Antenatal care at Queen's Hospital, Romford
A guide to what antenatal care looks like for Abbamoor patients — who you'll see, what happens at each stage, and how Queen's Hospital works.
Queen's Hospital
Part of BHRUT — Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
Key numbers
- Under 20 weeks — Early Pregnancy Unit: 01708 435 076
- Maternity helpline (24hr, including up to 10 days after birth): 01708 503 742
What is antenatal care?
Antenatal care is all the healthcare you receive while you're pregnant, before your baby is born. It involves regular check-ups with midwives, blood tests, ultrasound scans, and screening for conditions that could affect you or your baby.
For most Abbamoor patients, antenatal care is delivered jointly between our GP surgery and the midwifery team at Queen's Hospital, Romford. Your GP can see you for concerns, medication reviews, and mental health support throughout pregnancy.
Who is involved in your care?
Antenatal care is led by community midwives. You'll also have access to:
- Your GP — for general health concerns, medication reviews, and mental health support throughout pregnancy
- Obstetricians — specialist doctors at Queen's Hospital for higher-risk pregnancies
- Sonographers — who carry out your ultrasound scans
- Health visitors (NELFT) — who will make contact from around 28–32 weeks and continue support after birth
Your antenatal appointments — what to expect
The NHS recommends around 10 appointments for a straightforward first pregnancy and around 7 for subsequent pregnancies. Here's what happens at each stage.
8-10 weeks
Booking appointment
- Full health and family history
- Blood tests: blood group, anaemia, infections (HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis, rubella)
- Urine test
- BMI and blood pressure check
- Discussion of antenatal screening options
- Referral for 12-week dating scan
- Maternity notes given to you
11-14 weeks
12-week dating scan + combined screening
- Confirms gestational age and due date
- Checks for heartbeat and multiple pregnancies
- Combined with blood test to screen for Down's, Edwards', and Patau's syndromes
- Results usually within 2 weeks
16 weeks
Midwife appointment
- Blood pressure and urine check
- Blood test results discussed
- Discussion of screening results from 12-week scan
- Opportunity to ask questions
18-21 weeks
20-week anomaly scan
- Detailed check of baby's anatomy
- Checks for physical conditions that may need treatment after birth
- Position of placenta checked
- Not a diagnostic test — further tests offered if needed
25 weeks
Midwife (first pregnancy only)
- Blood pressure and urine check
- Measurement of uterus (fundal height)
- Baby's position and heartbeat
28 weeks
Midwife + blood tests
- Blood tests: anaemia and blood group antibodies
- Blood pressure and urine check
- Anti-D injection offered if you are Rhesus negative
- Whooping cough vaccine offered (ideally between 16-32 weeks)
34-36 weeks
Midwife appointments
- Birth plan discussion
- Check baby's position
- Information about labour signs and when to call the hospital
- Group B streptococcus information
38-41 weeks
Final midwife checks
- Weekly checks if going past your due date
- Discussion of induction if recommended
- Membrane sweep may be offered from 40 weeks
Higher-risk pregnancies
If you have a pre-existing condition (such as diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, or a history of pre-eclampsia), or if complications develop during pregnancy, you will likely see a specialist obstetrician at Queen's Hospital as well as your community midwife. You may have additional appointments and monitoring.
Your GP can help co-ordinate your care if you have multiple health conditions — don't hesitate to book an appointment if you're unsure what support you should have.
Health visitors from NELFT
NELFT (North East London NHS Foundation Trust) runs the health visiting service for Havering (opens in a new tab). From around 28–32 weeks, a health visitor will make antenatal contact with you to introduce themselves and discuss what support will be available after your baby is born.
Health visitors are qualified nurses or midwives who support families with children from birth to school age. They carry out developmental reviews, provide feeding support, and can refer to specialist services.
To contact the NELFT health visiting team directly: call 0300 300 1635 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm).
What to bring to appointments
- Your maternity notes — carry them with you throughout pregnancy
- A list of any medications you take
- A urine sample if requested
- Questions you want to ask — it helps to write them down beforehand
When to seek help between appointments
Don't wait for your next appointment if you experience any of the following:
- Reduced or no fetal movement after 24 weeks
- Vaginal bleeding at any stage
- Severe headache or visual disturbance
- Sudden swelling of hands, feet, or face
- Abdominal pain
- Fever or feeling very unwell
Under 20 weeks, call the Queen's Hospital Early Pregnancy Unit on 01708 435 076. For any pregnancy concern, or a concern about you or your baby up to 10 days after birth, call the 24-hour maternity helpline on 01708 503 742. Call 999 in a life-threatening emergency.
Questions about your pregnancy?
Book a GP appointment — we're here throughout your pregnancy for concerns, medication reviews, and mental health support.