First Antenatal

[mats01_99]

Hi all, My wife is 9 weeks pregnant and has her first antenatal on Thurs. What does this involve? and should I be there? (I'm more than happy to be by the way!)

[andy hughes]

First is a check to make sure mother and baby are OK, and baby is developing properly.

You don't need to attend, but I think it's nice to show moral support. be prepared to be in the minority though! I'm sure your wife will appreciate your presence - it's a bit daunting for the first time.

[kick3m0n]

In Scotland, at the first ante-natal appt there are a large number of medical histiory questions asked about both parents, and so I think it's very important for the dad to be there for that reason alone.  I would say of course you should be there, you were for conception after all!  I think it's good for the dads to be as involved as possible, and at our first check, every mum had a partner there.  I think your wife would feel odd one out if you weren't there.  Congrats to you both by the way. xx

[boobesque]

firstly congratulations! secondly i think that you should go, although its early days it is nice for you to go, for one it starts the bonding process early, and also the midwife will probably ask you lots of medical history questions, so you should be there to answer your history.

With my son i was all on my own and it was lonely sitting there with couples all excited while my dead beat boyfriend didnt care! My partner plans to be there for every appointment and scan, i think that if you can go then go, it will bring you closer as a family!

good luck, this is the scariest journey you will go through in your life, but it is also the best, cor listen to me getting emotional lol

[mycatis]

Oh make sure you are there for the first scan, That is amazing! By the second one you cant really see much.

[Phantaxus]

I went to as many as I could with the wife, also do go to the antenatal classes when they come round, and have a go with the gas and air when they offer it round