Cannot get a midwife appointment

Here we would offer an appointment at around 10 weeks for booking. Seeing as you're 9 weeks Id recommed calling the community team. Where I work we have a community admin line that's in the hospital, so it might be worth googling community mw team in the hospital that is under the trust your GP is at.

In terms of tests you are usually offered a dating scan at around 12 weeks, and at the same time we do your booking bloods and offer screening for the trisomies (13, 18 and 21) depending on your gestation. We don't offer any tests before 10 weeks so I'm not sure what they are you have been told you need sorry.

With sickness we would.advise GP. If it's at the point where you are becoming dehydrated etc then a&e.

Hope you get it sorted

Just to echo others - sickness is a GP matter.
I’d speak to your GPs receptionist and check with them that you are self referring with the most recent contact details as the website may be outdated. With my latest I filled out a form online to register.

If you can't see a midwife see a GP. They can prescribe more anyway, my midwife couldn't even prescribe thrush cream last time (yes I know you can get it OTC, she just suggested I could get it for free).

Obviously I don’t know what area you’re in and exactly how it works there but calling to make a booking appt doesn’t sound right. With my first it was a paper form the GP’s receptionist gave you and you filled it in and handed it back. But that was 8 years ago and my understanding is that it’s mostly online now. Google the name of the nearest hospital and ‘maternity self referral’ and see if that can find you the form you need. Failing that call the GP and ask the receptionist how you refer to midwifery, it must be a common question so I’m sure they can signpost you. Then once you’re referred they get in touch with you and tell you when your appointment will be.

yeah this is normal, like everyone else says midwife won't prescribe anything. if you have a date for booking appointment you will see them then, they won't see you sooner. In NI some booking appointments are as late as 16 weeks. go back to GP and be pushy for what you need. It's not a great system, particularly for your first, you expect to have a bit of support from someone but sadly not.

Have you been referred to the midwives yet, either by doing a self referral form or through your GP? You should have a date for your booking appt by now, they usually do it around 10 weeks. I’m not a medical professional but I have had a baby in the US where they like to give you every test going and I still don’t know of any tests that have to be done by 10 weeks- perhaps you’re thinking of the NIPT screening test but have confused the fact that 10 weeks is the earliest you can have it, not the latest?! And besides it’s not normally available on the NHS anyway, you’ll usually have your first scan and be offered the combined test at 12 weeks, the combined test they can’t do after 14 weeks so maybe you’re also thinking of that? If you don’t have a referral or a booking appt date yet try calling the GP as the receptionist should be able to signpost you. And for any symptoms in the meantime definitely see your GP. Good luck with your pregnancy!

If you’re struggling with symptoms then you need to see your GP again. A midwife can’t prescribe anything. What symptoms are you struggling with?

There are tests which should be done at 12 weeks. Most people have there booking in appointment from 10 weeks onwards.

It took me 3 GP appointments to get antisickness tablets. The first 2 were staunchly against them.

Go to the GP and advocate for yourself. Dehydration is a bigger risk to your baby than antisickness tablets.

OP where are you in the UK? Someone might be able to give more specific help

eg where we are the midwife referral forms are on the local hospital website.

It is on its knees. The NHS is on its knees.

If you're struggling with symptoms you need the GP anyway, not the midwife.

You should have a booking-in appointment scheduled- do you?

But that will be pretty fast as it’s collecting lots of information. Make sure your turn up ready with your urine sample and Take your dp or make sure you take all his medical history - if you can get through the booking in fast then there may be a few minutes to talk about symptoms.

I knew someone with hyperemesis gravidum and it’s a serious condition, if you might be one of these unlucky mums then you really need extra help.

Is it? I thought the birth rate was falling?

@purplespink I would suggest you contact your hospital! my daughter could not get appointments with the midwife either and just 8 weeks before delivery (she had a terrible time with hyperemesis all through pregnancy!) the consultant at hospital was very worried about the baby and asked why the midwives had done nothing for her and when she told him that she had never managed to get appointments he absolutely wiped the floor with the health board! for her second baby the hospital demanded only hospital visits and no midwives involved. her baby nearly died!!

Have you had your booking in appointment with a midwife? You should have this between 8-10 weeks. They will go through all your medical history and pregnancy details at this point. You will then have a scan at between 11-13 weeks which is called a 'dating' scan.

Have these been booked in for you? Depending on your area, you self refer to the hospital you want, or your GP does it for you.

In terms of symptoms - go to your GP!

I would completely bypass the midwife and go directly to your GP. From my experience the maternity unit don’t really care until after 20 weeks.

I had a booking in appointment at 8 weeks. I was only booked in for 30 minutes as someone made a mistake with the appointment. I was just asked a load of questions on the form and then kicked out. I wasn’t even asked how I was feeling/or doing!

There was no time and all the questions were so rushed. I didn’t even get a chance to explain the dizziness I was experiencing, nor could I remember all important health complications from my previous pregnancy as it was so rushed. I felt like a tick box. No test were made despite me mentioning I had recurrent UTIs and kidney failure from my last pregnancy (in my last pregnancy 6 years ago urine test in the booking in appointment picked up my first symptomless UTI). Never mind the fact I ended up saying my MH is completely fine in response to one of the tick boxes as I could see the midwife didn’t care/want to know, and I struggle to talk about my issues anyway, let alone in that environment.

I’ve lost all faith now. I’d rather see the GP and get a 10 minute slot but at least have their full attention.

From experience the midwife wont do anything for your symptoms and refer you back to the GP.....who will most likely tell you to deal with it. I suffered really bad with sickness and nausea with my first. It wasn't HG level so I just had to deal with it.

Booking appointments seem to be later and later now. You use to be seem at 6 weeks back when I was first pregnant, last pregnancy 2 years ago it was 10 weeks. I'd keep chasing for a booking appointment date at the very least.

You’re allowed to be pushy I remember GP not really wanting to give anything but I insisted. Genuinely felt dreadful and had other dc to look after . I think though when my blood tests came in he was a bit like no wonder you are feeling so awful 🤦‍♀️ Just go back say you are not coping.

Not sure what tests need to be carried out before ten weeks? A lot of places combine first scan with booking in appointment now. Like a conveyer belt a room for questions, next waiting room weight and height, next waiting room bloods. Then off for a scan.

In a nice way midwife isn’t interested in you till booking in at 12 weeks where I am.

Your booking appointment should be imminent but they can't get you an appointment if you haven't actually been properly referred!

Have you actually asked the GP to refer you to the midwife, or self referred if that's a thing in your area?

I.e. are you in their system and not getting an appointment through, or are you just not in their system at all?

Your GP can refer you to the midwife service, have they done that? Have you filled in a referral form to refer yourself?

Your booking appointment is usually around 8-10 weeks.

Are you in the UK?

Why did the GP do bloods? They don't usually confirm pregnancy.

You'll have a booking in appointment around 8 - 10 weeks usually, but they don't do more than bloods until your 12 week scan, which most Trusts are trying to do closer to 13 weeks now. If you've already had bloods, you may just have a telephone booking in appointment now.

Then you'll have your scan plus more bloods at 12 weeks, and then a urine test for infections at 16. If you opt out of the chromosomal testing, you won't have bloods at 12 weeks.