Not being seen til second trimester

[rainraim]

Sorry I know this isn't the place to post

Am having a really tough pregnancy, it seems now you must fill in a self referral form for the midwife and they will be in touch with you. I didn't do this with previous pregnancies, I simply called my doctor surgery and they passed my details to a community midwife to be in touch with me.
Anyways am told midwife won't contact me til 11-12 weeks for the booking appointment and then arrange a date for the scan.
Is it bizarre that I won't see a midwife at all in my first trimester? I last had a baby nearly 3 years ago, has covid changed things? Am usually low on iron even after taking pregnacare vitamins, so I wouldn't know this as I am not being seen. This time I feel so so tired, nauseous all day, can barely eat, every smell puts me off, am so cold and that's with the heating on full blast, am so out of breath without doing anything, I don't have energy to even speak.
Can I be expected to be seen by a doctor? I really feel I need to have bloods taken in order to ensure am not lacking anything. I just can't see how am supposed to wait til 11-12 weeks. Am currently 7 weeks.

Round here you first see the midwife at 9/10 weeks, so yours isn't totally out of kilter with that. They will need to get a shift on to organise the scan before 14 weeks once you've been booked in though.

Contact your GP to have your bloods done.
Yes covid has changed how things are done. It's normal not to see your midwife until booking appointment then second trimester at the moment. You'll have more frequent appointments in the 3rd trimester.

I find it surprising they aren’t even booking your scan until 11/12 weeks. But not seeing the midwife before then wouldn’t bother me, the first appointment is mainly just info - I would see the GP for anything I needed before then.

Yep it's normal you see the GP til after 1st scan when you come under the midwife. If you feel low on iron call your Gp they'll do bloods to check and prescribe iron if needed. I did this at 7 weeks with baby number 2 as I recognised the symptoms.

I also think that you should see your GP. Your pregnancy might be causing you needing supplements, but it isn't a pregnancy matter. You need bloods doing.

I did my booking appointment over the phone then was sent a form for my booking bloods via post, and went to get those done at the same time as my scan

You are being seen in your first trimester, which runs until 14 weeks. There's really nothing to do until 12 weeks.

Everything you've described seems pretty normal for early pregnancy, but if you're concerned about your iron levels, ask your GP for a blood test.

I didn't meet my (community) midwife until after I'd been for my first scan at 13w, pre covid. Gp was happy to see me before then, if you are unwell you should see the GP.

Even pre-covid it’s normal to not see the midwife until 10 or even 11 weeks here.

Can you self refer and then call up to see if your appointment can be brought forward?

Previous pregnancies I've seen midwife from the 6th week onwards.
I've rang the doctors and just waiting for a call back now.

I had letters through on same day for booking app & 1st scan.
My appointments were as follows;
10 week MW booking app - by phone
12 week scan, additional bloods taken in hospital
16 week MW app - by phone
22 week MW app - first in person.
From 28 weeks I seen my MW every 2 weeks. A healthy pregnancy it's every 3 weeks. Numerous consultant appointments by video.
Like you I had bloods taken at GP at 6 weeks.
I've found it easier not having to attend the midwife and hospital regularly. There usually would've been an 8 week app but now mums collect the info from the surgery. Not all health boards operate the same.

DC are 16 / 14...........I saw a midwife for booking at around 12 weeks with both of mine.

@rainraim

Previous pregnancies I've seen midwife from the 6th week onwards. I've rang the doctors and just waiting for a call back now.

Mine were at 10 and 12 weeks, and both of those pregnancies were considered high risk. Six weeks seems very early!

Unless there are concerns or issues, what is the a trial need to see the midwife or GP before your first scan? Seems like a waste of their time to me.

6 weeks? I've never heard of anyone being seen that early, it's certainly never been the norm in my trust. The first I saw anyone was at my booking appointment at 12 weeks which was the same day as my dating scan. If you think your iron is low you could ask your GP to do bloods. Hope you're feeling better soon OP, the first trimester really sucks!

I am 8 weeks and saw a maternity support worker yesterday for bloods, weight etc. I also had to do a self referral which was just a phone call where I said “I’m pregnant!” pretty much. I have a phone call booked with the midwife at 10 weeks for booking appt where they book the 12 week scan. Then see the actual midwife face to face at 16 weeks. Although I did see my midwife to say hello to when I had my bloods done as she popped in to say hello as I had her last time (4 years ago).

I had my first 20 years ago and my first appointment was at 12 weeks, and my only scan was at 18 weeks. They have never seen you before 10 weeks or so

With my first baby I didn't have my booking in til 11 weeks or so, and that was after phoning the GP to put the wheels in motion when the pee was barely dry on the stick (I was a keen Jean). Now it's a bit different as I'm under the recurrent mc clinic so I've been in for lots of first trimester scans but I would still expect them to handle me until booking in with the midwives at a similar stage. I don't think you need to worry.

For both kids (one this year and the other pre-covid) I didn't see a midwife till about 11-12 weeks. this time round I really wanted to be seen as I had a lot of bleeding throughout the first trimester but no luck. I have also been seen by the recurring misscarriage clinic previously but that didn't seem to make a difference. I finally got a scan done privately as I was so worried. If you can afford it I would really recommend that.

The gp receptionist wouldn't give me an appointment with the midwife however when I spoke with the GP (about the bleeding) they kindly booked me in for a scan.

I called my GP and they said to self refer to the midwife unit, which I Duda couple of weeks ago. I had my booking appointment over the phone last week at 7 weeks, I then went into hospital for bloods/BP/urine sample 3 days later. My scan letter came in the post and it’s booked for bang on 12 weeks.
I’d chase up the referral if I were you.

All of mine it’s been refer but don’t see anyone till 9/10 weeks. Then the 12 week scan and bloods etc

Only time I’ve been seen before 9weeks was for the EPU.

8 weeks - Supposed to be on the phone but as I was in the car park, the MW invited me in.
12 weeks- Scan
16 weeks - Phone appointment
21 weeks - Scan
26 weeks onwards - Face to Face x

I'm no longer ttc or pregnant. My previous pregnancies I used to either call or email my diabetic team and they referred me to the hospital antenatal clinic. With the exception of ds1 who I told my gp first.

If you have clinical need to been seen fast maybe remind your gp of this or inform the clinic you see.

Pre covid but I had a booking appt with all 3 of my pregnancies around 8 weeks.

No way has it been routine to see the midwife from 6 weeks onwards for a very long time (at least 16 years!). Definitely not in the U.K. booking appointment , scan then regular appointment 16 weeks onwards. If you feel unwell you need to see a gp.