Getting a matb1 form for work at the right time.

[FlipUpDown]

This is awkward every time, I have no midwife appointments between 16 and 28 weeks yet work want my form by 25 weeks. It can't be issued before 20 weeks. How do others get round this? I had the same issue last time, no midwife number to call and my new gp is saying it's only for midwives to issues. To make it worse I'm a teacher and I'll have my next midwife appointment on the first day of the summer holidays...I'd be nearly 34 weeks by the time people would be back at work.

[Trickytricky]

I'm having a similar issue. On another thread someone mentioned that you can call the midwife and ask for it. I see you don't have a midwife phone number so I'd suggest calling the surgery and asking for them to pass on message to midwife or give you her phone number. Good luck!

[FlipUpDown]

Just called the massively un-helpful surgery again. Utter refusal to engage, like I'm asking for the moon on a stick. Just 'as I said earlier this is for the midwives' then she said 'well we'll post it off for you then' I said it didn't need posting anywhere, just collecting and she got stroppy and said well then it definitely wasn't for them ....

Midwives have a ( I think unmonitored) answerphone is all.

Argh.

[FlipUpDown]

Sorry should have said, here midwives are a central team at the hospital with no gp link

[PeekABooPinky101]

Is their a local mums page/baby selling page on Facebook if you have it. You could ask on there and see what others local to you have done.

Failing that maybe find a local children's centre, or somewhere that has health visitors that do weigh in clinics, that may be able to give you a contact number and/or be able to offer more advice.

[Stubbed]

Ring your local labour ward. The midwives there must be able to contact yours?

[mustard73]

Go to the clinic where you have your appointments and ask the receptionist to help?

[MrsAnxiety1]

You can make an appointment to see your midwife at any time, at least you can here, you don't have to wait for a scheduled appointment. I'd double check about work and whether they could be flexible, if not, book yourself in with the MW and tell them you're getting pressured from work.

[RockerMummy184]

I had exactly the same problem. I spoke to my Dr's surgery and asked if she could sign it and leave it at reception for me to collect.

[FlipUpDown]

Mine I guess are obtuse. I'm looking at switching, it took weeks to rearrange an appointment plus a lot of stropping as you can only leave messages, not talk to humans!

[RoobyTuesday]

Most employers will actually say they want it at 25 weeks if possible but otherwise as soon as possible. Usually as long as you have informed them of your pregnancy and your intentions for maternity leave this should be adequate until you get the MATB1 form. Have you spoken to your HR advisor?

[RolyPolierThanThou]

I spoke to Hr at work and showed them the appointments schedule that is ony maternity notes to tell them that 2nd and subsequent pregnancies dont see a midwife again until 28 weeks and the guidance is not to issue the matb1 until after 20 weeks
They said they would update their policy.

So speak to hr maybe? They need to know its unrealistic not just you being awkward.

[Poppytime]

How annoying! And that's rubbish its for midwives to deal with, my GP did mine no problem (and believe it says that can on the form), they obviously can't be bothered! I had same issue as no appointments between 20 week scan and 28 weeks. Maybe see if work can wait a few weeks longer otherwise I would try and find a doctor who can do it for you/keep pestering your GP surgery.

[RugBugs]

Not helpful to you but I have a list of all the mobile numbers for the mws in my 'area' plus the supervisor of mws. I just sent my MW a text and she posted it through my letterbox. I am having all but one of my antenatal appts at home though as the clinics are very busy here.

[ARV1981]

I phoned my drs as they didn't have an appointment for me at 25 weeks (went at 26 weeks instead) and a midwife did one over the phone. Can you ask for a phone appointment with a midwife?

I would be tempted to complain to your trust about the receptionist as well. She's effectively stopping you getting something you're entitled to.

As an aside, I don't know why mat b forms aren't just posted to you at 20 weeks, or filled in at the 20 week scan! Seems a barmy system to me.

[MissTwister]

You have to inform work in writing by 25 weeks but you DON'T need to provide the MatB1 until after you've gone on maternity leave as it's only for SMP. So they're being unreasonable too!

[WorkingBling]

Honestly - just call your midwives. If there's no number, call the delivery suite or whoever you'd call if there was a problem with the pregnancy and baby. It infuriates me when services like this make themselves unavailable. Thank god we don't have that problem in our area.

MissTwister - if her work is planning to claim SMP on her behalf, she does need the MatB1 form ahead of time. They use it to alert the government that they'll be claiming and in some cases, in order to claim her benefits ahead of time.

[BeaufortBelle]

I'm HR. I always say, "when you get it is good enough". And tell the pregnant ladies that they and the baby are the priority! Obviously it's helpful to have it asap, but it really isn't a deal breaker providing we get it before the start of your maternity leave - and even for ladies who go into labour prematurely when we don't have it then, we deal with it. Haven't had one of those for a long time now so can't remember how but I know we have.

Pregnancy is stressful enough in itself without this sort of nonsense.

[JassyRadlett]

I'm on second pregnancy - I got one from the hospital when I had the 20 week scan done. Have you had that scan yet - or could you call the unit where you had it done?

Your maternity notes should have a bunch of numbers on the front - if you get stuck it might be worth just ringing through them until you reach someone helpful.

[aletea]

You actually need to supply your matb1 28 days prior to mat leave starting. Unless that isn't reasonably practical. So don't worry!

[caffiene99]

I think I'm lucky as it seems my GP Surgery is more helpful than most others!

I called my GP Reception, explained what I needed... They asked for my Due date and date of birth and said it would be ready within 24 hours for collection.

My midwife only visits the Doctor's Surgery once a week - when I collected the form it had been signed by one of the GPs.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

It is a pain - I don't know why they don't issue it after the 20 week scans either. All the phoning and popping in to get it must use up the NHS's time as well as ours.
My HR were OK with getting it a bit later last time. Luckily this time I have a consultant appointment at 24 weeks so hopefully I can get it then or from someone in the hospital whilst I'm there