Complete Guide to Prenatal Care in the UK: Every Appointment, Scan, and Test

What is antenatal care?

Antenatal care is provided free on the NHS to monitor your health and your baby's development. NICE guideline NG201 sets out the schedule and standards.

Your booking appointment (8-12 weeks)

Your first appointment covers medical history, family history, mental health screening, and blood tests for blood group, Rhesus status, iron levels, hepatitis B, syphilis, HIV, and sickle cell or thalassaemia status.

The dating scan (11-14 weeks)

The sonographer confirms your due date by measuring crown-rump length and assesses nuchal translucency as part of combined screening. According to the NHS, combined screening detects approximately 85% of babies with Down's syndrome.

NIPT: non-invasive prenatal testing

If combined screening returns a higher-chance result, NIPT analyses your baby's DNA from your blood. Detection rate is over 99% for Down's syndrome with no miscarriage risk. Now available free on the NHS across England.

The anomaly scan (18-21 weeks)

A detailed ultrasound checking brain, face, spine, heart, stomach, kidneys, limbs, and placenta position. You can usually find out the sex.

Routine blood and urine tests

Regular blood pressure and urine checks throughout. Glucose tolerance test offered at 24-28 weeks if you have risk factors for gestational diabetes.

Group B Strep screening

Not routinely screened on the NHS, but antibiotics are offered in labour if GBS is found incidentally. The RCOG estimates 1 in 4 women carry GBS.

Your maternity rights at work

All pregnant employees have the right to paid time off for antenatal appointments. Statutory Maternity Leave is 52 weeks with SMP for up to 39 weeks.