In this section
Antenatal care is the care you receive when you are pregnant. You may have your antenatal care in one of our community clinics or at one of our antenatal clinics within the hospitals.
Midwives provide ongoing care throughout your pregnancy and this care is tailored to meet your individual needs and circumstances. Wherever possible you will see the same midwife, or team of midwives to ensure continuity of care. Some women will require input from a variety of professionals at different points in their pregnancy. This may include consultations with consultant obstetricians, anaesthetists, neonatologists or other specialists. Out team also includes maternity support workers and clerical staff.
Some of the specialist services for women across our sites include:
- Women who are asylum seekers or refugees
- Young parents
- Fetal Medicine Unit
- Multiple Pregnancy
- Perinatal Mental Health
- Pre-term Labour Clinic
- Bereavement services and Rainbow Clinic
- Recurrent Miscarriage
- Research Clinics (Manchester Placenta clinic, MAVIS clinic, LiPS clinic, Velocity clinic)
- Specialist Screening Services
- Specialist antenatal services for women with medical conditions (including diabetes, maternal cardiac disease, raised BMI, haematology, renal, HIV, neurology, maternal medicine)
Antenatal appointments information
Please make sure that you attend on time for your clinic and no earlier than 15 minutes before you allocated appointment time. Parking on the hospital sites (car parking info: Saint Mary’s Hospital / Wythenshawe Hospital) can take time so please make sure you allow yourself plenty of time to park your car and walk to the clinic. If you are going to be late, or you need to change your appointment, please contact us on one of the telephone numbers below: Please be aware that we run several general and specialist antenatal clinics alongside each other simultaneously. If you feel that somebody has been called before you it is likely that they are seeing a different specialist in another clinic.
- Saint Mary’s Hospital Oxford Road Campus– (0161) 276 6409.
- Saint Mary’s @ Wythenshawe – (0161) 291 2951
- Trafford Hospital – (0161) 746 2026
- Lance Burn Health Centre Salford – (0161) 470 6881
Please be aware that if you are late, we will do our best to accommodate you on the same day, but other women who have arrived on time will be seen first.
On arrival at the clinic, please book in at the reception desk so that we know you have arrived and have your pregnancy notes ready. At some of your appointments, you will also need to have a scan on the same day and the scan time should be before the clinic appointment. If you also have a scan, please still report to the antenatal reception desk first.
After your scan please return to the antenatal reception and let them know you have returned from your scan.
Please ensure that you always bring your handheld maternity notes, and also a sample of urine to each clinic appointment. Click here to get more information on how to collect a urine sample.
At the end of every clinic appointment you must go back to the reception to make your follow up appointment. It is essential that you make your follow up appointment as all clinics will have an allocated number of slots. If you have not made your appointment but still attend, we may have to re book your appointment for another date and time.
Community based antenatal clinics
The Saint Mary’s Hospital Community Midwifery Team is made up of several teams. You will be informed by your community midwife of the date and times of your local community based antenatal clinic.
How do I change or cancel my appointment?
If you need to cancel of change your appointment, the numbers to ring are:
- Saint Mary’s Hospital Oxford Road Campus– (0161) 276 6409.
- Saint Mary’s @ Wythenshawe – (0161) 291 2951
- Lance Burn Health Centre Salford – (016) 206 1099
- Trafford Hospital – (0161) 746 2026.
All the contact telephone numbers that you might need during pregnancy are on the front page of your handheld notes.
Checks done at my antenatal appointments
Urine sample
Make sure that you always take a urine sample with you every time you visit the midwife or doctor. Your midwife should give you a pot for this. Every time you see the midwife you will be asked to provide a sample of urine. At your first visit, this will be sent off to the laboratory to screen for infection. At each visit the midwife will test the urine for the presence of protein, sugar or signs of infection. These can all be signs that further tests might be needed.
Blood pressure
Your midwife or doctor will ask to take your blood pressure regularly throughout pregnancy. This is because high blood pressure can be a sign of problems developing. It is very common for blood pressure in healthy women to fall during pregnancy. This is not dangerous or a problem, but sometimes makes women feel lightheaded. If you are worried about this, discuss it when you next see your midwife.
How often will I be seen during the pregnancy?
- Saint Mary’s Hospital – (0161) 276 6409.
- Wythenshawe Hospital – (0161) 291 2951
- Lance Burn Health Centre Salford – (0161) 470 6881
- Trafford Hospital – (0161) 746 2026.
All the contact telephone numbers that you might need during pregnancy are on the front page of your handheld notes.
Up to 12 weeks
For early pregnancy advice on lifestyle, healthy eating and vitamin supplements please click here. You will be advised to take folic acid 400mcg and a minimum of 400IU (10mcg) vitamin D daily, if you aren’t already taking these. Some women may require a higher dose of the above supplements and your midwife will advise you if this is the case. Usually your first booking visit will occur early in the pregnancy. This can take time as the midwife will have a lot to discuss as well as taking all the health information that she needs to plan your care. This discussion will include:
- Your previous medical history.
- Place of birth options.
- Your occupation and maternity benefits.
- Ultrasound and blood tests offered in pregnancy.
- Screening available in pregnancy.
- Plans will be made for the best care pathway for you in pregnancy.
- Benefits of breastfeeding.
The Midwife will also measure your height, and weight, check your blood pressure and test your urine. Your midwife will discuss the vaccinations recommended in pregnancy to protect you and your baby. Influenza vaccine will be offered throughout Flu season (September-March) and Whooping cough from 16 weeks of pregnancy.
11-14 weeks
This is the gestation when you will be offered your first scan.This will be to date the pregnancy and you will have the option to undertake screening for Downs Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome and Patau syndrome. If it has been identifying at your booking appointment that you require a review by a Consultant obstetrician, then this may take place following this scan. This appointment may be face to face or virtually.
16 weeks
At this appointment, the midwife will check your blood pressure and urine. The results of blood tests taken during the booking appointment will be explained and documented and any appropriate action taken where necessary. The midwife will also discuss with you how to monitor your baby’s movements and who to contact should you have any concerns.
18-20 weeks
At this appointment you will have a structural (anomaly) scan of the baby to check for any physical problems. If this scan is normal you will be able to go home following the scan unless an appointment with a doctor or midwife has been requested.
25 weeks
If this is your first baby, the midwife will see you to check your blood pressure and urine, and also measure the size of your baby with a tape measure over your bump. Women having second or subsequent babies do not need this appointment. You will also be given your Maternity Certificate (MATB1 form).
28 weeks
The midwife will see you to check your blood pressure and urine, and also measure the size of your baby with a tape measure over your bump. If your blood type is Rhesus negative, and your baby is Rhesus positive, you will be offered an anti-D injection at this stage.
31 weeks
If this is your first baby, the midwife will see you to check your blood pressure and urine, and also measure the size of your baby with a tape measure over your bump. Women having second or subsequent babies do not need this appointment.
34 weeks
The midwife will see you to check your blood pressure and urine, and also measure the size of your baby with a tape measure over your bump.
36 weeks
Your midwife will see you to check your blood pressure and urine, and also measure the size of your baby with a tape measure over your bump. You will also discuss the birth and how to prepare for labour, including your birth plan if you wish. Your place of birth will be confirmed with you. If you have had a healthy pregnancy, then birth will usually be planned for a midwifery-led setting (such as at home, Ingleside Birth Centre or The Manchester Birth Centre) and we will make sure you have the correct telephone numbers to ring. You will also get information about feeding and caring for your baby, vitamin K and screening tests for new-born babies, the baby blues and postnatal depression.
38 weeks
Your midwife will see you to check your blood pressure and urine, and also measure the size of your baby with a tape measure over your bump. Your midwife will also start to discuss options available if the pregnancy lasts more than 41 weeks.
40 weeks
If this is your first baby, the midwife will see you to check your blood pressure and urine, and also measure the size of your baby with a tape measure over your bump. Women having second or subsequent babies do not need this appointment. Your midwife will also discuss options available if the pregnancy lasts more than 41 weeks.
41 weeks
Your midwife will see you to check your blood pressure and urine, and also measure the size of your baby with a tape measure over your bump. The options for induction of labour, including a membrane sweep will be discussed.
You can get more information about antenatal care from NHS Choices.
