Your Right to Paid Time Off Work for Antenatal Appointments: What to Know

What the right to paid time off actually covers

If you're employed and pregnant, you're entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments, and your employer is expected to pay you your normal rate for this time. This isn't a favour your employer chooses to grant, it's a right that exists specifically so pregnant employees can attend the care that helps keep them and their baby well.

This paid time off isn't limited to scans and midwife check-ups. It can also cover antenatal or parenting classes that have been recommended as part of your care. If you're ever unsure whether a particular appointment counts, checking current GOV.UK guidance or asking your midwife to confirm the purpose of the appointment can help you explain it to your employer with confidence.

How many appointments should you expect to need time off for

Knowing roughly how many appointments lie ahead can make it easier to plan time off with your employer well in advance, rather than requesting each one at short notice.

For a first pregnancy, you'll usually be offered at least 10 antenatal appointments plus two ultrasound scans. If you've given birth before, you'll typically be offered at least 7 appointments, since fewer check-ups are usually needed. These appointments may take place at a hospital, GP surgery or community clinic, and some, like the first booking appointment, can take around an hour, while others are shorter.

• First pregnancy: at least 10 appointments plus 2 scans, spread across the pregnancy
• Subsequent pregnancies: at least 7 appointments, as fewer check-ups are usually needed
• Appointments may be at a hospital, GP surgery or community clinic, so travel time is worth factoring in
• The first booking appointment is often the longest, around an hour

How to raise it with your employer

Most workplaces handle antenatal appointment time off routinely, but it still helps to approach the conversation clearly and early. Once you've told your employer you're pregnant, it's reasonable to explain that you'll need periodic paid time off for antenatal care and to ask how they'd like this recorded.

A short, practical conversation usually works better than trying to cover everything at once. Bringing along any appointment letter or confirmation from your midwife can help if your employer asks for evidence, which they're entitled to request after the first appointment.

• Give as much notice as you can once you receive an appointment date or time
• Ask your employer or HR team how they'd like appointments logged, for example via a leave system or informal note
• Keep appointment confirmations or letters in case evidence is requested
• Agree in advance how travel time to and from appointments will be treated
• Revisit the arrangement if your appointment schedule becomes more frequent later in pregnancy

When appointments clash with your work schedule

Antenatal clinics don't always offer appointment slots that neatly avoid your working hours, and this is one of the most common practical frustrations pregnant employees raise. If a clash comes up, it's worth first checking whether the clinic can offer an alternative time before assuming you'll need to take the original slot during work hours.

If rescheduling isn't possible, your right to paid time off still applies. It can help to flag the clash to your manager as soon as you know about it, rather than close to the date, so cover or handovers can be arranged calmly. If your job involves shift patterns or irregular hours, having an early conversation about how antenatal appointments will fit around your rota can prevent last-minute stress for everyone.

If something doesn't feel straightforward

Most of the time, arranging paid time off for antenatal care is uneventful, but if you ever feel unsure about your entitlement, or your employer questions whether an appointment qualifies, it's worth checking the current guidance on GOV.UK for pregnant employees' rights, since these details are reviewed and updated over time.

If a workplace disagreement arises that you can't resolve through conversation, organisations that specialise in employment and maternity rights can offer more detailed guidance than a general information article like this one can provide. And if what's worrying you is actually about your pregnancy health or the appointments themselves rather than the time-off arrangement, your midwife, GP, health visitor or maternity triage service is the right place to raise that concern directly.

For more general information on preparing for pregnancy appointments and what to expect at each stage, you can browse related guides on the Bump Circle journal at /blog.