Finding out you are pregnant brings a rush of questions. This guide walks you through the first few weeks — confirming the pregnancy, what happens at your first visits, and how to look after yourself.

Confirming your pregnancy

A missed period is often the first clue, though a normal cycle can vary anywhere from 21 to 45 days. A urine pregnancy test taken about four weeks after your last period will give you a reliable answer.

Getting registered and seen

Once your pregnancy is confirmed, register with your local public health midwife. Start folic acid straight away if you have not already — it protects your baby’s developing spine and brain in these early weeks.

If you have an existing medical condition or take regular medication, speak to a doctor without delay rather than waiting. Otherwise, arrange to see an obstetrician (VOG) after about eight weeks for a full check-up, scan and blood tests.

Your booking visit: what we do

Your first full antenatal visit is called the booking visit. It includes:

  • A detailed history and physical examination
  • A blood pressure measurement, which then continues at every visit

The routine blood tests are:

  • Full blood count — checks for anaemia
  • Postprandial (after-meal) blood sugar — an early check for diabetes
  • Blood group and Rh (rhesus) status
  • VDRL — a test for syphilis
  • HIV

Some clinicians also add a thyroid test (TSH). Your doctor will tell you if this applies to you.

Checking for gestational diabetes

Diabetes that develops in pregnancy often causes no symptoms, so we screen for it in everyone. The postprandial sugar at booking is the first step, and every pregnant woman has an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) between 24 and 28 weeks.

Your dating scan

An early scan is the most accurate way to work out your due date, particularly if your periods are irregular. Measuring your baby gives a far more reliable date than the calendar alone. You can also try our due date calculator for a rough estimate in the meantime.

Eating well — and ignoring the myths

This is where a lot of unnecessary worry creeps in, so let us be clear: we do not ask pregnant women to avoid foods. The best diet in pregnancy is the ordinary, varied diet you were eating before you conceived.

In Sri Lanka there are many long-standing beliefs that particular foods cause miscarriage or harm the baby. These are myths, and they cause real harm of their own — many women cut out nutritious foods and end up eating far too little at exactly the time their body needs more. If a relative or neighbour tells you to avoid something, ask us about it rather than simply stopping it.

If nausea and vomiting are making it hard to eat, do not force large meals. Eat small amounts often, choose whatever you can keep down, and above all keep your fluids up. This phase usually settles as the first trimester passes. Tell us if you cannot keep fluids down at all.

For more detail, see our guide to nutrition in pregnancy.

Staying active

Exercise is good for you in pregnancy and helps lower the risk of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Walking, swimming and antenatal yoga all work well and can be adjusted as your pregnancy progresses.

Common early symptoms

Nausea, tiredness and tender breasts are all normal in the first trimester. Contact us if symptoms become severe, if you have bleeding or abdominal pain, or if you simply feel that something is not right.

Your antenatal appointments

Regular visits are how we pick up problems early, often before you would notice anything yourself. Your midwife or obstetrician will set out your schedule of visits, tests and scans — keeping to it is one of the most useful things you can do.

How you are feeling

Pregnancy can be an emotional time, and worry, low mood or anxiety are common and treatable. Please tell us if you are struggling — it is as much a part of your care as your blood pressure.

The bottom line

Confirm the pregnancy, start folic acid, register with your midwife, and see an obstetrician after around eight weeks for your booking visit and dating scan. Eat the way you normally do, keep your fluids up if you are nauseated, and set the food myths aside. Keep your appointments, and contact us about bleeding, pain, or anything that worries you.

References

  1. National Health Service. Your antenatal appointments [Internet]. NHS; [cited 2026 Jul 22]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/
  2. National Health Service. Gestational diabetes [Internet]. NHS; [cited 2026 Jul 22]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gestational-diabetes/
  3. National Health Service. Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy [Internet]. NHS; [cited 2026 Jul 22]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/pregnancy-vitamins-and-supplements/
  4. National Health Service. Exercise in pregnancy [Internet]. NHS; [cited 2026 Jul 22]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/exercise/
  5. World Health Organization. WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. Geneva: WHO; 2016. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549912