When will this take place?
I would like to meet you early in your hapūtanga/pregnancy, usually around 10-12 weeks
If you find out you’re pregnant later on, or you have not accessed any care earlier, that’s ok! We can meet when you find out or when you’re ready for care
What will I ask?
If there is anything you are not comfortable with answering, you don’t have to! If you would prefer to email me any details that you would like me to know but are not comfortable discussing during this visit, you are welcome to and I will note this on your file
This information is important to share so I can give you the care you need for a safe and healthy hapūtanga
- Your personal details – name, address, phone number, email address, NHI number (if you know it – I can look it up, or assist you to get one if you don’t have one)
- The personal details of the person you want listed as your emergency contact/next of kin – this can be your partner, a close friend, or a relative
- Where you would like to give birth
- Your weight and height – this is used to calculate your BMI, a measure that the birth centre and hospital require for booking, and the Ministry of Health requires also.
- The date of the first day of your last menstrual period – this is used to work out your estimated due date
- Questions around what you eat, whether you smoke, drink, or take any substances not prescribed to you, and whether you live in a smokefree home
- Questions about your personal medical, surgical, gynaecological, and child-bearing and feeding history and your family health history, including mental health histories
- What medications you take, including any supplements
Based on this conversation, I may offer you a referral to Te Rauru Antenatal Clinic or to other health care professionals if this is indicated.
What tests will I offer?
- A measurement of your blood pressure – this gives me a baseline so I know what your normal is
- A set of blood tests
- A midstream urine sample to check for any asymptomatic urinary tract infections. If you have one of these you will be offered treatment as they can cause miscarriage or preterm labour
- A vaginal swab, to screen for chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and bacterial vaginosis. If you test positive for these then you will be offered treatment as they can affect your baby and your future fertility
- A first trimester combined screening for Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome) and other chromosomal anomalies
- If you are unsure of the date of your last menstrual period, a dating scan to help work out your estimated due date
- If you would like to pay for a Non-Invasive Prenatal Test, this can be offered in place of the first trimester combined screening
You can choose to have as many or as few of these tests as you want
What else will we discuss?
- How my practice works – my partners, time on/off, how to contact me, when to call and when to text, how I keep your information confidential
- Information on your rights as a health care consumer
- An overview of when our appointments will be
- A plan for your pregnancy, birth, and postnatal period – this is an overview, it will grow and develop over the course of your journey
- Access to the Expect Maternity notes app, where all the notes from your visits will be
- Information around avoiding infections in pregnancy, healthy eating & exercise in pregnancy, and pelvic floor exercises
- Information on antenatal classes and community groups that you can access in pregnancy
- Information about SmartStart services, the government service page for all things pregnancy and early childhood