When you phone AOC to make a booking we will usually arrange your first consultation for about your 10th to 11th week of pregnancy. This initial appointment is 45 minutes long.

At your first visit to AOC we can arrange for you to have a set of booking bloods taken if this hasn’t been done already by your GP. Ideally this is done during the first twelve weeks of your pregnancy. These tests are all done on a single blood sample.

Most women at this stage feel tired and experience “morning sickness”, which may occur through much of the day. You may also find you need to go to sleep much earlier than usual. Some women also experience constipation and breast tenderness. Don’t worry: most of these symptoms subside and you will feel much more energetic as your first trimester symptoms start to settle.

You should be taking a folic acid supplement during the first trimester at a dose of 800 micrograms (0.8 milligrams) daily. You should also be taking an iodine supplement at a dose of 150 micrograms (0.15 milligrams) throughout your pregnancy and while breastfeeding.