You’re pregnant – congratulations! Now you may be wondering what to expect before and after your baby arrives. Here is a rough guide to what happens during pregnancy, on the day your baby is born, and in your first few weeks as a new parent. This guide is for expectant and new parents in the UK.
During pregnancy
- Start pelvic floor exercises – the NHS has a guide to pelvic floor and other exercises during pregnancy. See also my post on pelvic floor exercises for labour and birth.
- Antenatal appointments with your midwife (and consultant, if needed) – the NHS website explains what happens at each one.
- Antenatal tests and scans
- A home visit from your health visitor and/or midwife
- Book and attend childbirth preparation classes (optional), such as hypnobirthing
- Consider hiring a birth and/or postnatal doula
- Research your birth options and rights – Birthrights is a great place to find out about your rights in childbirth
Day one – the day your baby is born
- Apgar score for your baby
- Vitamin K offered for your baby
- A midwife or member of the paediatric team checks your baby over before you leave the hospital or midwife-led unit
- Newborn hearing screening – before you leave hospital or within the first few weeks
- Going home: after a straightforward birth, if you and your baby are well, you can often leave the same day. After a caesarean birth, you can usually go home after about two days.
- You’ll receive the red book for your baby’s growth charts, vaccinations and more – some areas also offer an online red book.
Once you’re home
Please note that timings vary across the UK.
- Midwife home visits for you and your baby, usually on days 1, 3 and 5 (more often if needed)
- Emotional high for mum: days 1–3
- Baby may develop jaundice: days 2–3, usually clearing by week 2
- Milk comes in: days 3–5
- Baby blues: days 3–5
- Newborn blood spot (heel prick) test: day 5
- Umbilical cord stump falls off: around day 7
- Lochia (postnatal bleeding) stops: 2–6 weeks
- Discharged from midwifery care: between 10 and 28 days
- Postnatal check for mum and baby with your GP: 6–8 weeks
- Light exercise and sex can usually resume after your postnatal check, from 6–8 weeks
These timings are a rough average only, and this list does not replace medical advice. If you’re worried about yourself, your partner or your baby, please contact your healthcare professional.