Just been told off by my midwife

[JollyMarie79]

I missed my 28 week antenatal appointment due to unforeseen circumstances however I have booked another one for in a couple of weeks time (I'll be 31wks) as it was the earliest I could get an appointment. I ve been told I shouldn't have missed the 28wk appointment as they need to take bloods and it's very important. I feel like a naughty school girl

[Showy]

Can the midwife leave the forms with the receptionist and you go and collect them? Either have them done with the nurse or go to your local phlebotomist/walk in centre. Ask for advice. The 28 week bloods are important and your midwife should have suggested ways of getting them taken.

You can't help the unforeseen circumstances of course but the midwife is right to point out the importance of the appointment.

[lilyaldrin]

Isn't there a practice nurse or HCA who could take the bloods instead? I'd call back and ask.

[JollyMarie79]

Good advice, and no it wasn't suggested so I think I will ring back and see if a phleb or nurse can do them. Are the bloods just for checking anaemia? If so do I need it doing if I'm not symptomatic.. I feel fine

[SinkyMalinks]

I was 28 weeks on Christmas Eve. It didn't suit them to do my bloods then, so I was booked for 31 weeks ( and my anti-d, after telling me how important it is to do that at dead on 28weeks...)

I was told as long as I feel well, it's nt a problem (and I'd been having extra scans at the time as measuring big, albeit all was fine)

So I wouldn't fret tbh! And sod the lecture!

[ThedementedPenguin]

Jolly I would say yes to getting bloods done. I had no symptoms but it came back saying I had low iron. So it is important to get them done.

[peeapod]

i had the same christmas problem over my quad test. so i didnt get it done.. because the mw refused to budge on it. o well, surprise for me..

[dats]

I had bloods for iron and glucose (pre-GTT test) at my 28 week appt. No symptoms here, either but my haemoglobin was pretty low and I'm on the lovely ferrous tabs. I'd ignore the telling off because yannow - you're a grown up and don't need lecturing per se, but I'd get your bloods done just for your own sake.

[SinkyMalinks]

It's important to get the bloods done, but I can't see any reason they must be done at 28 weeks. As long as you feel well, a low iron for an extra 2 weeks is not going to have any effects on you or baby.

If your GP can do them, great. My surgery don't do bloods - you get sent off the the local community hospital for an appointment. But I really wouldn't stress about it.

[ZenNudist]

Doctor receptionist booking you in no appreciation of why 28w appointment might be important. Rearrange to get bloods done like you say.

Is she your only option of community mw? She doesn't sound very nice.

[SinkyMalinks]

My surgery doesn't...


peeapod- quad test? The one for later downs screening? That really is shit that they couldn't fit you in.

[Patchwork88]

I'm speculating but I was told that they have to take two lots of bloods in pregnancy to confirm your blood type, in case they need to do a transfusion at birth. Perhaps 28 weeks is the best time for a second lot in case of early labour?
Don't worry though as long as you get it done I'm sure it'll be fine, don't let the mw make you feel bad.

[JollyMarie79]

Cheers guys, I've calmed down now. I've an appointment next week for the bloods. I just didn't like how I was spoken to by the MW as after all I had a good reason not to attend the original appointment and it's not like they're compulsory however I am sensible and believe I should have them.

[Mim78]

Well I would be told off by this token as I have just missed 36 week appt ( as in neve made one in first place) due to working - having so many extra scans etc that no time for another appointment. They told me to go to gp for it rather than hospital and gp is such a palaver to get a convenient appt I didn't bother. Got a 38 week appt soon enough (10th) and a scan tomorrow so that seemed like enough. If they needed to do bloods then oops...

[SweetPea86]

I've been pissed about by midwifes through out my whole pregnancy. I didn't have a 16 week app because silly receptionist told me I didn't see a midwife untill after my scan that at week 22 and midwife rang me up asking why I hadn't had my app told her and she was really angry with who I'd spoke to on the phone, she then made app for me to see her and canceled on me 3 times so I finally seen a midwife at 25 weeks.

I haven't even met my midwife. So I had my 28 week app last week and the midwife who I seem told me to leave my docs and register with the one she worked at and now I have my 31 and 34 week app fully booked :) fingers crossed its works out better. Don't know how they have the cheek

[Mim78]

Yes I wish they would just help people to be calm rather than making a big deal about appointments and then cancelling them!

[Blondebrunette1]

I skipped my 28week bloods during last pregnancy as the midwife said it has no impact on baby and is just to check my iron levels etc so I said ok ill pass if its not harmful to baby as I felt fine! She was fine didn't tell me it was so important??? It didn't hurt me.xxx

[KnickersOnOnesHead]

Hmmm my midwife forgot to take my bloods at 28 weeks, I had them done at 34

[JollyMarie79]

I've been told the 28wk bloods are also something to do with antibodies as well but I had them checked when bloods we're taken at booking in appointment and they were fine. Not really sure why they check the antibodies again, I've googled it but still non the wiser. Can anyone shed some light on this?

[scissy]

If you're RH- then they check antibodies to make sure you haven't developed antibodies after the last set of bloods. My midwife was very careful to make sure she took the bloods before giving me my dose of anti-d (not that I think it'd make any difference that soon after!)