All of my midwife & scan appointments have been cancelled. What can I do?

[lostandconfused2]

Hi guys,

I'm a bit worried. I'll be 19 weeks pregnant on Tuesday and I was due my 20 week ultrasound on 3rd December. However, I moved last Saturday. I called my antenatal department to tell them that I had moved and to ask what I needed to do, and they cancelled all of my appointments including my 20 week scan. I have registered at my new doctors but thei midwife doesn't even have an appointment until 12 December and I'll be almost 22 weeks by then and obviously I really need this scan. I'm panicking so much as I already have really bad anxiety. I've called the previous antenatal team again and said can I please just have the scan, they said to call the scan department and I have left messages but no response. What can I do? I hate not knowing what's happening - with my previous team I had obstretics appointments, extra midwifery support and mental health support as I have a chronic illness and bipolar disorder and am considered high risk. I'm so flustered and just want to sort this out!

Can you book a private scan?

I can't afford it @needanexpert :(

How far away have you moved?

Surely the move wasn't a last minute thing and you could have sorted this beforehand?

I'd book a private scan until its all sorted. You can get an anomaly scan for £80ish.

How far have you moved? Given your high risk status you must be seen. Why did the first trust just cancel everything?

Did you speak to them beforehand about the move? Speak to the new trust? What was organised?

I told my midwife I was moving when I was 14 weeks and she told me to 'deal with it when I move' because there's nothing that can be done now, and so the week I moved I registered but I didn't realise they would cancel all of my appointments. I can't find an anomoly scan for £80 - where have you seen that? @Crunchymum

The move also was pretty last minute - I found the place three weeks before I moved into it.

I have moved an hour away. I have no idea why they have cancelled everything, I was told I would have one last appointment and when I never got the text for the date of it, I called, and they said all appointments had been cancelled as I was now out of the catchment area @Userzzzzz

Hi OP, it should be ok. Phone your new antenatal department first thing on Monday and explain to them the extra support you had and ask when your scan will be. I moved at 38 weeks and while it was only 20 min away, I was in a different catchment. It was absolutely fine, they scheduled new appointments as needed. I don't think there's much you can actually do before you move.

Apologies OP, the anomaly scan is a bit more expensive than £80 (was thinking of the sex scan)

Thank you. I'm going to call first thing on Monday and explain the situation but I can't help but panic as I've just moved and everything is so up in the air! I have booked a reassurance scan for tomorrow privately just to chill me out until I can get the anomoly scan. Hopefully everything will be okay x @Stroller15

Community midwife here.

Ring the GP surgery and ask for a ring back from the midwife. She should make time to see you to ensure you get your scan in time.
Alternatively, ring the new antenatal clinic who should also be able to help.

From the Nhs. Do not accept cancellation based on ‘catchment’ if you want to continue your care at the original hospital.

Your midwife will discuss the options available in your area but, if you're willing to travel, you're free to choose any maternity services.

This happened with my eldest, I think I was 23 weeks when I had my 20 week scan, everything was fine but I remember being worried at the time with it being my first! Try not to worry.

We were going to move and my midwife said to book with the other hospital and keep all old appointments until you get appointments from the new place because so many women get lost this way.