First appointment what to expect

[Pinklilly]

Hi all
I have my booking appointment this week- the appointment you have at 8-10 weeks pregnant. I understand from the letter I've received they want a family history. I have tried to get information from my parents and my in laws but unsure what specific conditions they are interested in? Is it only genetic conditions or should I be getting a history of cancer etc.

Appreciate any help anyone can give.

Hi I had mine beginning of the week. She didn't ask anything about in-laws only parents and grandparents and all she really said was 'do they have any serious health conditions' nothing else said! Just asked if everyone was generally healthy. I suppose that's because we all are so if anyone does have any health problems I guess there will be more questions. I was asked questions about my own health, bmi checked, bloods took and urine sample. Considering I was there for almost an hour I didn't feel like I was bombarded with questions we spent quite some time just general chatting which was nice.

Hi, good luck with your appointment - yes it's mainly about an hour of filling in paperwork! They like to know about conditions such as diabetes, pre eclampsia, heart problems (from what I can remember.) try not to worry too much, it's a relatively relaxed appointment. They should also weigh you and measure your height to work out BMI, and you should have some bloods taken and your urine checked.

Hope that helps and hope all goes well x

@amberob89 @DontFadeAway thank you for the explanations and reassurances. I really appreciate it! It's always hard to know what to expect.

Just to say different health boards/areas, different things. Second pregnancy, first half of booking was over phone (due to Covid), it’s just details, loads of questions including things like any involvement with authorities, do you take drugs, family histories of mental illness, diseases/conditions, do you smoke...have you been told you might have had mad cow disease (that was a new one for me!!) and then second half I went in to be weighed, measured, blood pressure and urine check. Where I am bloods get taken with consent at the scan as part of ante natal screening.
It’s the most boring appointment you’ll get. At 16 weeks here you get to hear the heartbeat - much more exciting!

They’ll want to know things about you and your parents, and also your partner and their parents. Just to get a family history. They’ll also ask about nieces and nephews so if you have them on your partners side, try and find out anything worth knowing. It’s quite a long appointment.

They’ll ask about your mental health, smoking, drinking, any conditions such as heart, lung, kidney stuff you’ll know about but worth asking your partner for as much information from his side too