14 weeks and still not had a date for my first scan

[Readaholic]

this is my first pregnancy so I am trying not to make a massive fuss about everything (i.e twinges, morning sickness, sinus problems) so that people will get fed up of my moaning.

But am I wrong to complain that I have not yet had a date for my scan yet???

I went the doc's first week of Dec to get the ball rolling and they said a midwife would be in touch.

2.5 weeks later I received a call from the midwife on a friday but due to work missed her and she finished work at 1 pm. Called her back the Monday - no answer so left a message and no reply
Tuesday - called again left message no reply but received an text off her saying it was her day off and she'd call Wednesday
Wednesday - again no call back

I left it until the end of the week and called the hospital to speak to someone else but they told me to call the midwife that was on call again(so I was back to square one again)

I was 11 weeks by this point and I did manage to get through to different midwife left my details with her and guess what.......she would give me a call back
Thursday a midwife called asking me if I had a booking in appt (i didnt even know what a booking in appt was as no one had actually explained this me prior and clearly communication skills are top notch with this group of midwives)

The midwife did say "I can fit you in quickly this afternoon before my other appts" (like I was an inconvenience to them) I tried explaining to her I wasn't happy about the lack of communication and she cut me off saying ''well we have been busy''.

so she turned up we got the forms filled in and she said I would receive a letter off the hospital and a call the following Friday to book me in for my 16 week appt.

Friday rolled around, different midwife again. I told her I was expecting her call to which I was replied she didn't know she was meant to be ringing me! but she booked me in then and there

another 2 weeks passed heard nothing off the hospital (I am now 13 weeks) so I ring the hospital and guess what they hadn't even received my forms, I was livid by this point and had to do more ringing around trying to get hold of the midwives who never answer their phones. Finally got through and I had another "I'll give you a call back" she called back about 2 hours later saying she didn't understand why my forms hadn't been given to the hospital and that she would do it that day. I asked how long roughly would it take for me to receive a date? she didn't know it would depend on the back log.

so now another week later I am now approaching 15 weeks next week and still no date.

I am highly frustrated but am I wrong to be?

my main cause of concern is that my partner works away as a teacher so he cant just 'drop' everything without notice, and I am the same I travel around a lot with work to different companies for meetings so again I cant just drop everything with out advance.

I know work is not more important than my baby but for the sake of organising my work and finding someone to cover is a nightmare.

[Readaholic]

I just feel like I am the one doing all the chasing around to make sure I get an appointment should be effortless and something I shouldn't have to do.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

No you are right to be cross about this. Hopefully someone will be along asap who knows where best to direct your complaint (maybe head of midwives at your hospital or the practice manager of your GP if the midwife is attached to the surgery).

If you wanted Nuchal Fold tests these needed to be done by now (not everyone wants them, so they arent essential), but the first scan is to Date your pregnancy officially and it keeps everything else in time.

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

And congratulations on your pregnancy!

[BumWad]

This is out of order. You should have had your 1st scan by now.

If I was you I would be ringing to speak to the head of midwifery tomorrow and making an official complaint. They must fit you in for a scan next week!

Good luck

[Readaholic]

I have already asked my sister who is head of physio in a hospital up north about how formal complaints are processed and her advice was not to put the time and effort in to it as it will only fall on deaf ears and noting will be done about it.

its sort of what ever options there are they always end up leading to a brick wall.

sigh

[Readaholic]

Thank you for the congrats!! :) that's one thing im happy about at least!!

[BatteryPoweredHen]

Gosh, I'd be fuming! It's too late for you to have the Nuchal Translucency screening test now - I'd kick up a massive fuss about that alone - shocking!

[SilverStars]

I agree, phone the hospital to speak to the supervisor of midwives and tell her all you have done and insist she sorts your booking appointment and a scan straight away. It is too late for some essential tests so ask how they will give you what you need from now on.

[LuluJakey1]

You shouldn't be chasing around. You have had pretty rubbish care so far and have missed your first scan.

Can you call in to where the midwives work from for a chat or go and see your GP and let them know what has happened and how anxious and upset you are.

It just is not good enough what has happened to you.

[Readaholic]

thanks for the advice, I will be ringing them first thing in the morning and will keep you updated.

[comeagainforbigfudge]

Phone and speak to a ward manager at the hospital re your scan

But also write to your trust. Yes it may seem that nothing is being done/will be done but if no one complains then it really won't change.

One break down in communication is almost "forgive-able" but for so many to occur in a short time frame needs to be addressed.

Hope its all sorted soon and congratulations x

[Readaholic]

Thanks guys I am going to ring in the morning, I have the head midwives number and I will be complaining to the Local Health Board, my concern is and I know chances are very slim but if there is anything seriously with my baby and I've missed out on these tests , I don't know where that is going to leave me

[NickyEds]

You need to keep at them. You shouldn't have to but they seem crap. There are a number of reasons for the 12 week, first scan; to check the number of babies, you see a heartbeat and movements, to date the pregnancy and to check the nuchal transluceny. I recently had my first scan and was 14 weeks exactly, I too had been delayed by having to wait for a booking appointment (3 weeks) and then "Christmas interfering" with scan dates. I'm having a blood test done next week for the Down's Screening (you can have the nt and blood test done up to 14 weeks and the quad blood test from 15 weeks) so that's also something you can ask about if you were wanting the screening. It's not good enough and just adds pressure to an already little-bit-stressy time doesn't it???

[Pico2]

Obviously not ideal - but there are other tests you can have privately e.g. Harmony test which are actually better at some elements of screening.

I found the group midwifery system really rather unsatisfactory when I had DD. There is a diffusion of responsibility.

[Ridingthestorm]

Contact PALS. This happened to me during my first pregnancy - exactly as you described only by 12 weeks I was so fuming, that is when I contacted PALS. they got me an appointment within 2 days. By the time I was scanned, I was actually a week and a half ahead and at 13 weeks and 3 days was just under the cut off for the unchallenged scan. Kick up a fuss, write a letter of complaint and contact PALS.

[sleepybee]

Can you go into the maternity unit at your birth hospital? When I've been for appointments there's always people who turn up without appointments etc & they do get seen! I went to my GP at 4 weeks she referred me to the hospital had letters in the post by the following week with my 10 week booking appointment & 12 week scan

[SeasonsEatings]

I wouldn't bother with the mid wives at this stage but go straight to the practice manager of your GP surgery. There are tests that need to be done and the window to tese tests is small. Shocking treatment.

A huge congratulations on your pregnancy.

[fattymcfatfat]

Congrats on your pregnancy hun....this is ridiculous. I had my booking app on christmas eve and my scan was on tuesday just gone. Im 14 weeks on wednesday so about a week behind you. You want to be trying to contact a supervisor of midwives. Or go straight to your gp and kick up a fuss. I know where I am we have to call the ultrasound dpt and book our dating scan ourselves but you should have been provided with that information at booking. This is horrendous and ssomething needs to be done about it!

[MrsJ12]

First off Congratulations!

I feel your pain. I'm 14.5 wks and only had my scan on Wednesday. Apparently my hospital had a backlog due to Christmas and it has taken no amount of chasing to get sorted. In the end I just demanded they sort it now as I wanted the downs testing and it was getting so tight. Id been getting promised it be sorted tomorrow and it never was. I got an appointment for 2 days later.

My advice was to be persistent and deal directly with the hospital rather than the midwives. Hopefully it'll just be a one off. I've actually had my appointment throug for my 20wk scan on Saturday'

[Readaholic]

I've got my appt first week of feb I will be having my first scan at 17 weeks, will miss out on certain tests I meant to have ( is anyone sensing my sarcasm and anger here)

The scan department won't change my appt they said I would need to ask the midwife to do it.

Spoke to the midwife,she said she would call today to try and get it moved sooner guess what no call

I'm really at my whits end now and really down

[SilverStars]

Phone hospital and talk to supervisor of midwives and tell her of every contact and failure of your midwife! I had to make a complaint about my midwife to supervisor last time and that midwife had to receive training due to her sadly poor treatment and lack of ( well I will not go into details) and I was given excellent care with a different midwife after that. My obstetrician told me to complain and how due to my (lack of) treatment. going through midwife does not seem to be getting you anywhere so go above.

[ISolemnlySwearImUptoNoGood]

Can you afford a private scan sooner just to ease your mind through all this?

I canot believe what they've put you through so far. I would be livid and making an absolute nuisance of myself. You are right to complain. It's disgraceful.

[Zahrah5]

Wow you have experienced lots of mess.

Your first focus now should be to get scan done ASAP. You have already missed the cut off for NT testing. Unfortunatelly you can have get only quad tests done now which are less reliable than NT testing. They can take blood for this after you reach 15w, so go and demand this ASAp so you know how you stand.

Of course only in case if you care about testing for trisomies.

I recommed you do lots of readings about testing and other things done in certain weeks of pregnancy so you know what needs to be done and than demand that. Do not wait for them but actively pursue.

Is it possible you can register with different hospitals for maternity to see if other can take you sooner?

There is also option of private scans and trisomies testing.

[Littleturkish]

Ignore your sister- complain to PALS. You need a scan sooner. How many weeks do you think you are now? Dating isn't as accurate at this point, I believe, and you need to have an accurate due date for them to book in interventions if you go over.

[PenguinTuxedo]

Please complain to PALS. I'm almost certain that they will get the date moved forward for you, because to be 17 wks for your first scan is beyond ridiculous, and unacceptable. You might even be further along than you think too, so this isn't right!