First midwife appointment at 16 weeks

[ruthiel50]

Hello - just wondering of some one could kindly let me know whether this is normal?
I'm 36 and currently eight weeks pregnant with my first. I went to my GP a fortnight ago to tell them I was expecting.
The GP said the midwife would be in touch and my first appointment would be at 16 weeks. I thought I may have misheard and checked with one of the practice nurses, who confirmed this was the case.
I thought there was normally a scan at 12 weeks and you would be offered tests, for Downs etc, at somewhere around ten weeks.
I haven't heard anything more from the GP or midwife since then.
Is a first midwife appoint at 16 weeks usual?
Everything health-wise seems to be going smoothly and the GP said she had no concerns at all about me.
However - although I'm not incredibly ancient - in first time Mum terms - I'm possibly a little on the older side. I always understood that mums over 35 were checked up on a bit more by HCPs because the pregnancy was thought to be a bit higher risk. Am delighted to be told I am wrong on this though. Just a bit concerned about getting lost in the system somewhere! thx

[NameChange30]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

16 weeks does seem very late to me (in my area the first midwife appointment is around 8 weeks) but it does depend on your area.

Has your GP referred you to the hospital for your 12 week scan? Have they referred you for blood tests? (I saw the practice nurse at my surgery who took urine and bloods and sent them off for various tests.) Those are the two things that need to happen before 16 weeks.

And have they given you phone numbers for the midwife team and EPU (early pregnancy unit) at your local hospital in case you have any questions or concerns before the 16 week mark?

[mellysam]

Seems late to me, what area are you in? It all seems to be done differently everywhere but i'm in Southampton and this is the schedule for first babies:
Initial contact - midwife/GP
8-10 weeks - booking appointment midwife with bloods taken and get your blue notes folder
11-14 weeks - dating ultrasound scan and screening for Downs
16 weeks - midwife appointment
19-20 weeks - anomaly ultrasound scan
25 weeks - midwife app
28 weeks - midwife app with bloods taken
More midwife appointments at weeks 31, 34, 36, 38 and 40
This is all listed in my blue maternity notes folder given to me by my midwife

[mellysam]

My GP did a referral to the local midwife team who phoned me to arrange my 'booking appointment' and the referral also got my first scan booked i got a letter in the post with the date on.
Maybe see if you can get the number for the local midwife team (I had to chase I think I looked on my local NHS section for maternity services) and give them a ring?

[ruthiel50]

Thanks so much!
No, I'm not aware of being referred for anything specific!
The Gp just said the midwife would be in touch.
Haven't been given any phone numbers either so no idea how to even contact said midwife myself. But might try to contact local hospital's early pregnancy unit
Asked Gp question about nutrition and got referred to a website.
Starting to wonder whether cutting back on scans is a cost cutting thing.
I'm in North Herts.

[MrsJoeyMaynard]

This seems late to me too. The appointment schedule where I live is pretty much the same as what melly describes.

I'd definitely contact someone - GP, local midwife team - to find out how you get booked in for the 12 week scan.

[RaggyDoll24]

I had an early birds appointment when I was 10 weeks but some ladies were 6-8 weeks in the group (you self refer to the midwife in my area). Had scan at 12 weeks and individual midwife appointment then. Then did have a 16 week appointment, but that wasn't my first.

Have done a quick google - is this helpful? www.enherts-tr.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/our-services/maternity/antenatal-services/

[RaggyDoll24]

Found a self referral link here - www.enherts-tr.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/our-services/maternity/introducing-our-services/

[NameChange30]

"But might try to contact local hospital's early pregnancy unit"

I think the midwife is your best bet, try the self referral link Raggy found.

Not 100% sure but I think you should only contact the EPU if you have serious concerns ie heavy bleeding.

[ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe]

Chase it up.
16 weeks is late, you need a 12 weeks scan and bloods.

[Bigfam]

Congrats on your pregnancy 😊 I'm in the same/ish area as mellysam ((waves))

It does sound late and I was under the impression that if you opt for the screening for downs (which is the 12 week scan, which also checks for other chromosomal abnormalities, I think?!) It has to be performed before 14 weeks or the results will be inaccurate.
If that's something your keen on, then you should definitely Chase them up

[1frenchfoodie]

I agree with others, get midwife no from GP and check in re scan and booking in timings. My booking in last year was post 12wk scan at about 14wks as the midwives were coping with large workload (surrey) but my bloods were taken before the scan.

I was 36/37 during pregnancy and got no special attention though any first time mum gets more antenatal appointments than those who have already had a baby.

[ruthiel50]

Thanks everyone - very much appreciated!
Can't help but feel it shouldn't be down to kind strangers on the internet to go digging around for information for me - it's surely the responsibility of the GP to point you in the right direction!
x

[EvansAndThePrince]

You should have booking I appointment with the midwife at some point between now and your scan. I never had any contact with the midwife about the scan, just a letter through but there is a midwife there to take your bloods if you choose to have the screening. Then your first"routine" appointment is at 16 weeks so it could be that the GP has been overly vague. I had letters through for booking appointments and scan appointments so if you've not had anything do get in touch, you definitely need the 12 weeks scan.

[Parney]

I got an envelope in post about two weeks after GP visit. Letters for 22 week scan and 16 week midwife appointments were enclosed

[wilfrhodes]

this was exactly what happened to me. i'm 39 and had no contact at all with a midwife until over four weeks after my ultrasound scan.

i was very worried and also upset that i had to do so much research on my own, but it has turned out fine so far. the ultrasound went smoothly last month and i finally saw the midwife this morning at 16+4.

i have found all the hcps to be very helpful and kind so far, but getting through the admin system to actually see them has been really frustrating. i think that's just the way things are in busy areas (i'm in central london).

if you are worried about anything specific to do with your health and te pregnancy, call your gp.

i sympathise wholeheartedly with your situation. the system seems designed for people who are blase or who have been through the process before and already know how it all works.

[Emz32]

Hey. I'm just over the border (!) in East Herts. My GPs surgery has a midwife as part of the team who's there on a Wednesday so I booked an appointment via reception at 8 weeks. She then referred me to Lister hospital who I then saw at 9 weeks, had bloods & booked 12 week scan. I'm now seeing original midwife 2nd time at 16 weeks. I only knew the process as this is baby 2. Which hospital are you? The Rosie works differently to Lister I think. You can self refer to Lister. Have you tried talking to gps reception? Sometimes they can be very helpful at knowing the process better than gps.

[mummydoc123]

I had 12 week scan (and nuchal thickness measured) before first midwife appointment . Was sent round from scan to antenatal clinic where I was consented for bloods for Down's, Patau's, Edward's syndrome. Need to ensure that you are booked for 12 week scan (midwives did this even though I hadn't seen the yet) and offered appropriate screening even if you don't see community midwife till after that time. GPs often not really as aware of what needs to be done when since they hand care over to midwife/antenatal clinic.