• You have completed and returned the Patient Registration and Privacy Consent Form.
• You have returned your doctor’s referral letter. If you are unable to send this to Mark prior to your appointment, please bring it with you on the day of your first appointment. Please note that you need a new referral for each new pregnancy.
• You bring a comprehensive list of your current medications, including any natural therapies.

Every attempt will be made to see you at your appointed time, although occasionally there may be a delay. This usually occurs because another patient needs to be delivered during a consulting session. If this happens you will be offered another appointment, although you are welcome to wait until I return. Children are welcome, but we have found that they may be intolerant if there are long delays. It is always wise not to commit yourself immediately following your appointment.

It is important to discuss any questions with me and I will always make every attempt to answer them. It is often helpful to list these questions because you may forget to ask them during your antenatal visits.

At your second visit you will receive your Pregnancy Summary. This contains important medical information, including your blood group, and you will be given an updated version at each visit. You should bring this summary to hospital when you are admitted.

At around 24 weeks you will have a test for diabetes and a check on your blood count. At approximately 36 weeks I take a vaginal swab to test that you are not a carrier of Group B Streptococcus, a potentially dangerous bacteria found in one in seven women. If your test is positive both you and your baby will receive antibiotics during labour and delivery. With this treatment, no baby should be severely affected by Group B Streptococcus. For more information on prenatal testing, please see here.