MY Pregnancy Journey
Pregnancy
Find out about key tests and checks.
Planning for pregnancy
Use the free digital planning for pregnancy tool to get all the information you need to know before pregnancy.
The tool will ask you some questions. Afterwards you will get personalised results based on your answers.
Take folic acid
It’s important to take a 400 microgram supplement of folic acid every day before you get pregnant, and every day afterwards, up until you’re 12 weeks pregnant.
Folic acid can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida.
Your first appointment at 8-10 weeks
You will be asked information about your health, given information about staying healthy in pregnancy and offered information about support to stop smoking if you or anyone in your household smokes. You’ll be offered screening blood tests to check your health.
The midwife will talk you through what to expect over the next 40+ weeks. You can also ask any questions you may have.
11-14 weeks ultrasound scan
This is a chance for you to see your baby for the first time. The sonographer will check your baby’s growth. You will be given a due date and offered checks for your baby for certain health conditions, like Downs Syndrome, at this point.
You can bring your partner or a friend, young children are not usually able to come.
Midwifery appointment at 14-18 weeks
Your midwife will talk you through your blood results and any results for certain genetic health conditions at this appointment. Your blood pressure and urine will be checked at each appointment from now on.
You can talk through any concerns you have. The midwife can offer you advice for managing common problems such as heartburn and nausea (feeling sick), and talk about birth preferences.
Your 18-21 weeks ultrasound scan
This ultrasound will check your baby is growing and developing normally. You may also be able to find out if you’re having a boy or a girl.
You can bring your partner or a friend, young children are not usually able to come to this appointment.
MY Pregnancy Journey
Whether you’re pregnant or hope to be, this page has been designed to guide you through what to expect on your pregnancy journey. Just click on each heading to learn more.
Whooping cough immunisation between 16 and 32 weeks
Whooping cough spreads very easily and it can last several weeks or months, it can make babies under 6 months seriously unwell.
Young babies will get bouts of coughing and may have difficulty breathing, often gasping for breath between coughs.
Having the immunisation in pregnancy is the only way you can protect your baby from developing whooping cough in their first few weeks after birth.
Find out more about how vaccinations can help protect you and your baby. Leaflets are available in English, Bengali, Panjabi, Polish, Romany and Urdu.
Flu immunisations in pregnancy
Your GP practice may offer you flu immunisations at any stage of pregnancy if you’re pregnant in the winter. If you catch these illnesses while you’re pregnant, you’re more likely to become seriously ill because your immune system is weaker during pregnancy.
Contact your GP practice to arrange an appointment during any stage of pregnancy, from the first few weeks up to your expected due date.
Find out more about how vaccinations can help protect you and your baby. Leaflets are available in English, Bengali, Panjabi, Polish, Romany and Urdu.
RSV immunisation from 28 weeks
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of coughs and colds. In babies, RSV can cause breathing problems that may need to be treated in hospital. The virus is a common cause of a type of chest infection called bronchiolitis, and can cause a serious lung infection called pneumonia.
Having the RSV immunisation in pregnancy reduces your baby’s risk of severe lung infection by around 70% in the first 6 months of life.
Speak to your midwife about RSV at your next appointment.
Find out more about how vaccinations can help protect you and your baby. Leaflets are available in English, Bengali, Panjabi, Polish, Romany and Urdu.
Health visitor home visit after 28 weeks
You’ll be offered a home visit with your health visitor after 28 weeks.
Health visitors will talk to you about your wellbeing and looking after your baby after it is born, including: feeding, relationships and safe sleep.
They will see you again when your baby is born.
Midwifery appointments between 28 and 41 weeks
From 28 weeks you’ll be offered appointments with your midwife up to when your baby is born – at 28 weeks, 34 weeks, 36 weeks, 38 weeks, and 41 weeks – to check your baby’s growth and your health and wellbeing. They’ll help you plan for birth and talk about how to care for your baby.
You will have two extra appointments at 25 weeks and again at 31 weeks if this is your first baby.
Extra help and information during pregnancy
Feeling sad or tearful
It can be normal to be sad or tearful in pregnancy but if you feel like this every day please ask for support. Speak to your health visitor, midwife or GP as soon as possible. You can also visit Healthy Minds for advice and to find local support.
Feeling sick and vomiting
It’s very common to feel sick during the first few months of pregnancy, and sometimes even longer. To treat sickness, get plenty of rest, eat cold and plain food, drink plenty of water. For most women, this improves or stops completely by around weeks 12 to 20.
Some pregnant women experience very bad sickness and vomiting. They might be sick many times a day and be unable to keep food or drink down, which can impact on their daily life. This is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and often needs hospital treatment. If you are being sick frequently and cannot keep food down tell your midwife, or contact the maternity unit.
Feeling tired or exhausted
It’s common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks. Hormonal changes at this time can make you feel tired, nauseous (feel sick) and emotional. Get as much rest as much as possible. Feeling tired will not harm you or your baby, but it can make life feel more difficult – talk to your midwifery team for advice.
Exercise during pregnancy
Pregnancy can put pressure on your pelvic floor, which can cause your muscles to become weak and you may leak urine. Pelvic floor exercises before, during and after pregnancy can help to strengthen these muscles. Practice squeezing all the muscles.
Foods to avoid in pregnancy
Most foods and drinks are safe to have during pregnancy. But there are some things you should be careful with or avoid. The NHS website describes which foods you should avoid and why.
Labour
What to expect during labour
Signs of labour – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
What happens in labour and birth – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
After the birth – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Your midwife will talk to you about where you would like to have your baby, this may be at home, in the hospital or at a birth centre.
There are several signs that labour might be starting, including contractions or tightenings. If you think you may be in labour or your ‘waters’ have broken call the maternity unit.
You can have a birth partner with you if you have your baby in hospital or birth centre. You cannot usually take young children into the hospital with you for ultrasound scans or during labour.
Choosing to have your baby at our Trust
Whether you live in Wakefield, Pontefract or Dewsbury, or live out of area, as soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you can self-refer to our maternity service through the Badger Notes app, selecting ‘Mid Yorks SPA’. Here, you can find out more about this process and complete the referral form.
Please have your NHS number to hand as you will need this to complete the form. If you don’t know your NHS number, you can find it here.
Please complete as many fields as possible to avoid any delays with your referral.
After your baby is born
Find out about key tests and checks.
Register your baby's birth
Once your baby is born, the birth should be registered within 42 days. Find out what information you need to take to the appointment (gov.uk).
If your baby was born in the Wakefield district, visit Wakefield Council's website.
For birth's in north Kirklees, visit Kirklees Council's website.
Physical examination within 72 hours of birth
Your baby’s eyes, heart, hips and, in boys, testicles (testes) will be checked. Sometimes it’s done at a hospital or community clinic, GP surgery, children’s centre or at home. Ideally, both parents should be there when the examination is done.
Your baby will have had a newborn hearing screening test before you leave hospital. If you had a homebirth you can arrange an appointment at the hospital.
Newborn blood spot (heel prick) test at 5-8 days old
The newborn blood spot screening, otherwise known as the heel prick test, checks your baby for 9 rare but serious health conditions that are more easily treated if found early.
Home visit from your midwife after your baby is born
Your midwife will visit you at home the day after you come from hospital. They will then arrange to see you at home or a children’s centre until your baby is around 10-14 days old, or for longer if needed. This is to check that you and your baby are well.
Health visitor visits from 10-14 days old
Your health visitor will see you at home when your baby is between 10–14 days old, and then a member of the health visiting team will see you again at 6-8 weeks, 9-12 months and 2-2 1⁄2 years.
They will check you and your baby are healthy and that your baby is growing well. You’ll be able to discuss concerns and get advice on safe sleeping, immunisations, feeding your baby and your baby’s growth.
Physical examination at 6 to 8 weeks old
Your baby will be invited for a thorough physical examination. This is usually done by a GP. Your baby’s eyes, heart, hips and – for boys – testicles will be checked again. They’ll also have their weight, length and head circumference measured to make sure baby is well and healthy.
Your GP practice will also offer you a check-up to make sure you feel well and are recovering properly after your baby’s birth.
Immunisations for babies under one year old
Your GP practice will usually contact you about your child’s immunisations. This may be by letter, text, phone call or email.
Contact your GP practice if you think your child has missed any vaccinations
6-in-1 immunisation
The 6-in-1 immunisation stops your child from getting against serious infections like polio, a serious infection that’s now very rare because of the immunisation programme, and whooping cough, which may cause coughing that lasts for a few minutes and difficulty breathing. It’s given at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and again at 16 weeks.
A 4th dose at 1 year and 6 months (18 months) has also been introduced for children born on or after 1 July 2024.
Rotavirus immunisation
The rotavirus immunisation helps protect against rotavirus, a common cause of diarrhoea and vomiting. Most children with rotavirus will get better in a few days, but some children can become very dehydrated and need treatment in hospital. It’s given at 8 weeks and again at 12 weeks.
MenB immunisation
The MenB immunisation helps protect against meningococcal group B bacteria that can cause serious illnesses, including meningitis and sepsis (a life-threatening reaction to an infection). It’s given at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and again at 1 year old.
Pneumococcal immunisation
The pneumococcal immunisation helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia (an infection in the lungs). It’s recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses, such as babies and adults aged 65 and over. It’s given at 16 weeks, and again at 1 year old.
BCG immunisation
Your baby may be offered the BCG injection at around two weeks old. BCG protects against tuberculosis (TB), which spreads very easily and usually affects the lungs. Your midwife, health visitor, local health centre or hospital will usually let you know if the BCG vaccine is recommended for your baby.
Immunisations for children aged 1 to 4
Measles Mumps and rubella immunisation (MMR)
Two doses of the MMR immunisation gives your baby long term protection against measles, mumps and rubella. The first immunisation is offered when your child is 1 year old and the second is offered when your child is 1 year and 6 months (18 months). If your baby was born on or before 30 June 2024, they will have their second MMR vaccine at 3 years and 4 months.
Measles, mumps and rubella can spread easily between people and can lead to serious problems including meningitis, blindness and hearing loss.
The MMR VaxPro vaccine contains a small amount of gelatine from pigs (porcine gelatine). Speak to the person vaccinating your child if you want your child to have the Priorix MMR vaccine instead. Priorix does not contain gelatine and is as safe and effective as MMR VaxPro.
Speak to your GP practice if your child has missed their MMR vaccine, or you’re not sure if they’ve had both doses of the vaccine.
Flu immunisation
Children who are aged 2 or 3 years will get the flu immunisation at their GP surgery. You should get an invitation from your GP surgery, or be able to contact them in autumn or early winter to book an appointment. The children’s flu immunisation is usually given as a quick nasal spray in each nostril.
The nasal spray vaccine contains a small amount of gelatine from pigs (porcine gelatine). A flu vaccine injection is available that does not contain gelatine. If you do not want your child to have the nasal spray vaccine, speak to the person vaccinating your child or ask for the flu vaccine injection on the school consent form.
Extra help and information after your baby is born
Feeling sad or tearful
It can be normal to be sad or tearful in pregnancy but if you feel like this every day please ask for support. Speak to your health visitor, midwife or GP as soon as possible. You can also visit the Healthy Minds dedicated website for advice and to find local support.
Health visitor support in between planned appointmentsCall the health visiting team on 01274 221223 if you’re worried about something in between visits. You can text the Chat Health parent advice line on 07312 263240 for confidential advice to support you in caring for your child under five. Visit Better Lives Healthy Futures for more advice.
Feeding my babyYour midwife, the special infant feeding team based in your local hospital, your health visitor and community feeding support groups can help you with feeding your baby.
Baby keeps cryingYour baby may cry a lot in the first 8 weeks, this is normal and it will stop. Never, ever shake a baby. It can cause lasting brain damage or death. Speak to someone if you need support, such as your family, friends, midwife, GP or health visitor. Visit ICON for more advice.
Are you a parent going through separation?Separating better is a brand-new mobile app, which can help guide you through the separation process, find effective ways of co-parenting, and sort out disagreements, all with the wellbeing of your child in mind.
Local activities and courses for parentsVisit the Family Hubs and Start for Life page to access a range of services where you can attend appointments, meet with staff for a chat, or take part in courses and activities.
Domestic abusePregnancy can be a trigger for domestic abuse, and the violence may get worse during pregnancy or after giving birth. Domestic abuse during pregnancy puts you and your unborn child in danger. You can speak in confidence to your midwife, GP, obstetrician or health visitor. Help is available from the following organisations:
Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership – 0800 0527222
Wakefield District Domestic Abuse Service – 0800 915 1561
If you are in immediate danger always call the police, and always dial 999 if it is an emergency and press 55 if you can’t talk (only on mobile phones). They have a duty to protect and help you.
Safe sleepSafe sleep is very important. You, and anyone helping you, need to understand how to keep your baby safe whilst they sleep. There are some top tips for safer sleep, for example put your baby on their back for every sleep and keep the space clear. For more tips in the first 12 months, visit Lullaby Trust.