What is Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)?

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that checks your baby for genetic abnormalities. It is commonly performed between..

Types of scans

Early scan

The first trimester scan you should be offered is..

What is amniocentesis?

Amniocentesis is a specialized prenatal test in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the sac surrounding the fetus for testing. The sample of amnioti...

Nuchal translucency (NT) is a collection of fluid under the skin at the back of your baby's neck. The amount of fluid is measured during an NT ultrasound scan:

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20 weeks

Most women will be offered an obstetric ultrasound scan at around 20 weeks gestation. The purpose of the 18 to 20 week scan is to check that the baby is developing normally. This is usually called t...

Your first visit

The first antenatal visit is designed to confirm your pregnancy and to determine your general health. In addition, the visit will give your healthcare provider clues to any risk factors that...

Your second visit - the booking appointment

Your next appointment should occur when you are between 8 and 12 weeks pregnant. This is called the booking appointment. This will last for up to two hours, and could take plac...

What is a glucose tolerance test?

A glucose tolerance blood test (GTT) aims to detect diabetes caused by pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes. About 2.6% of all pregnant women have diabetes (10% of which...

What is an ultrasound scan?

An ultrasound scan sends high-frequency sound waves through your uterus (womb). These sound waves bounce off your baby and the echoes are turned into an image on a screen that sho...

Your appointment

From around 24 weeks, your antenatal appointments will usually become more frequent. However, if your pregnancy is uncomplicated and you are in good health, you may not be seen as often as s...