Advice Please - Frequency of Antenatal Appointments

[TheCalvert]

Dear all,

I would really like your advice on my situation.

I am currently 31 weeks pregnant with my second child. My first pregnancy finished with an undiagnosed breach (after 31 hours of ?fun?) and a GBS positive baby (where we were held at the NHS?s pleasure over a week after birth for treatment).

However, I am concerned about my midwife?s lack of concern about me. I have had a healthy pregnancy so far (thankfully!). However, I have only had checks at 12, 21 and 29 weeks and am not due another check until 34 weeks.

Even considering fundal checks, I am being seen less this pregnancy than I was in my previous pregnancy, despite being told that I am high risk. I think I should, at this stage of my pregnancy, be seen every 2-3 weeks. Further, I haven?t been booked onto antenatal classes yet, despite my doctor telling me that I would need to go through the process again.

Can you let me know how often you are being seen/have been seen by your MW in your third trimester and whether you ought to be booked onto antenatal classes for your second baby?

Thanks!!

[EldonAve]

I would expect
26w
30w
34w
36w
38w
40w

I wouldn't expect antenatal classes for 2nd child

[GothDetective]

sounds standard for a 2nd pregnancy as you are seen less than with your first. Why are you high risk with this pregnancy? Previous breech and previous GBS shouldn't impact on this pregnancy.

[curlywurlycremeegg]

I would only worry about antenatal classes if YOU think you need them, if that is the case you usually need to book then yourself, not be automatically booked on.

Re: high risk, I am assuming that you have no other complications you haven't mentioned. In that case you are being classed as high risk because of the previous GBS and this will not be an issue until you labour/have a c/s/spontaneous rupture of membranes pre labour. It sounds like you haven't been given much info re what is going to happen with this birth, if you need more info then I would suggest asking for another appointment with your consultant to discuss this.

Hope all goes well

[heth1980]

i will have 28w, 32w, 37w, 38w, 39w, 40w. I guess a lot of it depends where you live etc.

[LadyOfTheFlowers]

just had 28, now have 32, 34, 36,37,38,39 consultant (to see how 'big' i am , then 40 with m/w again.

[flybynight]

I've had a look at the NICE guidelines at it says the appointment schedule for subsequent babies should be:

Booking in
16w
anomaly scan
28w
31w
34w
36w
38w
41w

So yes, much as EldonAve says and pretty muchg what you are getting. I must admit, I find the stretch between 16 and 28 weeks a bit much.

[TheCalvert]

Sorry Goth, previous GBS does indeed impact on this pregnancy - I passed it onto DS1 last time and am automatically classified high risk because of that.

Further, I am also supposed to be seen more often (according to my GP) because of the breech last time, and I am booked in for a 36 week scan because of this!

I also had a EMCS because of yet more complications during labour, which, again, according to my GP, I should (yes, you've guessed it!) be seen more frequently.

Thanks everyone for your input - I can relax a bit now that I know what to expect. I just seem to be told different things from different people!

[daniwalkes]

hi, this is my second pregnancy too and even though i had pre-ecleamsia and already have high blood pressure in this pregnancy i am being seem much less often, im 25 weeks and have only seen the midwife at 8 weeks for booking in and 16 weeks, i wont be seen again until 28 weeks... i was really shocked but they said to me that nothing much can be done until further in the pregnancy and becuase we have more of an understanding of what to look out for they don't need to see us as often!

if your worried though just book an appointment, they wont mind if you want your mind to be put at rest!

[TheCalvert]

Thanks Dani - slightly confusted at all the conflicting information we seem to be given!

Hubby and I were nervous at the apparent 'lack' of appointments, but feel better now we know what is happening with other pregnant ladies.

Hope you have a better/easier/less stressful pregnancy this time. I am trying to chill out a lot more as it may be my last pregnancy!

[GothDetective]

Ah, misread the GBS bit = thought you'd just had it, didn't realise that baby was actually affected. So yes because it passed onto baby then you'll probably be offerred antibiotics in labour. But like previously said it isn't of any concern until you're actually in labouor or your waters go. So no need for more a/n appts than the standard.

Where I work we wouldn't see someone more often becasue of a previous breech and we don't offer a 36 week scan either. Would only be if m/w suspected this one was breech. We would offer a consultant appt at approx 30/32 weeks to discuss mode of delivery due to previous section.

[MandaHugNKiss]

Are you having 'shared' care with your GP? I just had my 34 week appointment with midwife, and expressed a bit of surprise that I wasn't to have any appointment scheduled between my 28 week and this one (although, as bad luck (ie, reoccurant uti's) would have it, I was referred to my consultant by GP at 30 weeks so was infact seen then too). She said I should have had an appointment with my GP at 32 weeks. But unless you 'know' how are you supposed to make the appointments (because they're certainly not mae for you!). There's a page in my notes that the booking mw filled in with when I should have appointments, but you guessed it, she left the six week gap from 28 to 34 weeks.

Remember that if you feel you need to be seen more often you can always make extra appointments/see your GP. And it doesn't hurt to actually ask what the offical line is in your area as it seems to be different depending on where you are.

[MumNWLondon]

If you want more appointments just go and see GP... I thought too big gap between 16 w and 28 weeks, so just made extra GP appointment (as has infection in urine at 16 weeks), she didn't bat an eyelid....

I am 28 weeks, have midwife this week, and at 34 weeks.