how long did your booking appointment take?

[toots123]

Hi

letter from wm says this could take 1-2 hours so trying to work out what to do about work as they dont know (only 9 weeks)

I dont have any health conditions and neither does dh. Already have my 12 week scan appointment too so surely an hour will cover it?!

How long did yours take?

[annielewis]

Hi - Congrats on pregnancy! I'm assuming it is your first baby, it will take between 1-2 hrs depending on your local midwives and your history. As you don't have any health issues that should help.

I would be prepared for them to be running late though unless you're going privately? Ours were always late - occupational hazard I guess as the midwives that are doing the appointments are also on call for homebirths and other emergency stuff too.

CAn you tell work you've got a dental appt for a large filling/root canal or something time consuming - or tell them the washing machine is flooded/broken and you've got to wait for an engineer - or something similiar that will take a while.......

[jessplussomeonenew]

Mime took about an hour - probably depends whether you have a complex medical history to discuss.

I'd keep it simple and just tell work you have a medical appointment - they shouldn't ask you for more details. I understand the instinct to conceal it, but the risk is that when you do tell them about your pregnancy they will retrospectively guess what the appointment was for and it could be awkward!

[LBNM19]

Mine did take about 2 hours, my history took a long time to go through that was the main thing, also had to wait around for bloods to be taken as well afterwards. They do run late as well, I had the first appointment of the day and she was still about 15 mins behind.

Also same with your scan just depends if they are running behind. The actual appointment it's self doesn't take yonl

[LBNM19]

• to long

[LittleBearPad]

About an hour but it started 30 minutes late and was only at 10am so assume there will be delays.

[deuscat]

Mine only took 45 minutes and I was the first appointment of the day so no delays. She also took blood tests and I provided a urine sample. It was thorough but as my medical history is zilch there wasn't much to talk about at all.

I just told my workplace that I had a medical appointment and no further questions were asked.

[toots123]

Thanks for the replies! I dont mind telling my boss as I dont see it being an issue but its more my colleagues asking where I was for 3 hours iyswim. Its a big office and don't want gossip to start... might see if I can take the day off as im knackered anyway and housework needs done haha!

[KittyandTeal]

Mine took close to 2 hours. Sped through it all with no medical history, was becoming a laughing matter until we hit the mental health stuff which took forever for me.

If you and your partner have no medical history in your families I reckon it'll be shorter.

[bakingmad83]

Mine didn't even take half an hour, as I had to fill out all the details about my medical and family history before the appointment, and nothing much of consequence for either, so was just a case of taking weight, height, bp, bloods and telling me a bit about the midwife service locally at the appointment.

[moggle]

I have no medical history and it was my first but it took over an hour and they were running late too. The midwife isn't permanently based at the surgery so she was rummaging around for all the different forms and booklets to give me. Can you say you need to wait in for a delivery?! That's always my excuse! Of course you can tell your boss the truth if you want to.

[SouthDerbyshireMamma]

I was in with the midwife about half hour. No medical issues on either side, low risk, first timer. Had all the standard tests, questions and discussions. Even chose my MLU as i'm on the border of two counties. Scan was arranged whilst I was there too. My midwife did have a student with her which could explain why it was so efficient.

[MrsGiraffe12]

Mine took about 2 hours but I had a pre term delivery and pre eclampsia last time so had to be very thorough. All appointments since have been about half hour too and I'm 28 weeks now x

[PresidentSpreadable]

Two hours, but it was done by a trainee midwife so may be quicker if it's a more experienced one.

They'd got my address wrong when I referred myself, so I didn't actually receive the letter for my appointment and had no idea it was going to take so long! I was anticipating half an hour tops.

[twiglet2]

Mine took about an hour - no complex medical stuff, I was low risk. The midwife was really nice, and pretty efficient. I just told my manager I had a doctors appointment, and no questions were asked, though I did let my manager know a week or so before I had my scan appointment, as I was told that could take 1-2 hours.

[hubbahubster]

Two hours this time, can't remember how long it took first time but there are blood tests etc so a fair bit of popping in and out to see different midwives for different things. Since they'll be using your booking BP as a yard stick for what's normal for the rest of your pregnancy, it's worth allowing plenty of time so you aren't stressed and give a fair reading!

[RAFWife12]

Mine took about an hour. No medical history/previous births.
I took a days holiday, so no explaining why I was off work :-) was just before Christmas so lots of people were taking odd days off.

[KateTheHuman]

Mine took 45 minutes.

[beccajoh]

About an hour both times.