Early booking, prior to fourteen weeks gestation is usually recommended to achieve improved outcome of pregnancy for the mother and the fetus.A survey of information among patients attending post-natal clinic at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos Nigeria was carried out using a structured questionnaire. The mean gestational age at booking was 23.5(+6.9) weeks. Only 23(6%) booked before 14 weeks gestation.The reasons given for late booking were mandatory blood donation of one pint of blood to the hospital’s blood bank by the husband or the relative (44%), convenience (25%), the logistics involved in registration (24%), affordability (3%) while relocation and assurance of a live fetus (quickening) contributed 2% each. The need to educate women in the reproductive age group on the importance of early booking is recommended. It is also recommended that the logistics involved in registration and blood donation should be reviewed.
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