Antenatal guide for pregnant people and families

Antenatal guide for pregnant people and families. Practical steps for pregnant people and their support network.

For: Pregnant people and their support network

General guidance across countries. Sources checked 2026-09-26.

What antenatal care is for

Book care as soon as you know you are pregnant. Visits check the health of both parent and baby and make space for questions about medicines, nutrition, mental wellbeing, safety at home and the birth.

Assessment may include blood pressure, urine, anaemia testing, blood group and Rh status, infection screening and ultrasound. Ask about haemoglobin genotype testing for both partners if results are unknown. Rh testing and sickle cell screening answer different questions.

Preparing for visits and birth

Bring previous pregnancy records, test results and every medicine or supplement you use. Ask which supplements, vaccinations and malaria prevention are recommended locally. Do not stop essential prescribed medicines or start herbal remedies without advice.

Make a plan for where to give birth, transport, support and who to contact at any time with concerns. Once you know your baby's usual movement pattern, report reduced movement promptly; do not wait until the next appointment. Blood pressure and other problems can develop without obvious symptoms, so feeling well is not a reason to miss visits.

Sources

  1. Antenatal care and appointments · Public sector health information · OGL v3.0

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Read the complete Pregnancy and antenatal care topic