Your first gynae visit in Singapore: when to book, what to bring and what happens

Your first gynae visit, also called the first antenatal or booking visit, usually happens in weeks 8 to 12 of pregnancy, KKH says. SGH asks you to bring your NRIC or passport, any referral letter and any test results. Expect questions about your health, then a blood pressure, weight and urine check, a dating scan and blood tests. You'll also talk about optional Down syndrome screening, and KKH's first trimester screen has to be done by 13 weeks and 6 days.

Only just seen a positive test? Start with our first-week step list, which covers folic acid. This guide picks up at the visit itself.

How to get ready for your first gynae visit, step by step

1. Book as soon as you know you're pregnant. KKH doctors writing for Families for Life give this advice, and KKH's pregnancy timeline puts the visit itself in weeks 8 to 12.
2. Decide between public and private care, and read our guide to choosing a gynae if you're unsure. KKH gives subsidised rates to Singapore Citizens and PRs referred by a polyclinic, a public hospital's A&E or a CHAS GP.
3. Call the hospital to book. KKH's Central Appointments line is 6294 4050 (weekdays 8.30am to 5.30pm, Saturdays 8.30am to 12pm), and SGH's is 6321 4377.
4. Note the first day of your last period. KKH's doctors say your due date is counted from it if your cycle is a regular 28 days, and our due date calculator does the sum.
5. Pack your papers. SGH asks for your NRIC, or your passport if you're not Singaporean, plus any referral letter and test results you have.
6. Write down your health history and your partner's. KKH's doctors ask about family conditions such as diabetes, past pregnancies, miscarriages, fertility problems, smoking, alcohol, drugs and medicines, and the talk is confidential.
7. Keep taking prescribed medicine until you've asked your doctor. KKH says coming off medicine that keeps you well would put your baby at risk. Check with your GP or gynae before you start anything new.
8. Think about Down syndrome screening before you go. At KKH, the first trimester screen's blood test runs from 9 weeks and its scan from 11 weeks, and both close at 13 weeks and 6 days.
9. Bring your partner and something to take notes on. KKH's doctors suggest both, because there's a lot to take in at the first visit.
10. Keep the bill from this visit and every one after it. Our MediSave Maternity Package guide explains which pregnancy bills you can claim.

What happens at the first gynae visit

The visit starts with questions about you, your family and any past pregnancies. Then come the checks, which SGH and KKH list for the first trimester. At SGH, the doctor, the scan and the blood tests can all be done in its one-stop O&G Centre at Block 5 Level 1.

From the second visit, SGH asks you to bring your pink card, which holds your antenatal notes, and any scan or blood test forms. Our 8 weeks pregnant guide explains each blood test, and our thalassaemia screening guide covers what happens if you or your partner is a carrier. For every visit after this one, see our antenatal check-up and scan schedule.

Choosing your Down syndrome screening

Screening gives you a risk, not an answer, KKH explains. Its first trimester screen pairs a scan of the fluid behind your baby's neck with a blood test. A result higher than 1 in 300 counts as increased risk. A diagnostic test such as CVS or amniocentesis can then tell you whether the baby is affected, though both carry a possibility of miscarriage.

NIPT is a blood test that reads DNA from the placenta in your blood. KKH points out that it doesn't screen for structural problems such as heart defects, which are seven times more common than Down syndrome. So KKH recommends the first trimester screen whether or not you also have NIPT.

Under 35? The screening still applies to you. KKH says most babies with Down syndrome are born to young women, because younger women have more babies.

Subsidised or private at the first visit

At KKH, subsidised patients get team-based care led by an assigned specialist, and private patients choose their specialist. KKH says the quality of care is the same either way. Walk-ins and self-referred patients pay non-subsidised rates, and so does a polyclinic referral to a named doctor.

KKH's fee page, effective from 8 Aug 2025, lists a private first consultation for Singapore Citizens at S$170.48 to S$222.14. The fee rises with the doctor's seniority. A subsidised consultation is S$37.20 to S$101.49. That's the consultation only, with tests, scans and medicine billed on top. Our delivery cost calculator estimates the delivery bill.

Questions to ask at your first antenatal visit

KKH says you can raise questions and concerns at every visit. Write yours down before you go. Here are six to start with.

• How was my due date worked out, and could the scan change it?
• Which Down syndrome screening do you offer, what does it cost, and by which week must I book it?
• Which of my medicines and supplements should I keep taking?
• Does anything in my history, such as diabetes, a thyroid problem or a past miscarriage, change my care?
• Who do I call about bleeding, pain or vomiting before my next visit?
• When is my next visit, and will I see the same doctor each time?

Our guide to medicine in pregnancy covers the common ones, and our high-risk pregnancy guide explains what changes if your history needs closer care. The first trimester checklist keeps the rest of your to-dos in one place.

When to see a doctor

You don't need to wait for your booked visit if something feels wrong. KKH says light bleeding in early pregnancy can be a sign of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (one outside the womb). The commonest cause, though, is implantation at 4 to 5 weeks. Where to go depends on your hospital and how many weeks you are.

• Heavy vaginal bleeding or significant tummy pain: KKH says get help straight away at its Urgent O&G Centre, Women's Tower Basement 1, or your nearest hospital emergency department.
• Pain or bleeding under 22 weeks: KKH's Urgent O&G Centre is a 24-hour walk-in centre for acute early pregnancy problems.
• Light bleeding or mild pain under 16 weeks: KKH's Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit sees you by appointment, the same or the next working day.
• Vomiting in pregnancy: KKH's Urgent O&G Centre takes same-day bookings for it. SGH's O&G Centre (6326 5920, 8am to 5pm) sees nausea and vomiting under 14 weeks.
• Booked at SGH, under 14 weeks, with pain or bleeding: its Early Pregnancy Unit at Block 5 Level 2, Ward 52A, is open weekdays 9am to 5pm (6321 4516). Under 20 weeks with any concern, SGH's A&E at Block 1 Level 2 is open 24 hours.
• 22 weeks or more: KKH sends you to its Delivery Suite on Level 2 of the Women's Tower, and SGH's Labour Ward (6321 4520) sees you from 20 weeks.
• An emergency: KKH says call 995 or go to an emergency room.

Booked at another hospital? Call its O&G clinic. Our guide to bleeding in early pregnancy explains the different kinds of bleeding, and our morning sickness guide covers vomiting that won't settle.

Frequently asked questions

When should I go for my first gynae visit in pregnancy in Singapore?

KKH's pregnancy timeline puts the first visit in weeks 8 to 12. KKH's doctors suggest booking as soon as you know you're pregnant, so you get a slot in that window. Bleeding or pain before then is a reason to be seen sooner.

What happens at the first gynae visit?

You'll answer questions about your health, family and past pregnancies, then have your blood pressure, weight and urine checked. SGH lists a scan to confirm where the pregnancy is, check the heartbeat and estimate your due date, plus blood tests for anaemia and infections. Your doctor will also offer Down syndrome screening.

What should I bring to my first gynae appointment?

SGH asks for your NRIC or passport, any referral letter and any test results. Add the first day of your last period, a list of your medicines, and your and your partner's medical histories, as KKH's doctors suggest.

Is my first antenatal visit at KKH subsidised?

It is if you're a Singapore Citizen or PR referred by a polyclinic, a public hospital's A&E or a CHAS GP. Walk-ins and self-referred patients pay non-subsidised rates, and so does a polyclinic referral to a specific doctor.

Will I get a scan at my first gynae visit?

Usually, yes. KKH's timeline pairs the first visit with a dating scan to estimate your due date. SGH's first trimester scan also checks where the pregnancy is and looks for the heartbeat.

Can my husband come to the first antenatal visit?

Yes. KKH's doctors suggest going with your partner and bringing both your medical histories, because family conditions such as diabetes can affect the pregnancy.