, weight to determine BMI

Recommended tests for discussion

• Blood Group, antibody screen
• Full Blood Examination (FBE)
• Ferritin levels
• Rubella
• HIV
• Syphilis
• Hep B and C
• Vitamin D
• Early POGTT or blood test to check for diabetes in pregnancy if indicated
• Urine test (MSU) for asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Between 10 and 14 weeks

• At 12 weeks the foetus is fully formed. It will now grow and mature.
• The baby is already moving about but the movements cannot be felt yet.
• You will attend your first midwife appointment.

Tests to be offered/discussed at this visit

• Ultrasound and blood results
• Chlamydia screening (if you’re aged 25 years and under)
• Early glucose test (if indicated)
• Completing any unfinished tests
• Book 18–20-week ultrasound to look at foetal development and wellness
• Measure blood pressure, weight, check uterine size
• Receiving a copy of the Maternity Information Package
• Receiving your orange folder to hold information obtained from visits and forms for all tests required in pregnancy including ultrasounds and blood tests.

Recommended tests for discussion and other information

• Offer to complete Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Screening (EPDS)
• Models of care and antenatal education options discussed.
• Thromboembolism (VTE) risk category
• Discuss Fluvax and Pertussis booster

Between 16 and 20 weeks

• By 20 weeks, your baby’s face is beginning to look more human.
• Their hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are starting to grow.
• Between 16-20 weeks, you will feel your baby move for the first time. It will feel like fluttering or bubbling.
• At about 22 weeks the baby is covered in a fine hair called ‘lanugo’. This usually disappears before birth.

Tests and information to be offered/discussed at this visit

• Discuss ultrasound and blood results.
• Attend ultrasound appointment.
• Measure blood pressure, weight, check uterine size.
• Listen for foetal heart and check for foetal movements.
• Discuss foetal movements (pattern, strength, frequency and intuition)
• Discuss the glucose screening test, used to detect diabetes of pregnancy.
• If not already done, book Glucose Tolerance Test for around 26 weeks.
• Ensure you have blood forms for pathology for FBE, antibodies, Glucose Tolerence Test (POGTT), due before 28-week visit.
• Discuss Anti D for Rh Negative mothers for next visit.
• Book birth and parenting, and breastfeeding classes.
• Discuss dental care. Find out more in the Healthy Smiles for Two section on our website.

Between 24 and 32 weeks

• Sometimes the baby may get hiccups, and you may feel the jerk of each hiccup.
• The baby may also begin to follow a pattern for waking and sleeping.
• At 24 weeks, your baby is about 33cms long and is covered in a substance called vernix.
• The baby is now moving about vigorously and responds to touch and to sound. 
• A loud noise may make it jump and kick. 
• It also swallows small amounts of the amniotic fluid and passes tiny amounts of urine back into the fluid.
• At 26 weeks the eyelids open for the first time. 
• Your midwife can hear the baby's heartbeat through a piece of equipment called a ‘sonicade’.

Tests and information to be offered/discussed at this visit

• Check and discuss any results.
• Measure blood pressure and weight.
• Check foetal heartbeat, movements, size and position of baby via abdominal palpation.
• Discuss healthy lifestyle, emotional and social well-being.
• If 28 weeks and Rh Negative, review the antibody screening blood test results and give Anti D injection.
• Discuss safe sleeping and active third stage (delivery of placenta).
• Commence breastfeeding education.
• Reminder about seasonal fluvax and Pertussis vaccination/booster between 28 and 32 weeks.
• Discuss settling to sleep on your side from 28 weeks. 
• Reminder of the importance of foetal movements
• Information about contacting Maternity Services in your area.

Your baby's pattern of movements

• There is no set number of normal movements. 
• Your baby will have their own pattern of movements that you should get to know. 
• From 16-24 week on you should feel the baby move more and more up until 32 weeks then stay roughly the same until you give birth.
• It is not true that babies move less towards the end of pregnancy.
• A reduction in a baby's movements can sometimes be an important sign that a baby is unwell.
• If there is something different or irregular about your baby's normal pattern of movements you should call your primary midwife or Maternity Unit 24 hours, 7 days a week.
• Do not put off calling until the next day.
• For further information, visit the Stillaware website or the Stillbirth Alliance website.

34 weeks

• Your baby is gaining weight so the skin that was quite wrinkled before is now smoother.
• Both the lanugo and the vernix begin to disappear.
• By 32 weeks your baby is usually lying head down.

Tests and information to be offered/discussed at this visit

• Measure blood pressure and weight
• Check foetal heartbeat and movements, and size and position of baby via abdominal palpation.
• Discuss healthy lifestyle, emotional and social well-being.
• Discuss Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening.
• If Rh negative discuss and give Anti D injection.
• Consider options for birth and coping with pain.
• Continue breastfeeding education.

36 weeks

At 36 weeks your baby may start to move down into the pelvis and may be in the ‘engaged’ position.

Tests and information to be offered/discussed at this visit

• Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening swab collected
• Mid-stream urine collection
• You will be weighed and have a blood test for Hb and Ferritin.
• Discuss healthy lifestyle and your emotional and social well-being.
• Active management of the third stage of labour should be discussed and your preference documented.
• Discuss the importance of Safe Sleeping discussed.
• Measure blood pressure
• Check foetal heartbeat and movements, and size and position of baby via abdominal palpation.
• Discuss consent for Hepatitis B and Vitamin K immunisation.
• Continue breastfeeding education.

38 weeks

• Check Group B Streptococcus (GBS) result and discuss intravenous (IV) antibiotics in labour if the result is positive.
• Discuss healthy lifestyle, emotional and social well-being.
• Measure blood pressure
• Check foetal heartbeat and movements, and size and position of baby via abdominal palpation.
• Discuss signs of labour.
• Continue breastfeeding education.

40 weeks

• Measure blood pressure
• Check foetal heartbeat and movements, and size and position of baby via abdominal palpation.
• Discuss healthy lifestyle, emotional and social well-being,
• Possible vaginal examination and cervical sweep.
• Discuss foetal monitoring, baby movements and CTG (monitoring baby’s heartbeat) requirements.
• Discuss induction of labour.
• Continue breastfeeding education.

Post-term

• Some women do not go into labour by themselves.
• It is safe to go over your due date providing you and your baby’s health are fine. You may be required to have more hospital visits to ensure this and be offered an induction of labour.

41 weeks

• Measure blood pressure
• Check foetal heartbeat and movements, and size and position of the baby via abdominal palpation.
• Discuss healthy lifestyle, emotional and social well-being.
• Offer a vaginal examination, cervical sweep and gain an indication of requirements for induction of labour.
• CTG attended.
• Induction of labour booking made and discussed (usually for around 41 weeks plus 2 days).