It’s always a pleasure to meet mums coming in for a quick consult, a scheduled clinic visit, a follow-up, or even just stopping by to ask that one question they’ve been worrying about all week. Antenatal appointments are like small checkpoints along your pregnancy journey, moments that help you feel prepared, supported, and reassured. Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, every pregnancy feels slightly different, and these visits play a big role in making sure both you and your little one are doing well. But what exactly happens during these appointments? What should you expect? And how can you make the most of them?
Ideally, the journey begins even before conception. Many women don’t realise that the best time to start care is before they become pregnant. These early “prenatal” clinics help a woman become optimised for pregnancy by addressing medical conditions, lifestyle factors, and nutritional needs ahead of time, giving both mum and baby the best possible start.
Once you’re pregnant, your antenatal clinic quickly becomes a second home. The first visit, usually between 8 and 12 weeks, is often the longest because your provider takes time to understand your full medical picture. They will ask about your past pregnancies, surgeries, allergies, chronic illnesses, lifestyle habits, and family health history. You’ll have your blood pressure checked, your weight recorded, and a urine test to screen for infection or protein. Blood tests are also taken, not simply to check iron levels, but to assess your haemoglobin, your blood group, HIV status, hepatitis, and screen for conditions like syphilis, which can be passed to the baby and may cause serious complications. (Rubella immunity is not part of routine ANC screening in many facilities.) For many mums, this first visit is especially memorable because it often includes the first ultrasound, seeing that tiny flicker of a heartbeat makes everything suddenly feel real.
As pregnancy progresses, antenatal appointments follow a predictable rhythm: monthly visits until around 28 weeks, then every two weeks until 36 weeks, and weekly after that until delivery. Even though they may feel repetitive, every check serves an important purpose. Your blood pressure is checked at every visit to screen for pre-eclampsia. Your urine is tested for sugar, protein, or signs of infection. Your weight is monitored, and your provider measures your fundal height, the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus, to track your baby’s growth. They will also listen to the baby’s heartbeat, a moment that never loses its magic. If your bump measures unusually small or large, you may be scheduled for an extra ultrasound to ensure the baby is developing well.
Another key part of routine antenatal care is screening for gestational diabetes. The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), usually done between 24 and 28 weeks, helps detect this early so that both mum and baby remain safe throughout pregnancy and delivery.
Antenatal visits also give you space to talk about how you feel, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Pregnancy comes with fatigue, nausea, back pain, anxiety, mood shifts, and so much more. Sharing these concerns helps your provider support you. No question is too small. It’s important to mention issues like swelling, headaches, unusual discharge, or decreased baby movements, even if you’re not sure whether they matter. Your peace of mind matters.
Around the midpoint of your pregnancy, usually between 18 and 22 weeks, comes the anomaly scan. This detailed ultrasound checks your baby’s organs, limbs, spine, and general development. For parents who want to know, this may also be when the baby’s gender is revealed. More importantly, the scan offers reassurance that everything is forming as it should.
As you move into the final stretch of pregnancy, your appointments begin to shift toward preparing you for labour and delivery. You’ll discuss your birth plan, pain relief options, hospital expectations, and even what postpartum support at home might look like. If you have risk factors such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or are carrying multiples, you may have additional monitoring or scans. Around 36 weeks, many mums are screened for Group B Strep (GBS), a routine test that ensures safe delivery planning.
Immunisations are also an important part of antenatal care. Vaccines such as tetanus and flu are recommended to protect both mum and baby, and your provider will guide you on the best timing.
Ultimately, antenatal appointments are more than medical check-ins. They are opportunities to build trust, ask questions, express concerns, and feel supported. Many mums say that one of the most comforting parts of pregnancy is having a provider who listens, reassures, and explains things clearly. It’s absolutely okay to show up with a list of questions about diet, exercise, sex in pregnancy, or symptoms you’re unsure about. The clinic is a judgment-free space.
In the end, what you can expect at your antenatal appointments is a blend of medical care, emotional support, and ongoing guidance. Each visit leaves you more informed, more confident, and better prepared for the big day. As your body stretches and your emotions shift, your clinic becomes a partner in your journey, reminding you every step of the way that you are not walking it alone.