It's lovely seeing those first grainy images of your baby on a scan. But the main purpose of scans, tests and checks is to make sure your baby is developing normally. Here's what you're likely to have and why:Routine testsMost pregnant women

's not an invasive test and won't harm your baby.Doppler scanning uses black and white or colour images to identify the different blood vessels in the umbilical cord so that the blood flow can be traced. One colour goes from the placenta to the baby and another from

First-time mums have at least 10 antenatal visits, second-timers can expect around seven. The tests provide you with information about the health of your baby but you don't have to have them and where you live will play a part in what happens

history of such conditions.Amniocentesis can also reveal other important information, which may help doctors decide about your antenatal care.What amniocentesis can revealAn amniocentesis test can provide the following information about your baby:the sex

. Make sure you ask the following questions at your antenatal check-ups: What is the hospital procedure for multiple births? How will my antenatal care be arranged? How often will I be seen, where and by whom? What antenatal tests and scans will I

Midwife Nikki says...The scan done between 11 to 14 weeks is called a 'nuchal translucency scan' and measures the fluid in the skin at the back of your baby's neck (the nuchal fold), giving an indication of the risk of Down's Syndrome. The antenatal

antenatal scan around this time. Seeing your baby on the screen is an exciting and emotional moment – make sure you’ve got your partner with you if possible. :: All about antenatal tests and scans. This is the point when you might find out there’s more than

initial ideas and direct you to pages in this guide where you can find out more on certain topics such as antenatal checks and tests, when to tell your boss and what to eat now you're expecting.What to do as soon as you know…Book a visit to see your GP

, headaches, blurred vision, abdominal pain or nausea and vomiting. How is it diagnosed? Regular antenatal care is vitally important in the early detection of pre-eclampsia, so make sure you attend all your antenatal appointments. A urine sample should

While you're pregnant, your blood pressure will be checked at every antenatal appointment. Maybe you've never really paid attention to it before - so why is your blood pressure suddenly so important?What is my blood pressure?It's a measure