Journey Through Pregnancy

We are delighted that you are considering being under Dr Duncan's care. Below is a timeline of what you can expect throughout your pregnancy journey at Dr Duncan Birth. This is of course a guide as all care is tailored to the individual at all times.

6-9 weeks

– Early pregnancy scan
– Baby’s heartbeat can be detected on scan from 6+ weeks.
– A repeat scan at 8-9 weeks may be performed to confirm pregnancy progression.

10+ weeks

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) – This combination ultrasound scan/maternal blood test can be performed from 10 weeks. The fetal DNA which is now present in Mum’s blood can be screened for the most common trisomies (Down’s, Edward’s and Patau’s syndromes). The test will also report the fetal sex if you choose to know.

12-13 Weeks

– Nuchal translucency scan – the scan is Baby’s first anatomy scan. It assesses the thickness of the Nuchal fold in the nape on Baby’s neck and can show risk of Down’s syndrome.

– Antenatal booking blood tests – the booking blood tests check important markers such as your blood group, iron, thyroid function and vitamin D, screen for immunity to childhood diseases (such as measles and chicken pox), and check for infections (eg. Hepatitis, HIV).

FUN FACT: Fingerprint formation begins in the womb during the third month of fetal development, around the 13th week.

16-17 Weeks

– Early anomaly/anatomy scan
– Dr Duncan will start to observe and track Baby’s anatomical development.
FUN FACT: Hair follicles have started developing, and it is possible to start feeling ‘flutters’ which are Baby’s movements.

19-21 Weeks

– Anomaly/anatomy scan – this scan assesses Baby’s developing anatomy in detail.
FUN FACT: Baby now has recognisable eyes and eyebrows.

23-24 Weeks

– Growth scan, with uterine artery Dopplers – Growth scans monitor Baby’s weight and measurements, and when performed regularly also show the rate of growth. This can be used an indicator of fetal or maternal complications. The arterial Dopplers measure the flow of blood, from Mum to Baby.
– If your thyroid function was previously impaired, you will have repeat screening.
FUN FACT: From 22 weeks you can feel Baby’s kicks, known as ‘the quickening’.

26-28 Weeks

– Repeat growth scan
– Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) or random glucose test
– Repeat screening for anaemia/antibodies and screening for Gestational Diabetes
– If Mum and Baby do not share the same Rhesus factor (the presence, or absence, of a red blood cell protein) then Mum will be offered Anti-D immunoglobulin.
– The Portland Midwives will invite you in for your ‘booking’ appointment.
– The Whooping Cough vaccine will be offered.
FUN FACT: A crucial substance ‘surfactant’, which helps keep the air sacs in Baby’s lungs open, begins to be produced in significant amounts around 26 to 28 weeks.

29-32 weeks

– Repeat growth scan
– If you have not yet developed your birth plan, Dr Duncan will discuss this with you.

33-34 weeks

– Repeat growth scan
– The RSV vaccine will be offered.
– If your thyroid function was previously impaired, you will have repeat screening.

35-36 weeks

– Repeat growth scan
– If you are planning a vaginal delivery, you will screen for Group B Strep.
FUN FACT: At 36 weeks Baby’s lungs are fully formed and ready to breathe on their own.

37-40 weeks

– Repeat growth scans and maternal wellbeing checks

39 Weeks

– Delivery by caesarean section, whether by choice or due to medical necessity, happens around 39 weeks’ gestation.

39-41+ weeks

– Induction of labour if required

Postnatal

– Dr Duncan does an early postnatal check at 2 weeks, and a further check at 6 weeks.

All appointments: check blood pressure and urine dipstick

Hospital

The Portland Hospital,
205-209 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5AH

Clinic