Your first main appointment is your booking appointment (booking visit) with your midwife. It normally takes place between 8 and 12 weeks of pregnancy.
If you’ve just found out that you’re pregnant, get the best start for you and your baby by making an appointment with a midwife.
Make an appointment with your midwife as soon as you know you’re pregnant.
Finding a midwife to help you through your pregnancy’s easy. In most Health Board areas you can make your first midwife appointment by asking your GP receptionist. In some areas you can call the midwifery service direct.
Health Board | To make your first midwife appointment: |
Fife | Visit NHS Fife maternity services page |
Forth Valley | 01324 567 146 |
Greater Glasgow and Clyde | Visit the NHS GGC maternity self-referral service |
Lothian | 0131 536 2009 |
Orkney | 01856 888 238 |
Shetland | 01595 743 012 |
At your booking appointment, you’ll:
You’ll probably have your first scan arranged too.
Your midwife will ask you about:
Your midwife will tell you about screening tests and vaccines available during pregnancy, and will support you to make choices.
Your midwife will also ask about your income and if you would like support to access maternity benefits or welfare advice services.
Give as much information as you can, as it means you’ll get the care that’s best for you and your baby.
During your booking appointment you’ll be asked a question about female genital mutilation (FGM).
It’s important to know if this practice has happened to you. This enables health professionals to plan and provide your care.
FGM Aware has more information about how FGM is being tackled in Scotland.
Your midwife will tell you about:
They’ll also talk to you about your choices for where to give birth
Your midwife will give you information about:
Your midwife will ask you questions about your own experiences of growing up. Being pregnant may remind you of difficult emotions from your past. For example, if you ever experienced:
Be as honest as you can. Understanding your experiences will help your midwife to:
It’s fine for your partner or a friend to come with you. Remember you’re likely to be talking about some confidential and private things.
It’s up to you whether you’d feel more comfortable discussing these things in confidence with just your midwife, or if you’d prefer to have someone else that you trust there as well.
If you need an interpreter, make sure you or your partner tell your midwife before the appointment.
Translations and alternative formats of this information are available from Public Health Scotland.
If you need a different language or format, please contact phs.otherformats@phs.scot.
Last updated:
16 January 2024