The Rotunda Hospital Dublin

Your First Antenatal Visit

At your first antenatal visit, or 'booking visit', you will be seen by a midwife who will take a detailed history and assessment of your medical, surgical, obstetric and psychosocial condition. Please note, a midwife may call you by phone prior to your first visit to ask your medical history. Following a review of the history, a care plan is chosen to meet your needs after discussion with you. It's important to contact us as early as possible when you find out you are pregnant so we can schedule your first visit with us.

Your First Antenatal Visit

We try to see women who present for a booking visit as quickly as possible.

In keeping with best practice guidelines we aim to see women for their booking visit between 12-14 weeks gestation. However, there is a waiting list. At this visit you will be seen by a midwife who will take a detailed history and assessment of your medical, surgical, obstetric and psychosocial condition.

Following a review of the history, a care plan is chosen to meet your needs. You are seen by a member of the medical team if further consultation is needed, to ensure the most appropriate care pathway for the pregnancy.

A baseline recording of blood pressure and a sample of urine (please provide a sample at each visit) will be taken. Blood samples are taken and a dating scan performed by an ultra-sonographer. 

Book your First Visit

Please contact us as soon as possible when you know you are pregnant.

You can book your First Visit by emailing us at [email protected] or phoning us on 01 873 0596

Email us to book your first visit
Call us to book your first visit

What happens at your First Visit at The Rotunda

Antenatal Care

Care Pathways

Following a review of your history, a care plan, or pathway, is chosen to meet your needs.

The ‘Supported Care Pathway’ is intended for normal risk women and babies. It is delivered by the Midwives in the hospital setting, Community Midwifery team and GP.

The ‘Assisted Care Pathway’ is intended for mothers and babies considered medium risk, this care is delivered by Obstetricians and Midwives in the hospital setting and GP.

The ‘Specialised Care Pathway’ for high-risk mothers and babies is led by the Obstetric team and involves midwives as part of a multidisciplinary team. Care will, in the main, be provided in the hospital and may include your G.P. A woman may need to transfer, either temporarily or permanently between care pathways if an emerging risk is found.

Antenatal Care

Blood Tests

With your consent, several blood tests are taken. These blood tests will: 

  • Check your haemoglobin level (iron),
  • Check your blood group.
  • Check your rubella immunity (German measles).
  • Check for sexually transmitted infections. 
  • Check for varicella, which is also called ‘chickenpox’ if we assess this is needed. 
  • Check for sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia (if needed).

The results of all these tests can take up to 14 days to complete. If any test needs to be repeated, you will be contacted by phone or letter by the hospital staff.

You will not receive notification if the blood tests are normal. The results will be filed in your healthcare record for you to see at your next antenatal visit.

Antenatal Care

Additional Tests

Urine Tests

Your urine is checked at every antenatal visit. The two main tests are for protein and glucose (sugar). Checking protein levels in late pregnancy is very important, as it can be a sign of the condition called pre-eclampsia. 

Glucose in your urine is a concern as it could mean that you are developing pregnancy-related diabetes. If you are found to have glucose in your urine, the midwife will ask you if you were fasting when you gave the sample. If not, she will ask you to return to the hospital the following day with a fasting sample. If this sample is negative for glucose, no action is taken.

If, however, there is still glucose present, the midwife will ask that you have further blood tests to see if you have developed pregnancy-related diabetes. If you have, you will be referred to the diabetic team.

Blood Pressure

Checking and recording your blood pressure at the first visit is important. This first reading is used as a ‘baseline reading’. Every time your blood pressure is checked after that, it is compared to this reading. If your blood pressure rises it could be a sign of pre-eclampsia which needs to be monitored carefully.

Weight check

If you are of average height and weight, you can expect to gain about 10 – 15 kg (20 – 30 lbs) during the pregnancy. The only time that you are weighed in the hospital is at your first visit. Women attending the diabetic or anaesthetic clinics will be weighed more often. However, it is essential that you eat well and stick to a healthy balanced diet made up of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Your baby is totally dependent on you for its supply of nourishment in order to grow and develop. 

You can register for an online healthy eating class with our dietitians.

Finding Your Way to Your First Antenatal Visit

When attending the Outpatients Department in Hampson House, please arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before your appointment time.

Further Antenatal Visits

Find Out More

Staying Healthy During Pregnancy

Find Out More

Problems and Concerns

Find Out More