Understand your pregnancy
Confirm your dates, discuss symptoms and learn what changes may be expected at each stage.
Care during pregnancy
Your guide to antenatal visits.
Antenatal care means regular healthcare during pregnancy. These visits help you understand how the pregnancy is progressing, find concerns early and prepare for birth with support.
Antenatal care is more than checking the baby.
Pregnancy changes your body over time. Regular visits give you repeated opportunities to ask questions, receive preventive care and notice changes that may need attention.
Find concerns early
Blood pressure, urine, blood tests and growth checks can identify problems before you feel unwell.
Protect your health
Review medicines, nutrition, supplements, vaccines, HIV care and any ongoing health conditions.
Prepare for birth
Plan where to give birth, learn warning signs and discuss feeding, recovery and care after delivery.
Expect a conversation, some checks and time for questions.
You can bring
Your identity document if available, a list or photos of your medicines, previous pregnancy records, test or scan results and the first date of your last normal period if you remember it.
You can also write down questions beforehand. Nothing is too small or embarrassing to ask.
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Your health story
Expect questions about this pregnancy, previous pregnancies, operations, allergies, medicines, mental health, family history and home support.
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Basic measurements
Your healthcare professional may check your blood pressure, weight, height, pulse and general health.
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Pregnancy assessment
Your dates and abdomen are assessed. Depending on how far along you are, the womb may be measured and the baby's heartbeat may be checked.
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Your care plan
You will discuss tests, supplements, follow-up visits, referrals and where to seek help between appointments.
Different checks answer different questions.
Not every person needs every test at the same time. Your history, gestational age and previous results help determine what is appropriate.
Routine blood tests
These may include your blood group and Rhesus type, haemoglobin for anaemia, HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. Other blood tests may be offered based on your health.
Urine checks
A urine sample can help detect protein, glucose or signs of infection. These findings are interpreted together with your symptoms and other measurements.
Ultrasound scans
A scan may help with pregnancy dating, location, the number of babies, growth or anatomy. The reason and timing should be explained to you.
Gestational diabetes
Blood-glucose testing is commonly considered later in pregnancy, or earlier when your history suggests a higher chance of diabetes.
Pre-eclampsia screening
Blood pressure and urine checks help screen for pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy condition that can become serious and may initially cause no symptoms.
Optional screening choices
Some tests screen for chromosome or development differences. Availability, timing and personal choice matter, and results may lead to further testing.
Screening is not the same as diagnosis.
A screening result estimates whether something may be more likely. A further test may be needed before a diagnosis can be made.
Need a blood test or scan referral?
A healthcare professional can review your pregnancy dates, symptoms and history, then arrange an appropriate referral when clinically indicated.
Each appointment builds on the last one.
South African maternity care follows a schedule of repeated contacts, often eight or more for an uncomplicated pregnancy. Your own schedule may change if you start later or need closer monitoring.
First visit
Book and understand your starting point
Confirm dates, review your health, complete initial checks and tests, and create a care plan.
Middle
Monitor growth and screen for concerns
Visits may include blood pressure, urine, womb measurement, the baby's heartbeat, ultrasound and diabetes screening when appropriate.
Later
Prepare for birth and early parenthood
Appointments become closer together. Discuss baby movements, birth planning, feeding, transport, support and when to go to the maternity unit.
After birth
Continue care for you and your baby
Postnatal checks support recovery, feeding, contraception, mental health and the baby's health and development.
Prevention is part of every pregnancy visit.
Vaccines during pregnancy
Your vaccination history should be reviewed. Vaccines recommended during pregnancy may include a tetanus-containing vaccine and seasonal influenza vaccination, depending on the current South African schedule and your circumstances.
Some vaccines are not given during pregnancy, so ask before receiving any vaccine and do not rely on an old schedule.
Ongoing wellbeing
Visits are also a place to discuss food, exercise, sleep, mental health, smoking, alcohol, medicines, dental care, relationships and safety at home.
If you live with HIV or another long-term condition, continuing treatment and monitoring is an important part of antenatal care. Do not stop medicines without clinical advice.
Keep your maternity record with you.
Your record helps different clinics, hospitals and healthcare professionals understand your pregnancy and the care you have received.
Maternity Case Record
This is the main South African pregnancy record, sometimes called an antenatal card. It is updated at visits and should be carried to every appointment and when you go to give birth. Keep it safe and do not remove pages.
Road to Health booklet
This is primarily your baby's health record after birth. It records growth, immunisations and child-health care. The maternity record is the document used during pregnancy; the baby's Road to Health booklet starts around birth.
Do not wait for a routine appointment if something feels seriously wrong.
Seek urgent in-person care for heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, fainting, seizures, trouble breathing, chest pain, severe headache with vision changes, fluid leaking from the vagina, or a clear reduction in your baby's usual movements later in pregnancy.
Ready to begin or continue antenatal care?
Use an online consultation for non-emergency pregnancy questions, review of results and appropriate test or scan referrals.