First midwife appointment

Getting a positive pregnancy test is an exciting and emotional moment. One of the first steps on this journey is to contact your midwife clinic, or maternity care (MVC)!

When is the first visit?

The first visit to the midwife usually takes place around week 6, but it can sometimes be a little earlier or later depending on available times. Feel free to contact your midwife clinic soon after you get a positive pregnancy test!

The first visit is a so-called health conversation where they ask about the pregnant person's well-being and what to consider regarding diet and lifestyle habits. You will also meet the midwife who will follow you throughout the pregnancy, so it's important that it feels right and that it's someone you can trust. If it doesn't feel right, you can, of course, switch. A partner is welcome to accompany you to the visit.

During the health conversation, an appointment is usually made for the so-called registration appointment, which takes place one or a few weeks later, around week 10. Routines may differ depending on where you live and which clinic you choose. Feel free to check your clinic's website to see how the setup is there.

What happens at the registration appointment?

During the registration appointment, just like during all upcoming visits to the midwife, you will have the opportunity to talk about all the questions and concerns swirling in your head.

The midwife will also take some samples to check that all values are good.

Typically, during a registration appointment, you will do the following:

• Take blood pressure, urine, and blood samples.
• Weigh yourself. The reason the midwife wants to check your weight is simply that being overweight or underweight can carry certain risks during pregnancy.
  It's important to know that this is voluntary and you can ask not to see or hear your weight if you don't want to.
• Go through your own, immediate family's, and any partner's medical history and any medication - this is to see if there is anything that could make the pregnancy a bit more complicated and require the midwife to keep a closer eye on it.
• Discuss feelings and expectations, and the current life situation and health. Is there anything you or your partner need extra support with?
• Conversation about fetal diagnostics.
• A maternity care record is established.

If anything that is normally done during midwife visits doesn't feel right or is perceived as uncomfortable, for example, taking blood samples or weighing yourself, you can mention it. Together with your midwife, you can decide how to plan future visits to make it feel good for you.

The maternity care record follows the pregnancy

So, at the registration appointment, a maternity care record is created. It stores information about blood pressure, weight, baby's growth, and heart rate. It will follow you throughout the pregnancy and be updated every time you meet. Everything that happens during the pregnancy and with the baby is entered into the record, and this will then accompany you to the delivery ward when it's time for the baby to arrive!

Which weeks do you visit the midwife?

You meet the midwife approximately 8 to 10 times during pregnancy, as long as you are healthy and the pregnancy is without complications. After the registration appointment, which takes place around week 10, it usually takes until after the routine ultrasound before it's time to meet again. So, a few weeks pass before you meet your midwife again, usually in week 25. Of course, there is an option for a phone call or an earlier visit if you are feeling unwell or feel that you need extra support in your pregnancy.

Towards the end of the pregnancy, you usually meet more often, approximately every two weeks. During your meetings, the midwife will again ask about your health and well-being, measure the baby's growth, provide information about breastfeeding, postnatal care, and childbirth.

Towards the end of the pregnancy, a summary of the pregnancy is usually made. This means that you as the birthing parent, and possibly the person who will be with you during labor, can gather your wishes, concerns, and thoughts about childbirth and the postnatal period. Feel free to ask your midwife to go through different pain relief options if you feel unsure; it's your pregnancy and birth, you decide!

Good luck, mama!