City of Coventry Health Centre, 2 Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, CV1 4FS

024 7526 1333

Out of hours, when it’s less urgent than 999

Pregnancy

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

We are delighted to welcome you to our GP practice and provide you with the best possible care during this exciting time. As your health care team, we are here to support you and your baby throughout your pregnancy and beyond.

What to do next

If you have just found out that you are pregnant, there are a few things you need to do:

  • Book an appointment with the midwife as soon as possible. They will confirm your pregnancy, estimate your due date, and discuss your options for antenatal care. You can also ask them any questions you may have about your pregnancy. Please click here to self refer for a midwife appointment.  
  • Start taking folic acid supplements if you are not already. Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in your baby. You should take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day until you are 12 weeks pregnant. You can buy folic acid from pharmacies, supermarkets, or online.  Some women should take a higher dose (5mg).  Please click here to see if you should be taking the higher dose.  If so please contact the practice through anima for a prescription as this cannot be purchased over the counter. 
  • Review your diet and lifestyle and make any necessary changes to ensure a healthy pregnancy. This includes eating a balanced diet, avoiding foods that may harm your baby, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding alcohol, smoking, and illegal drugs. You can find more information on healthy eating and lifestyle advice on the NHS website.
  • Sign up for Start4Life emails to get weekly updates on your baby's development, tips on staying healthy, and advice on preparing for labour and birth. You can sign up for free here.


Your antenatal care

Antenatal care is the care you receive from health professionals during your pregnancy. It is important to attend all your antenatal appointments, as they help monitor your health and your baby's health, and identify any potential problems or complications.

Your antenatal care may involve:

  • Your midwife, who will be your main point of contact throughout your pregnancy. They will check your blood pressure, urine, weight, and baby's heartbeat, measure your baby's growth, and offer you screening tests and scans. They will also give you advice on various aspects of pregnancy, such as nutrition, exercise, mental health, and birth options.
  • An ultrasound scan, which is a safe and painless way of creating an image of your baby in your womb. You will usually have two scans during your pregnancy: one at around 8 to 14 weeks to confirm your due date and check for any abnormalities, and one at around 18 to 21 weeks to examine your baby's anatomy and gender (if you wish to know). You may also have additional scans if there are any concerns or complications.
  • Blood tests, which are used to check for certain conditions that may affect you or your baby, such as anaemia, infections, blood group, rhesus status, and genetic disorders. You will be offered a blood test at your first antenatal appointment and at 28 weeks of pregnancy. You may also have other blood tests if needed.
  • Screening tests, which are optional tests that can tell you the chance of your baby having certain conditions, such as Down's syndrome, Edwards' syndrome, or Patau's syndrome. These tests are not diagnostic, which means they cannot tell you for sure if your baby has a condition or not. They can only tell you how likely it is. You will be offered screening tests at around 10 to 14 weeks and 18 to 21 weeks of pregnancy. You can choose whether to have these tests or not, and you will be given information and support to help you make your decision.
  • Vaccinations, which can protect you and your baby from serious diseases, such as flu and whooping cough. You will be offered the flu vaccine at any stage of your pregnancy, and the whooping cough vaccine from 16 weeks of pregnancy. These vaccines are safe and effective, and highly recommended by the NHS.

You can find more information on your pregnancy care and pregnancy-related conditions on the NHS website.


Your labour and birth

Labour is the process of giving birth to your baby. It can be a challenging but rewarding experience, and you will have a team of health professionals to support you and your baby throughout.

Labour and birth can involve:

  • Signs of labour, which are the clues that tell you that your body is getting ready for labour. These include regular contractions, a show (a plug of mucus from your cervix), your waters breaking, and backache. You can find more information on how to tell if you're in labour on the NHS website.
  • Stages of labour, which are the phases that your body goes through during labour. These include the first stage (when your cervix dilates), the second stage (when you push your baby out), and the third stage (when you deliver the placenta). You can find more information on what happens during labour and birth on the NHS website.
  • Pain relief, which are the methods that can help you cope with the pain of labour. These include natural methods, such as breathing, massage, and relaxation, and medical methods, such as gas and air, injections, and epidurals. You can find more information on pain relief in labour on the NHS website.
  • Birth options, which are the choices that you have about where and how you want to give birth. These include the place of birth (such as home, birth centre, or hospital), the position of birth (such as lying down, sitting, or squatting), and the type of birth (such as vaginal, assisted, or caesarean). You can find more information on your birth options on the NHS website.


You can also create a birth plan, which is a document that outlines your preferences and wishes for your labour and birth. You can discuss your birth plan with your midwife and share it with your birth partner and health care team. You can find a template for a birth plan on the NHS website here.

Your postnatal care

Postnatal care is the care you receive from health professionals after your baby is born. It is important to look after yourself and your baby during this time, as you both adjust to your new life.


Your postnatal care may involve:

  • Your midwife, who may visit you at home or at the hospital to check your health and your baby's health, and offer you advice and support on various aspects of postnatal care, such as feeding, sleeping, bonding, and contraception. They will also arrange for you to have a postnatal check-up at around 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, where you can discuss any issues or concerns you may have.
  • A health visitor, who is a trained nurse or midwife who specialises in child health and development. They will visit you at home or at a clinic to offer you advice and support on caring for your baby, and monitor your baby's growth and development. They will also provide you with information on local services and support groups that may be useful for you and your baby.
  • Breastfeeding support, which is the help and guidance that you can get from health professionals and peer supporters on how to breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding has many benefits for you and your baby, such as reducing the risk of infections, allergies, and obesity, and strengthening the bond between you and your baby. However, breastfeeding can also be challenging and sometimes painful, and you may need some support to overcome any difficulties. You can find more information on breastfeeding and where to get support on the NHS website.
  • Mental health support, which is the help and guidance that you can get from health professionals and counsellors on how to cope with your emotions and feelings after having a baby. It is normal to feel a range of emotions, such as joy, sadness, anxiety, and anger, after giving birth, and these usually fade within a few days or weeks. However, some women may develop more serious mental health problems, such as postnatal depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or postpartum psychosis, which require professional treatment. You can find more information on mental health in pregnancy and where to get help on the NHS website.


You can find more information on how to stay healthy after your baby is born on the NIDDK website.

 

Contact us

If you have any questions or concerns about your pregnancy, labour, birth, or postnatal care, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you and your baby have a safe and happy journey.

You can reach us via Anima or by calling 024 7526 1333.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon.