28 week appointment!

[babymum786]

I've just had my 16 week telephone appointment with the midwife and I am a little concerned. She did tell me my 28 week appointment will now be over the phone due to lockdown. I thought they measure your bump during the 28 week appointment. She has also just pointed out that my iron levels are borderline and won't be checked with another blood test until after 28 weeks. Is it important for my bump to be measured? This is my first pregnancy so I am lost.

No you don't need to worry about your bump being measured. It's one thing in a general picture of how you and baby are doing; it can also be very misleading.

If you are happy that your bump is growing then it probably is.

Pregnant women have a naturally lower iron count so unless you're feeling very tired (hard to judge on first pregnancy as you don't really have a comparison) I wouldn't worry. Have you taken any iron supplements? When pregnant I take them every 3-4 days as a general boost so maybe try that if you're concerned; they won't do any damage and spacing them out means you're less likely to get constipated.

Sounds like I'm about 6 weeks behind you with dc3 and the maternity services at the moment are even more crap than normal!

I wouldn’t be bothered about bump being measured as not accurate especially at 28weeks. If you feel need bloods taken to check iron could you ask to see a nurse at your GPs?

I'm going to contradict people here as I think you should be seen at 28 weeks - especially if you want to be seen!!! If your iron is borderline I would definitely start taking a supplement with iron in it now and you DO need to make sure you get bloods done again at 28 weeks to check them again then. I would also consider buying your own upper arm BP monitor to keep a check on your BP as there is a greater risk of pre eclampsia in 1st pregnancies.
Whilst for most women measuring bump will be unnecessary it can be important - in my 4th pregnancy the fact my bump hadn't changed in measurement between 28 and 32 weeks meant an urgent scan and a dx of oligohydramnios (too little fluid around baby) for which I was monitored weekly and induced at 37 weeks. I'm now 37+1 in my 9th pregnancy and have made sure I've done my own BP monitoring (I had pre eclampsia in my first pregnancy) & I've still ended up needing extra iron despite taking a supplement with iron in since before conception.

@UserOne Thanks for your response. My bump is growing fine, thanks for the reassurance. I don't feel tired, I generally feel okay and I am taking pregnacare daily (have been doing since week 4).

@onlyreadingneverposting8 would the iron in pregnacare be enough? I will definitely be getting a BP monitor thanks for the advice.

Thanks all ❤

@babymum786 it's impossible to say whether the amount of iron will be enough but you should continue to take the pregnacare and see how your iron levels are at 28 weeks (unless you feel like they've dropped beforehand, in which case see your GP). Good luck!