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Pregnancy

1st trimester

11 replies

Angharad07 · 16/01/2018 19:41

Hi all,

I’m about 8 weeks with my first and I’m really impatient for my first scan. I had a miscarriage (about 4 weeks) two and a half years ago and I have been paranoid ever since.

I’ve called the midwife centre and registered about a week ago and haven’t heard anything since.

Also, I didn’t know that there was a midwife led unit in my area and tired to make an appointment with my GP. In my area, in order to make an appointment with the GP you have to tell reception why you want to see them (this is why I haven’t been in approx 3 Years). I had a very rude response on the phone and was told that only people who have problems with their pregnancy i.e want to terminate get to see a GP. Being new to all this I was shocked by her abruptness and so didn’t reply immediately. Before I could, I was met with a sharp “well, what do you want to do?”. I managed to splutter that I wanted my baby and she seemed a little affronted and gave me the (wrong) number of the midwife service.

I get quite anxious as it is when it comes to clinical settings and I’m worried that I’ll get judged because I’m 20 years old and I’m in my last year of university (baby will arrive after I finish).

I’d really like some reassurance from a professional about my pregnancy but I haven’t had a phone call from the midwife or the information package (regarding my scan date etc.) in the post that I was promised. I feel a little like I’ve been left out in the cold with only the internet to tell me what I should be doing.

Any advice? Anyone going sharing similar feelings?

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user1474128210 · 16/01/2018 19:50

Hmmm... not sure about the underwhelming response you have had but likely enough you won’t get your scan letter until about 2 weeks before your scan which will likely be between 11-13 weeks or so. Maybe wait a couple of weeks then ring and check? If you need more support maybe have a chat with your university’s pastoral team (I assume most have one)

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SomehowSomewhere1 · 16/01/2018 20:42

I think it was midwife at 7/8 weeks here, then she organised a scan for 12weeks. Though I had a private scan at 7 and 10wks too.

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Gaby1982 · 18/01/2018 21:51

What an awful way to treat an expecting mum! Maybe you should report this person to someone or wrote a complaint?
I went to see my GP as soon as I found out I was pregnant (just over 4 weeks) and for my letter for midwife and scan appointments approx 2 weeks later. I’m 8+1, midwife appointment is next Friday 26th Jan and scan on 20th Feb (at 13 weeks). I’m also going for a NIPT on 07th Feb. I’d call both the GP practice (hopefully someone else picks up!) and the midwife again and follow up in case they took your details wrong? All the best xx

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Angharad07 · 19/01/2018 01:22

Thank you @Gaby1982 I’m going to give them a call on Monday if I haven’t heard anything by then (it will be 2 weeks since speaking to them and I’ll be 9 weeks along).

I hope the rest of the staff aren’t quite so rude. If they are again then I’m inclined not to be quite so forgiving!

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ShanC97 · 19/01/2018 02:58

Hi, sorry to jump in. I’m 3 days late on my period (early I know) I have had extremely sore breasts, extreme thirst, abdominal cramps and leaky discharge, I’m fixated on the idea of being pregnant but I don’t know what to do!!

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Pugsleypugs · 19/01/2018 08:30

Hi, OP, maybe give your midwife department a call just to check you're on the system correctly and your letter hasn't been lost in the post or anything like that as usually the booking in appointment is around this time and then you'll get your letter for your scan a few weeks after.

If you can afford it, look in to getting an early reassurance scan, I had one and was so glad I did as it put me a bit more at ease.

When you do get to see your midwife you could mention that you have reason to have anxiety and also the way the receptionist spoke to you. I personally would put in a complaint, just because she knows the process and you don't doesn't mean she has the right to be rude to you.

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mindutopia · 19/01/2018 11:01

Sorry about the rude response you got. Unfortunately, GP receptionists can be like that sometimes (though they shouldn't be!). It sounds like you've done all the right things so far. Usually you have your booking appt with the midwives between about 7-9 weeks, maybe 10 weeks. As you only just called at 7 weeks, you might be on the later end of that. In my experience, it takes about a week or so for the letter with your appt to come through in the post. So I would expect it any day now. If you haven't gotten it by the time you're 9 weeks, I would definitely follow up with the midwives. And no, you don't normally see a GP in pregnancy unless that's the protocol in your area. I've been pregnant 3 times (one being a mc) and I've not seen my GP for my pregnancy once. They usually have no idea what to do with you and won't be very reassuring, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Once you have your booking appt with the midwife, they'll book you in for your scan. She'll give you all the information and your notes at that appt, so you won't get anything through the post except the appt letter. The scan letter usually comes a week or two after the booking appt and it's usually between the latter end of 11 weeks and up to 14 weeks, depending on what screening tests you opt for.

The only thing I would do right now is just to make sure you've actually spoken with the midwives. You said you called them, but I'm assuming you actually spoke to someone and they were setting up your booking appt for you? As long as you've talked with them and they know how far along you are and have said that your letter will be in the post, I wouldn't worry too much for now. But I would follow up at 9 weeks if you still haven't heard anything. If you feel you need one, you can also book yourself in for a private early scan. I did find them reassuring (also had 1 previous mc), but depends on if you want to spend the extra money. Your NHS scan won't be far off at this point.

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Angharad07 · 22/01/2018 11:49

I’ve tried phoning them again several times. I’m 9 weeks today so I would like to speak to someone regarding scan dates etc. However, every time I call I just get transferred to another person who then transfers me to another department. In the end I was transferred, had music playing for 10 seconds and then silence for one minute so I put the phone down. Their along automated system (which I had to listen to in Welsh and English) took me 3 calls to get my head around.

I’m using the phone number given by my local GP surgery for my community midwife team. I’m just at a loss at what to do. My hormones really aren’t helping and I found myself in tears after being transferred for the 3rd time on the 4th phone call. It really feels like I’m just a number in a system and no one cares or wants to speak to me. I didn’t think the responses I’d get would be like this. It says a lot about the NHS’s performance. If I could go private, I really would.

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Doublechocolatetiffin · 22/01/2018 12:14

Im sorry you’re going through this, early pregnancy is so stressful especially after a miscarriage. It does feel like you are left alone without medical care for ages before anyone sees you, but most GP’s don’t see people for pregnancy any more so you are just left with the internet to guide you. It’s not ideal but I guess they don’t have the funds to do it any other way.

However, by 9 weeks I would expect to have heard from the midwives for your booking in appointment (which is usually between 8-10 weeks). It seems like you're not having much luck getting through to the community midwife team.

I’m my area there are two ways you can get hold of the midwife. We have a dedicated midwife for our GP surgery - the reception team give you their mobile number. There is also the community midwife team at the hospital you are going to give birth at - usually you can google for that number.

Maybe try calling the GP surgery again and say that you need to contact the midwife to arrange the booking in appointment as you are 9 weeks now and haven’t heard from them. They should be able to help you and provide you with contact details. Hopefully you won’t speak to the same person this time. I hope you manage to speak to someone.

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Zazzleza · 23/01/2018 09:03

This happened to me with my first baby. It was very stressful phoning up every day trying to get to the bottom of my appointment.
In the end I cracked, burst into tears on the phone to the regional midwife and told her that I really needed a scan ASAP as we didn’t know how many weeks pregnant I was and that there was a history of Down Syndrome in my husbands family. All completely true and I was starting to panic.
I got an appointment the following week at 13w.
It wasn’t the midwifes fault but somehow when creating my letter, they had sent it to a fake address consisting of different lines of previous addresses! A complete system error but I was never going to receive it!
From my experience don’t bother with the Doctors but go straight to the unit where the scan will be carried out. It’s fruatrating as there was never anyone available but I did get a solution in the end!! Good luck!

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Angharad07 · 23/01/2018 14:54

I finally managed to get and appointment arranged today! Apparently I was “lost” on the sysytem because I’d never been to that hospital before (?). It’ll be on Feb 13th and I’ll be 12 wks 1 day, so perfect. Thanks for all the replies and support x

Just one more thing, today I’ve noticed orange/ pink discharge. Should I call them back and tell them?