Antenatal care: check-ups during pregnancy
When to start pregnancy check-ups, how many to have, and what happens at them.
✓ Clinically reviewed · Catherine, RN & Juah, RN
📝 Audio transcript
Antenatal care: check-ups during pregnancy.
Antenatal care means the check-ups a woman has with a midwife or other trained health worker while she is pregnant. These visits help keep mother and baby healthy.
The World Health Organization recommends that the first check-up happens in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and that a pregnant woman has at least eight contacts in total. After the first, contacts are suggested at about 20, 26, 30, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks.
At these visits health workers can talk with you about healthy eating and which vitamins or minerals you may need, physical activity, avoiding tobacco, alcohol and drugs, and preventing malaria and HIV. You may have blood tests, a tetanus vaccination and a scan to check on the baby.
Health workers can also help with common problems such as nausea, back pain and constipation, talk about family planning for after the birth, and support women who are experiencing violence from a partner.
When should I get help?
- Go for your first check-up as soon as you know you are pregnant, ideally in the first 12 weeks.
- If you have heavy bleeding or fits (convulsions), go to a health facility immediately.
Key things to remember
- Start check-ups in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- Aim for at least eight antenatal contacts.
- Check-ups cover nutrition, malaria and HIV prevention, tests and vaccination.
📖 Read the full lesson
Antenatal care means the check-ups a woman has with a midwife or other trained health worker while she is pregnant. These visits help keep mother and baby healthy.
The World Health Organization recommends that the first check-up happens in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and that a pregnant woman has at least eight contacts in total. After the first, contacts are suggested at about 20, 26, 30, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks.
At these visits health workers can talk with you about healthy eating and which vitamins or minerals you may need, physical activity, avoiding tobacco, alcohol and drugs, and preventing malaria and HIV. You may have blood tests, a tetanus vaccination and a scan to check on the baby.
Health workers can also help with common problems such as nausea, back pain and constipation, talk about family planning for after the birth, and support women who are experiencing violence from a partner.
📚 Sources
- World Health Organization — Pregnant women must be able to access the right care at the right time 7 Nov 2016 · accessed 31 Oct 2026
Written in plain language from these sources. It does not imply endorsement by these organizations.
HH-ART-004 · Version 1.0 · Last updated 4 Nov 2026
Was this lesson helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
HerHealth provides educational health information and does not provide medical diagnosis or replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.