To be worried? Can't get hold of Midwife

[TakeABreakAt12]

I'm just turning 12 weeks pregnant. I done the self referral to the midwife online over 3 weeks ago.

I still haven't heard anything. 3 days ago I called round and nobody was available. I managed to get hold of the community midwife's number and it went straight to voicemail. I asked my GP surgery about this and they said they 'think' she's on holiday

Absolutely no help from the hospital maternity department. A few very rude secretaries have told me I'll just have to keep trying her number since there's nothing else they can do.

AIBU to be worried? I need a 12 week scan! Which I know can be done beyond 12 weeks (slightly) but even still....

Midwives definitely arrange scans in our area. It's part of the booking in appointment.

@15thOctober2019 are you in Another country that's not England?

You normally see a midwife when you find out your pregnant and then they get the ball rolling with scans etc they sort everything out as they start the paper work etc

You normally see a midwife when you find out your pregnant and then they get the ball rolling with scans etc they sort everything out as they start the paper work etc

Not normal here in the UK. Are you rural or urban?

@15thOctober2019

At 12wks the op definitely needs to be in contact with a midwife who will arrange for a scan date to be made and also to give the right paperwork for blood tests.

I’m in England FWIW.

@15thOctober2019 yes that is normal in the UK! I am 15 weeks pregnant with my second child and the MW has arranged all my appointments.

OP if you have no success contact another hospital and get the ball rolling with them.
I agree with getting in contact with PALS and letting them know you seem to have no access to antenatal care at your local hospital.

you are 12weeks pregnant
do you need a midwife yet?

Eh? What's the alternative? A vet?

You normally see a midwife when you find out your pregnant and then they get the ball rolling with scans etc they sort everything out as they start the paper work etc

Not normal here in the UK. Are you rural or urban?

Seems fairly normal to me- my midwife booked all my scans etc with the hospital via the phone while I sat watching her, then told me the dates there and then. Except the very first scan, which she requested with the hospital and they sent a letter.

And I'm very urbanly based.

When I was pregnant with both ds, I went to my surgery as soon as I found out, explained to the receptionist, who made a note on my file then had a letter at about 7 weeks to meet the midwife, and she arranged the bloods, scan etc. I thought that was normal everywhere. (I’m in Wales). Shows different places have different procedures.

@15thoctober2019 the first contact when you’re pregnant can be with a doctor or midwife, the booking appointment is done by a midwife between 10-12 weeks where they arrange the ultrasounds at the local hospital.

OP please see the midwife schedule below and contact your local hospitals PALS services as you’ve not had contact from your midwife.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg62/ifp/chapter/Antenatal-appointments-schedule

Re ultrasounds:
You should be offered an ultrasound scan between 10 weeks 0 days and 13 weeks 6 days to estimate when your baby is due and to check whether you are expecting more than 1 baby. This scan may also be part of a screening test for Down's syndrome.

You should be offered another scan, normally between 18 weeks 0 days and 20 weeks 6 days, to check for physical problems in your baby. This is called the anomaly scan.

Screening for Down’s syndrome.
Between 11 weeks 0 days and 13 weeks 6 days, the screening test for Down's syndrome should be the combined test (an ultrasound scan and blood test). Between 15 weeks 0 days and 20 weeks 0 days, the screening test should be the triple or quadruple test (both are blood tests).
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg62/ifp/chapter/Screening-and-tests

you are 12weeks pregnant
do you need a midwife yet?

Of course she bloody does! She needs a scan done! 🙄

@15thOctober2019
I'm in England! Had children in both rural and urban.
Both kids were the same - tried to see doctor for first child but they said straight to midwife then the second was straight to midwife who deals with everything as they give you the blue folder and send the paper work to the scans etc!

Have you had children?

@15thOctober2019 also please refrain from giving medical advise which is incorrect! Of course a pregnant woman needs to see a midwife at 12 weeks!!!!

Don’t know what 15thOctober is talking about. I live in an urban area in Buckinghamshire and the midwife referred for the scans. They confirm your EDD based on your last period and then refer based on that.

You definitely need to see a midwife. I echo suggestions to contact PALS

I'm sorry to hear this OP it must be really stressful for you.

You sound to have been doing all you can to chase this up - I would call PALS on Monday morning - they can help to advocate for you and get this all sorted out.

Explain how important getting these appointments at the right time are to them. I think that would get you the right outcome in the quickest way at this stage. I hope it all gets sorted soon.

And congratulations on your pregnancy!

Don’t know what 15thOctober is talking about. I live in an urban area in Buckinghamshire and the midwife referred for the scans. They confirm your EDD based on your last period and then refer based on that

I (sort of) live near Bucks

Thanks all to those who've commented with really helpful suggestions

I'm back to pestering on Monday. I'm actually considering a different hospital now. I've had enough. It's ridiculous. The issue is though that the next nearest is over 50 mins away - Far from ideal.

You can always do initial bits at one hospital and then choose to deliver at an entirely different one. I've done that for all my babies. Had scans and checks done at local hospital 10 mins away but chose to deliver in big consultant led one an hour away.

There must be a system that doesnt just rely on one person, surely. In my area there is a team of community midwives as if you need something urgently you can call a central number if you can't get hold of your own one. I had a different person for every appointment and post natal appointment so they all cover for each other. She must have a boss...its just trying to track her down! Do you know or can you find anyone who has recently given birth who you can ask?

Did you get hold of a midwife op?

Have you not had a booking appointment then? You should have had bloods done by now as they need to check your rhesus status. If you are negative and have any bump or bleed from 12 weeks you need an anti d injection. My area the booking appointment is done at 8 weeks and they book your 12 weeks scan while you are there. I never had a direct contact for my midwife. I had a 24 hour advice line number which was manned by the local labour ward. They would then pass the information to the community midwife if needed.

If you haven’t got it sorted yet I would ring your gp surgery at 8am and ask for an emergency appointment. Once there I would explain everything to the GP and request bloods are done there and then and also a urine sample to check for proteins. You need some antenatal care right away and your GP should be able to provide it if you haven’t been sorted with a midwife yet. They should also be able to telephone the hospital scan department and make you an appointment.

Please, please don't ask for an emergency appointment for this.

Instead ring in and ask to speak to the practice manager or that they call you back. Explain what's in your posts and tell them that as the leads for your care you need them to step up to follow up with the midwife and to escalate with the hospital and CCG.

Any luck op?

OP, I work for maternity services in my county. I would be appalled to hear about a woman having to chase down a booking appt and a scan.

First thing today, call your local hospital where the maternity unit is based - ideally maternity reception. Say that you need to speak to the Head of Midwives. If they say they don’t have one, ask for the number for the community midwives main office. The HoM will sort this out for you quickly, or the community office can arrange for you to be seen.

If you happen to be in Dorset give me a shout, I can put you in touch with the right person.

@Becles the OP needs bloods taking today. If she is rhesus negative then she needs to know before she hits 12 weeks. I think that warrants an emergency GP appointment since she has tried other avenues. I wouldn’t suggest A&E, but GP appointments are for people who need immediate care and attention in a non life threatening situation- which she does.