Finding out you’re pregnant can bring a rush of emotions – excitement, gratitude, worry, and a hundred questions all at once. For many women, especially those navigating pregnancy for the first time, it can feel overwhelming trying to work out what you’re meant to do next. 

The good news is, you’re not alone. There is support available for you at every stage of this journey. From your health to your baby’s development, from figuring out what to buy for your newborn to looking after them once they’re here, the government’s Best Start in Life programme offers a structured system of care throughout pregnancy, alongside wider support for your family even after your baby has been born. 

Empowering yourself by knowing what resources are out there can make a real difference to your health and your baby’s future.

This guide walks you through the basics of pregnancy in England – from those initial two blue lines to just before you’re about to give birth, and everything in between. Whether you’re considering starting a family, expecting your first child or thinking about adding to your existing brood, we’ve got you covered.

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No matter whether this is your first child or your fifth, navigating pregnancy comes with a lot of questions. Amaliah has partnered with Best Start in Life to bring you NHS-approved information to guide you through every stage of pregnancy and preparing for labour, helping you feel informed, confident and supported.

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Why Pregnancy Care Matters – Both For You and Your Baby

Pregnancy isn’t just about preparing for the arrival of your baby. Alongside excitedly decorating the nursery, browsing pushchairs online, and finalising your favourite names, it’s also a crucial time to lay the very best foundations for your child’s long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive development by taking care of yourself in the best way possible.

That’s because looking after yourself during pregnancy helps support your baby’s healthy growth and your own mental and physical wellbeing.

What You Need to Know in the First 10 Weeks

Once you know you are pregnant, the most important first step is to book your first appointment with a midwife.

Attending appointments, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and accessing support early can:

• Reduce the risk of pregnancy complications
• Help spot health issues early (for both mother and baby)
• Build your confidence as a parent from the very start

As the saying goes, taking care of yourself helps you take care of your baby. So, where do we begin?

Your First Step: The “Booking” Appointment

Once you know you’re pregnant, it’s time to book your first midwife appointment. This is known as the booking appointment and should happen before you’re 10 weeks pregnant, where possible. This starts the ball rolling with your pregnancy care. 

To do this, you need to self-refer online to your local maternity service. They will then contact you to arrange your first midwife appointment (the “booking” appointment). If you are already more than 10 weeks pregnant and have not yet booked this appointment, it’s not too late. You can still self-refer, and your local maternity service will support you with catching up on the care you are entitled to.

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Top tip: Taking folic acid is one of the best ways to support your baby’s development in the very early weeks of pregnancy – even before you’ve had that first midwife appointment. It can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects. 

In the UK, pregnant women are entitled to free NHS prescriptions, including pregnancy vitamins, so cost doesn’t have to be a barrier. In many pharmacies, it’s as simple as informing them you are pregnant – otherwise, you can ask your GP surgery to provide you with a Maternity Exemption Certificate, which enables you to access free NHS prescriptions and dental treatment for the duration of your pregnancy and the 12 months after your baby is born.

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Why the 10-week Booking Appointment is So Important

The first midwife appointment is crucial for both you and your growing baby. It helps set you up for a healthy pregnancy and explains how you and your baby will be cared for in the coming months. For many women, this is when their pregnancy starts to feel “official”!

What to Expect at Your First Appointment

The “booking” appointment usually lasts around one hour, and it could take place in a local community or children’s centre, hospital-based clinic or GP surgery. During this time, your midwife will:

• Take your medical and family history
• Check your physical and mental health
• Arrange blood tests and future scans
• Give advice on nutrition, lifestyle and supplements (like that all-important folic acid!)
• Identify any extra support you might need 
• Give you your handheld notes (often referred to as a maternity file or folder) – you will need to hold onto this and bring it to every antenatal appointment

If you work full-time and have other commitments, it might be tempting to think you can’t prioritise taking time out for this appointment. However, it’s crucial for both you and your growing baby that you attend – even if that means bringing other children along or arranging time off work. And remember, employees in the UK have a legal right to paid time off for antenatal appointments, so your work should not prevent you from attending.

Early appointments help midwives tailor care to you – whatever your circumstances are. If you have any private concerns that you are worried about, this is a safe space to access advice and expertise. 

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Pregnancy can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much family help. If you’re wondering how to prepare for labour and birth, or what foods to avoid in pregnancy, you can find clear answers on the Best Start in Life pregnancy hub. You can also sign up for the free Best Start in Life weekly pregnancy emails for NHS-approved week-by-week advice.

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So, You’ve Had Your First Midwife Appointment – What Comes Next?

Most pregnancies involve around 10 antenatal appointments for first-time mums, and fewer if you’ve had children before. Each appointment is designed to help medical professionals monitor your and your baby’s health at each step of your pregnancy, and offer a comprehensive package of care.

These appointments usually include:

• 12-week scan – this is to check on how your baby has developed in the first trimester and double-check how far along you are. You’ll get to see your baby for the first time and receive your official due date!
• 20-week scan – this is a more in-depth scan to check your baby’s growth and screen for certain conditions. You can usually find out if you’re having a girl or a boy during this scan, too!
• Regular check-ups with a midwife to monitor your baby’s growth, your overall wellbeing and discuss your wishes, such as your birth plan and how you want to feed your baby
• Appointments to monitor your health during pregnancy, such as an oral glucose tolerance test to test for gestational diabetes, blood tests to check for anaemia and vaccinations to protect you and your baby

For first-time mothers, especially, the different appointments might seem a little confusing at first. Let’s break down the difference between a general midwife appointment and a scan, and what you can expect at both.

What to Expect During a Scan

Antenatal scans are painless with no known side-effects to mothers or babies – in fact, they are usually a really pleasant and meaningful experience because you get to hear your baby’s heartbeat and see how they’re developing in the womb. Sometimes you can even catch them waving, kicking or doing a cartwheel! Antenatal scans are usually at your local hospital, where you are seen by a trained professional called a sonographer. They take measurements, pictures, notes, and can update you on what they’re able to see. You will also be given pictures of your baby to take home and cherish!

What to Expect During a Midwife Appointment

Midwife appointments are more like a check-in for you. Your midwife will ask you questions about your physical health and mental well-being and conduct basic checks like blood pressure. These appointments are the perfect opportunity to offload about anything that might be troubling you and gain valuable advice on how to care for yourself and your growing baby. 

As your due date nears, these midwife appointments are where you will lay out your birth plan – that includes things like:

• Where you want to give birth (in hospital, at home or in a midwife-led birthing centre)
• How do you want to give birth (vaginally vs elective c-section) 
• Who do you want to have with you
• Any other details (pain relief, water birth, delayed cord-clamping)

Childbirth can often be unpredictable; it can give you some peace of mind to have your wishes clearly documented for your midwives to see when the time comes to deliver your baby.

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Pregnancy can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much family help. If you’re wondering how to prepare for labour and birth, or what foods to avoid in pregnancy, you can find clear answers on the Best Start in Life pregnancy hub. You can also sign up for the free Best Start in Life weekly pregnancy emails for NHS-approved week-by-week advice.

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Looking After Yourself and Your Growing Baby: Your Physical Health

Maintaining a healthy diet plays a huge role in helping your baby to develop, whilst improving your own wellbeing as well. However, it doesn’t have to mean living off carrot sticks or spending lots of money on expensive ingredients.

Try to make sure you are consuming plenty of:

• Iron-rich foods (lentils, spinach, red meat, beans)
• Calcium (milk, yoghurt, cheese, or fortified plant milks)
• Protein (eggs, fish, chicken, tofu, legumes)
• Fruit and vegetables for vitamins and fibre

Supplements

Don’t forget those supplements! There are plenty of general prenatal vitamins available in pharmacies and supermarkets, and your midwife can recommend the best ones for you. Vitamin D is especially important for women of colour, so double-check that any prenatal vitamins you take contain your recommended daily dose. And remember that folic acid is especially crucial in the first trimester to help prevent birth defects. 

Gestational Diabetes

Around 24 to 28 weeks pregnant, you’ll be offered an oral glucose tolerance test to check for gestational diabetes. This screening is all the more important for Black and Asian women, as they are statistically more likely to develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. 

If your test is positive, your midwife will offer you diet and lifestyle advice, and you might be asked to monitor your own blood sugar levels at home. 

Gestational diabetes can cause complications for your baby, such as higher birth weight, increased risk of jaundice and low blood sugar level after delivery. Whilst it is not solely caused by diet, looking after yourself means giving your baby the best possible start in life. 

Being conscious of food choices isn’t about depriving yourself for nine months, though (cravings are a thing, after all!). Rather, it is about balance. Eating regular meals, opting for whole grains and lots of vegetables, and pairing carbohydrates with protein can help keep blood sugar levels steady.

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Pregnancy can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t have much family help. If you’re wondering how to prepare for labour and birth, or what foods to avoid in pregnancy, you can find clear answers on the Best Start in Life pregnancy hub. You can also sign up for the free Best Start in Life weekly pregnancy emails for NHS-approved week-by-week advice.

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Looking After your Mental Wellbeing

Pregnancy can be a stressful time for many women, whether it’s navigating hormonal changes, physical discomfort or anxiety about impending motherhood. Don’t forget to be kind to yourself: growing a human is hard work! Try to make time to genuinely rest, recuperate and do things that you enjoy. Relaxation is just as important as getting your five a day.

If you do feel like you’re struggling, remember that you’re not alone. Throughout your pregnancy, your midwife appointments are there as an opportunity for you to discuss anything that’s on your mind. Your midwife can signpost you to whatever tailored help you might need, like antenatal classes where you can meet other expectant mothers or bespoke counselling for pregnant women. 

Attending your antenatal appointments, looking after yourself, and asking for help when you need it are not just practical steps, but some of the very first acts of love and care you can offer your baby. You deserve to be supported through this journey, every step of the way, and this tailored programme of pregnancy care is there to do exactly that.

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No matter whether this is your first child or your fifth, navigating pregnancy comes with a lot of questions. Amaliah has partnered with Best Start in Life to bring you NHS-approved information to guide you through every stage of pregnancy and preparing for labour, helping you feel informed, confident and supported.​

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