To think midwife should've taken bloods?

[TinyTino]

Had my booking appointment today. All went really well and midwife was lovely. In the letter I got from docs I was told to make sure I was hydrated and that I would have bloods taken today. Midwife however did not do my bloods and has given me a phone number to book in myself at hospital to have them done over 20 miles away. AIBU to think that she should have done them as this is what I was told would happen in the letter? I thought bloods were usually taken at the booking appointment.

The only good reason I can think of as to why she didn't take them is that she's not qualified to, in which case I guess there's not much more she can do!

Not overly annoyed just think it's a bit mad to travel 20 miles for a blood test!

@overduemamma I'm so cautious not to cause issues with my midwife as I like to have good relationships with people giving me care. Maybe I'll drop her a call tomorrow and kindly ask if there is anywhere closer I can have it done... I'm such a loser when it comes to confrontation, as mild as this seems!

My bloods weren't done at my booking in appointment either.

Do you have the request form for the bloods. I would be tempted to see if you have a more local walk-in phlebotomy clinic you can use. It doesn't really matter who takes the blood as long as you have the appropriate request form and it ends up at the right place

Wow, at all of my booking appointments between 2010 and 2017 the midwife has taken the blood... never had to traipse to the hospital for it, it was just a standard part of the booking appointment!

@Bambamber I've just been given a phone number to call and book and appointment. I might see if I can rebook my scan for the same day....

@Pinkvoid this is what I thought would happen! Just sought advice from a medical friend (GP) and he has stated there may be some political shenanigans going on between trusts that mean I need to travel there to have them done...

I think it varies Trust to Trust. I never had bloods at my booking appt and that is standard in my area. I also had a home visit (we still have community midwives).
Midwife gave me blood forms and I went to a choose and book blood clinic. At 12 week scan, people doing the scan took bloods.
My midwife was very experienced and nice and def not a question of not being able to take bloods.
Every time I saw the community midwife with a urine sample I had to take it back as the base they use did not allow them to dispose of it. I guess that might be a factor with regards to blood tests in some places too?

@RubyBoots7 potentially! It's all speculation isn't it. Just seems mad that there's nowhere within 20 miles that can do my bloods for me and get it on a system. Lots of hospitals within 10 miles of me (4 I think) and my gp a 2 minute walk from my door.

However the city where the birth centre is is very lovely so maybe I should just make a day of it!

I’ve had bloods done by midwife and some at hosp but never and don’t know anyone whos had them done at booking in

@Amanduh maybe I was completely mistaken then.

It's silly. I feel awkward asking for so much time off work. Bloods, vaccinations, scans, antenatal classes. I know I'm entitled to time off but it seems like so much!

My GP surgery can't take bloods, therefore neither can the midwives who work there, maybe that's the same for yours or she's not qualified to.

20 miles away to get them done is quite annoying though.

@LeighaJ a gp surgery that can't take bloods at all? Blimey!

It is frustrating but I guess that's what I get for being super picky about where I wanted to book in for the birth!!

I’ve had midwives take blood before but never at my booking in appointment because they have always been too early on in my pregnancy.

For my area, the booking in appointment is around week eight. Then in week ten or eleven bloods are taken and in week twelve you have a scan. With one of my pregnancies my scan dates put me back which meant I had to have my bloods taken again as I had chosen the combined testing and they needed the test to be done after a certain gestation (which is why it has never been done during my booking in appointment).

Each pregnancy (I’ve had four get to at least the second trimester) has been slightly different due to the hospital I have chosen to give birth in but I have always had the booking in appointment, followed by blood a fortnight later and then a scan a fortnight after that.

@TheDinosaurRoars thanks for the response. I am 10 weeks tomorrow so booking appointment is a little later than yours were. Not sure when I will be able to book bloods for but presuming they'll get me in pretty quick! Got to give them a call tomorrow.

New to all of this. Definitely not as straightforward as I thought!

3 children 2 different midwifes all my bloods done by them.

I think it varies depending on area. I had all my blood tests done at the hospital, either by the phlebotomist in general outpatients or by a midwife in the antenatal clinic.

@thecatsarecrazy @elliejjtiny the differences between your experiences just shows how each trust varies! Looks like I'm just unlucky that the hospital is do far from me...

It's a pain. I'm a midwife and used to take all my own bloods. Not anymore! The trust I work for has decided
: time issue, fitting more patients into my time
: transport issue, not allowed to carry samples in our cars. No courier
: lab issue, certain phlebotomy services service only certain hospital labs.

@mayhew I did think it might be something like you've just mentioned. Though I do appreciate how little time most medical professionals have so don't blame anyone if this is the case!!

I had bloods taken at my booking appointment - in GP surgery with community midwife - in each of my 3 pregnancies. Booking in appointments were all at 8 weeks IIRC.

I wonder if the arrangements for taking bloods at your GP surgery / in your area have changed recently, and they’ve just not got round to changing the standard appointment letter yet.

I’ve also had midwife appointments at the GP surgery where a trainee midwife sitting in on the appointment has had a go at taking my blood, so I presumed that learning to take blood was a standard part of midwife training.

With my DD 8 years ago, the midwife did all my bloods at my appointments.

With my DS last year, I had all my bloods, scans and consultant appointments at a hospital 5 miles away but was booked to give birth at a different hospital 10 miles away. All very complicated

never had bloods taken at booking by a midwife in 6 pregnancies across 2 (maybe 3 i move a lot, i forget!) trusts, booking here is always done at home and then scan and bloods are done on the same day at 12 weeks. i presume because where i live has some fairly rural areas so they realise the hospital is a long way for some.

I was pregnant and gave birth in London with DS - all bloods were done at the hospital. With DD all have been taken by midwife (we're now in the midlands). The latter is so much easier, do feel your pain OP.

I don't recall a midwife ever taking blood, your surgery might have a HCA that is trained to do it to save the trip. That is probably your best bet if such a service is offered by your surgery.

I think they test for rubella immunity, iron levels, so nothing that is deadly serious. Won't you be going to the hospital for your scan? Maybe call up and ask if the bloods can wait till then.

I'd imagine unless you're getting symptoms or have an underlying health issue, it's run of the mill stuff they do for all Mums.

I was high risk & threatened with MC, even then at the EPAU I either got a form to take to the blood place, or a nurse did it if available.

You'd be surprised that say on surgical wards, nurses have to train to take blood & also to cannulate, so it's not part of the basic training I don't think.

I remember having to wait till the early hours once after my cannula went. As there was 1 person on shift in the whole hospital who could do it. (Apart from A&E where they can do the work of wizards, if not cannulate by paramedics.)

Probably not a question of whether she takes blood or not - midwives are usually pretty good but if not taking lots samples and some distance from hospital there may not be pickupservice from lab ( GP here)

Just a general observation but I have had blood tests done (many, many blood tests) and find that the phlebotomists are the best at it. It is a skill in itself and the people who do it all day every day are the best at it. I think they can literally get blood from a stone!

Another Community Midwife here - our Trust we are expected to take bloods at booking and 28 weeks and have a special box to transfer them back to the labs at the end of the day.

I prefer it - I enjoy the "skill" of phlebotomy (I am very gentle so it helps build a relationship of trust between me and the woman), if there are any worries I can explain it and offer reassurance and I can get proper consent because I can explain the reason for the tests.

It also means that if anything comes back that needs further testing or treatment, I am following that up really quickly.

And it is easier for the women not to have lots if appointments. If I can't get the vein, then we can come up with a plan together.

Congratulations and good luck.