Your NHS pregnancy: appointments, jabs and rights

In England you will be offered at least 10 antenatal appointments for a first baby, with 2 scans, and at least 7 if you have given birth before. Your midwife may suggest a different plan for you, and you can contact maternity services at any time. You do not have to wait for your next appointment. (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own schedules, so check locally.)

The main milestones

• Booking appointment: the NHS says 8 to 12 weeks, and NICE says it should be by 10 weeks. You can often refer yourself to your local maternity service online.
• Dating scan: between 11 and 14 weeks, with optional screening tests for conditions such as Down’s syndrome. It is your choice whether to have them.
• 16-week appointment: your results, blood pressure and pee test.
• 20-week scan: between 18 and 21 weeks, checking how your baby is developing.
• 24 to 28 weeks: a glucose test if you have a higher chance of gestational diabetes.
• 28 weeks onwards: appointments at 28, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 41 weeks, plus 25 and 31 weeks for a first baby. They include blood pressure, a pee test, measuring your bump and talking about movements and your mental health.

Vaccines that protect your baby

• Whooping cough: usually offered around 20 weeks, available from 16 weeks, and best before 32 weeks. You can still have it later.
• RSV: offered around 28 weeks, and can be given later, up to labour. It protects your baby from severe RSV for their first 6 months.
• Flu: at any stage of pregnancy during flu season. Pregnancy makes flu complications more likely.
• Live vaccines such as MMR are usually put off until after birth.

Money and work

• Healthy Start: if you get certain benefits and are more than 10 weeks pregnant, you may get help buying milk, fruit and veg, plus free vitamins. (Scotland uses Best Start Foods.)
• MATB1: your midwife or doctor gives you this certificate no more than 20 weeks before your due date. You need it for Statutory Maternity Pay.
• Tell your employer at least 15 weeks before your due date when the baby is due and when you want leave to start. Leave can start up to 11 weeks before.
• A maternity exemption certificate gives you free NHS prescriptions during pregnancy and for 12 months after the birth, and shows you can get free NHS dental care. Your midwife or doctor can apply for you.