Antenatal care, also known as prenatal or pregnancy care, is a fundamental part of healthy pregnancy, labour, and birth. It comprises maternal and foetal monitoring, testing, examinations, parental education, vaccinations, treatment where necessary, and mental health support. Complementary therapies like pregnancy-optimised aromatherapy or pregnancy massage may be offered through your antenatal healthcare provider, or you may engage with them separately. You may also choose to hire a doula, childbirth educator, hypnobirthing teacher, or other support outside of mainstream antenatal healthcare. All of this is, broadly, part of your antenatal care. Antenatal care and prenatal care mean the same thing and may be used interchangeably, though antenatal is more common in British and Commonwealth countries and prenatal is more common in American English. Both terms refer to the healthcare you receive before birth, though antenatal or prenatal-focused classes tend to include information about the postpartum period, including how best to care for a newborn and mental and physical postnatal recovery, and you will usually see the same healthcare professionals that helped you antenatally or people in similar roles for check-ups after birth. After an uncomplicated vaginal birth, for example, you will be checked by a midwife while a doctor and/or midwife looks at your baby.

What is the role of antenatal or prenatal care?

Antenatal care allows doctors and midwives to identify and treat problems with the mother or baby early and prevent pregnancy or birth complications. The mother’s health and the growing baby’s health are one and the same, in many ways, so promoting healthy lifestyle habits is something your doctor, midwife, and healthcare authorities in general tend to do with pregnant women. It’s not a judgemental or shaming approach; it’s just that research overwhelmingly supports the opinion that healthy pregnancies result in healthy babies, and good infant and early childhood health benefits society. And so, you can expect questions about and advice on everything from managing your stress to whether you’ve stopped drinking, how you are eating, and how things are going at work and at home. If it feels strange to have such intimate conversations with a stranger, it’s usually fine to bring your partner or a friend or family member with you.

Prenatal care is not just about check-ups; it includes counselling about any emotional or physical changes you may be experiencing on your journey towards first-time motherhood or a larger family. Knowing a baby is on the way does not mean that you are completely prepared. Similarly, nature may be preparing your body for becoming a parent, but not every mother will understand what happens during labour and birth and how she can plan.

What are the benefits of antenatal or prenatal care?

Research shows that, when properly implemented, antenatal care plays a crucial role in reducing maternal and infant mortality, miscarriage, premature birth, low birth, birth defects, and other devastating problems. The World Health Organisation suggests that all pregnant women have at least four antenatal appointments, though, in a developed country, even a woman having a low-risk pregnancy can expect many more interactions with her doctor or midwife than four check-ups. This is not to suggest that if you or your baby experience problems, it is either your fault for not properly engaging with your antenatal care or that of your healthcare team for poor provision. Pregnancy, labour, and birth are in many ways unpredictable, even for the most conscientious mother and the most sophisticated healthcare team. The point is that antenatal care is preventive healthcare that is well established at improving outcomes. It is very important to keep all your antenatal appointments, optimise your time, advocate for your preferences, ask for more check-ups if necessary, and be as transparent as possible with your healthcare team.

Regular antenatal check-ups are very important in pregnancy. You should schedule the first appointment as soon as you know you're pregnant. The questions you answer at your first appointment will help to shape your care, and some tests and procedures are more urgent than others. You should arrive prepared to give your doctor or midwife a clear picture of your health history, including your blood pressure, diabetes, or past surgeries and hospitalisations. You’ll also need to have a physical examination, weigh-in, blood pressure check, and blood and urine tests. You have the right to refuse any aspects of this you might be uncomfortable with, such as a pelvic exam, but booking and attending is still essential. Simple monitoring is very important to successful antenatal care and cannot happen properly without early and consistent contact throughout your pregnancy. At this first appointment, your pregnancy will usually be classified as high risk or low risk.

What is the difference between a high-risk pregnancy and a low-risk (normal-risk) pregnancy in antenatal care?

A high-risk pregnancy sounds frightening, but it really just means you have a higher risk of developing complications in pregnancy, labour, and/or birth. The extent of this risk varies widely but can be influenced by:

A mum being overweight, underweight, or obese
A mum being under 18 or over 35
A mum having underlying pre-pregnancy health problems that can affect the baby, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism
A mum having low blood iron
A history of premature labour or other pregnancy complications

Pregnant women who are high-risk need to be more closely monitored and so have more appointments. They will usually have a hospital birth recommended to them and may also need to see specialists, such as a foetal medicine specialist if their baby has growth problems or a registered dietitian if they need nutritional support. Not all high-risk problems will be identified at the first antenatal appointment, which is another reason why it is so important to keep attending them and keep communicating with your healthcare team. A low or normal-risk pregnancy is any that is not considered high-risk.

What else can I do to support my antenatal care?

Attending antenatal classes, whether in-person or online through platforms like unii.com, plays an important role in your antenatal education and complements your care. These classes usually accept attendees from 20 weeks, though you can take unii.com’s course whenever you wish.

Reporting pregnancy symptoms is a vital part of getting you the most appropriate antenatal care as things progress. You should monitor your baby's movements from the time you start to feel them (usually between 16 and 24 weeks, though in a first pregnancy it is likely to be after 20) and report any deviations from the pattern. Typically, a slowing or absence of the pattern is most worrying, but sudden increases also require assessment. The advice that a mother should have something cold to drink in order to generate movements in her baby has been debunked. You should always report any absence or slowing of movement by phone or go straight to the hospital if you are concerned. You are never bothering anyone, and your maternal instincts are invaluable to the care of your unborn baby.

For more advice on taking care of yourself in pregnancy, labour, and birth, check out Unii’s Antenatal Course, with prenatal video episodes taught by senior NHS midwives, an award-winning obstetrician and gynaecologist, and six other leading healthcare experts. Coming soon to unii.com.

What is Antenatal Care (ANC)? A Breakdown of Its Role and Benefits

Unii takes a closer look at prenatal care.