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Antenatal care is the check-ups, tests, and scans that pregnant women have to monitor their health and that of their baby. In Australia, the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines recommend that first-time mothers with an uncomplicated pregnancy have 10 antenatal care visits during pregnancy (7 visits for subsequent uncomplicated pregnancies). The Australian government has funded antenatal care programs led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) for First Nations women, which have been shown to positively impact maternal smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, and maternal nutrition and breastfeeding practices.
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What You'll Learn
Antenatal care appointments
In Australia, it is recommended that the first antenatal appointment takes place within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, ideally around 6 to 8 weeks, which is usually calculated as 6 to 8 weeks after the last menstrual period. This early appointment is crucial for initiating antenatal care and planning subsequent visits. The frequency and number of antenatal appointments may vary depending on individual needs and recommendations from healthcare professionals. For first-time mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies, the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines suggest approximately 10 antenatal visits, while for subsequent uncomplicated pregnancies, 7 visits are recommended. However, these numbers may differ based on various factors and personal circumstances.
During antenatal care appointments, healthcare professionals assess the mother's health, including gestational weight gain, and monitor the baby's development. These appointments provide an opportunity to identify and address any potential issues early on, ensuring the well-being of both mother and child. Additionally, antenatal care allows mothers to ask questions, express concerns, and seek support throughout their pregnancy journey.
In Australia, the options for antenatal care are often linked to the intended birth setting. For those planning a hospital birth or birthing centre delivery, booking appointments early is advisable. On the other hand, for those opting for a home birth, antenatal care can be provided by a private midwife or through a public hospital with a homebirth service, if available in the area. It is important to ensure that the chosen midwife is registered, qualified, and has the necessary procedures in place for referrals and emergency transfers to a hospital if needed.
Furthermore, in Australia, there are specific initiatives to improve antenatal care for First Nations mothers and babies. These include government-funded antenatal care programs led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs), which have positively impacted maternal health behaviours and infant health outcomes. Additionally, there is a recognition of the importance of comprehensive mental health support within antenatal care for First Nations women, addressing unique psychosocial stressors and promoting the involvement of family and community.
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Antenatal care tests and scans
Antenatal care is the check-ups and appointments you have during your pregnancy to monitor the health of you and your baby. Antenatal appointments are important, even if you are healthy and your pregnancy is progressing well. They allow your midwife or doctor to check on your health and your baby's health, and identify and manage any problems early. These appointments are also a good opportunity for you to ask questions and talk about any concerns you have.
In Australia, the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines (Department of Health and Aged Care 2020) recommend that first-time mothers with an uncomplicated pregnancy have 10 antenatal care visits during pregnancy (seven visits for subsequent uncomplicated pregnancies).
Antenatal tests and scans are a normal part of antenatal care in Australia. Ultrasound scans help monitor your baby's health throughout your pregnancy. The dating scan is usually the earliest scan, confirming pregnancy and detecting a heartbeat, typically between six and eight weeks. This is followed by the morphology scan, which assesses the number of foetuses, the anatomical structures, the size of the baby, the position of the placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby, and the cervix. If anything abnormal is detected, further investigation may be recommended.
In the third trimester, usually around 34 weeks, a third ultrasound scan may be recommended if the placenta was close to the cervix at the morphology scan or if there are other indications.
Blood tests are also a common feature of antenatal care. They are used to assess the health of both mother and baby and are typically carried out at a pathology collection centre or hospital by a trained pathology collector. Blood group and antibody screening are recommended for those with a negative blood group, and haemoglobin electrophoresis is offered to women of ethnicities at risk of carrying thalassemia.
Other tests may include urine tests, swabs, and non-invasive prenatal screening for specific genetic and chromosomal disorders. Group B streptococcus screening is another important test, which looks for the presence of group B streptococcus bacteria in the vagina.
It is important to note that while some tests are recommended for everyone, others are only offered if there is a higher chance of a particular condition being present. At the first antenatal visit, healthcare providers will explain which tests are recommended and provide a timeline for when they should be carried out.
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Antenatal care for first-time mothers
Antenatal care is the check-ups, tests, and scans you receive during pregnancy to monitor the health of both mother and baby. In Australia, it is recommended that first-time mothers with an uncomplicated pregnancy have around 10 antenatal care visits, with the first appointment taking place within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy (or around 6-8 weeks after the mother's last period). These appointments are important even if the pregnancy is going well, as they allow healthcare professionals to identify and manage any risks, and provide support and education to the mother.
During antenatal appointments, doctors or midwives will perform various checks, scans, and tests to monitor the health of both mother and baby. This may include blood tests, ultrasound scans, mental health checks, blood pressure and weight monitoring, and cervical screenings. Antenatal care also provides an opportunity for mothers to ask questions and discuss any concerns or problems they may be having. It is important for mothers to feel comfortable with their healthcare providers and to give informed consent for any tests or procedures.
The number of antenatal visits may vary depending on individual circumstances and preferences. First-time mothers may have between 8 to 10 appointments, while mothers with subsequent uncomplicated pregnancies are recommended to have at least 7 visits. In 2022, 56% of first-time mothers in Australia attended 10 or more antenatal care visits, while 82% of mothers who had previously given birth attended 7 or more visits.
In Australia, the options for antenatal care are linked to where the mother plans to give birth. For example, if planning a hospital or birthing centre birth, it is recommended to book as early as possible. If planning a home birth, mothers can choose a private midwife or a public hospital with a home birth service, ensuring that the midwife is registered and qualified for home births. Additionally, it is important to consider the costs of different care options and to check if private health insurance covers maternity care.
Overall, antenatal care is an essential part of pregnancy care in Australia, helping to ensure the health and wellbeing of both mother and baby. It provides an opportunity for monitoring, education, and support throughout the pregnancy journey.
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Antenatal care and weight management
Antenatal care is the check-ups and appointments pregnant women have with a doctor or midwife to monitor and support their health and that of their baby. In Australia, the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines recommend that a woman has her first antenatal visit within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. Ideally, the first antenatal appointment should take place when the woman is about 6 to 8 weeks pregnant.
Antenatal care includes several checkups, tests, and scans, some of which are offered as a normal part of antenatal care in Australia. The number of antenatal visits recommended by the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines depends on whether it is the mother's first pregnancy or a subsequent pregnancy. For first-time mothers with an uncomplicated pregnancy, 10 antenatal care visits are recommended during pregnancy (7 visits for subsequent uncomplicated pregnancies).
Antenatal care is important for weight management during pregnancy. Assessing gestational weight gain should be a part of routine antenatal care as the challenges of being overweight can become magnified during pregnancy, placing both mothers and their babies at increased risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality. The Australian Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pregnancy Care recommend that during antenatal visits, all pregnant women are weighed, advised of recommended gestational weight gain, dietary intake, and physical activity, and offered referrals for additional support if needed. However, there are individual and health system barriers that can impede clinicians from supporting weight-related behaviour change for pregnant women, especially in publicly funded antenatal care accessed by women from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
A study of publicly funded antenatal care in Tasmania, a state with greater levels of socioeconomic disadvantage than the Australian average, found that clinicians experienced challenges in supporting healthy gestational weight gain for pregnant women. The three dominant themes that emerged from the study were prioritizing immediate needs, continuity of care and support for weight-related conversations, and limited service capacity for weight and nutrition-related support. The World Health Organization recommends that antenatal clinicians understand a woman's circumstances and provide support without stigma when discussing diet, physical activity, and gestational weight gain.
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Antenatal care for First Nations mothers
Antenatal care is the check-ups and appointments you have with a doctor or midwife during your pregnancy to monitor the health of you and your baby. In Australia, the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines recommend that first-time mothers with an uncomplicated pregnancy have 10 antenatal care visits during pregnancy (7 visits for subsequent uncomplicated pregnancies).
First Nations mothers and babies continue to experience poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous mothers and babies in some areas. Psychosocial stressors and institutional racism are significant barriers to accessing healthcare and have been consistently associated with adverse health outcomes for First Nations people. Comprehensive mental health support should be integrated into antenatal care, recognising the increased vulnerability to mental health issues during pregnancy, which may be exacerbated by the unique stressors faced by First Nations women.
To improve outcomes for First Nations mothers and babies, there needs to be improved access to, and take-up of, antenatal care services. Australian government-funded antenatal care programs led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) for First Nations women have been shown to positively impact maternal smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, and maternal nutrition and breastfeeding practices, which can, in turn, reduce the rates of low birthweight, pre-term birth, and child mortality. The ACCHS sector plays a significant role in providing comprehensive culturally safe models of family-centred primary health care services for First Nations people, including antenatal programs that have delivered improved outcomes for maternal and child health.
The proportion of First Nations mothers attending an antenatal visit in the first trimester increased from 51% in 2013 to 71% in 2022. In 2020, First Nations mothers who had attended 5 or more antenatal visits during their pregnancy were less likely to have a pre-term baby (7.8%) than those who attended less than 5 visits or no antenatal care during pregnancy (20.7%). First Nations mothers who had their first antenatal care visit during the first trimester of pregnancy were also less likely to have a baby of low birthweight (9.2%) compared with those who either had their first visit at 20 weeks or more gestation or did not have any antenatal care during pregnancy (14.0%).
The goal of Koori Maternity Services is to ensure that Aboriginal women and families receive culturally safe and high-quality pregnancy care, with the following outcomes: more Aboriginal women access antenatal care earlier in their pregnancy, fewer Aboriginal women smoke during pregnancy, fewer Aboriginal babies are born early, and fewer Aboriginal babies die during pregnancy or soon after birth.
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Frequently asked questions
Antenatal care is the check-ups, tests, and scans you have during your pregnancy to monitor the health of you and your baby. Antenatal appointments are important, even if you are healthy and your pregnancy is going well.
It is recommended that your first antenatal appointment takes place when you are about 6 to 8 weeks pregnant. The Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines recommend that first-time mothers with an uncomplicated pregnancy have 10 antenatal care visits during pregnancy (7 visits for subsequent uncomplicated pregnancies).
Antenatal appointments allow your midwife or doctor to check on your health and your baby's health, and identify and manage any problems early. These appointments are also a good opportunity for you to ask questions and talk about any concerns you have.
Your options for antenatal care in Australia are linked to where you plan to give birth. If you want to give birth in a hospital or birthing centre, it’s a good idea to book in as early as possible. If you plan to have a home birth, you can choose to have your antenatal care with a private midwife or through a public hospital that offers a home birth service.
