Cannot get a midwife appointment

[purplespink]

I might be unreasonable so let me know if I am.

I have been trying to get my first midwife appointment for three weeks. I am really suffering with symptoms and I would just like to be able to actually speak to a midwife. I have called so many times, mostly it goes to voicemail of, which I have left several. I got through to a midwife twice (a week between) and was told both times that they'd call me back when they're free, gave them my name and number etc. They've never called back. AIBU to think that it shouldn't be this hard to get a first midwife appointment?

How many weeks along are you/ have you been booked in yet? In all honesty you might be better to go to the GP, When I was 9 weeks I saw GP and they were ace in prescribing anti sickness stuff, sending me up to hospital for a IV fluids, getting blood tests (my liver was wonky due to pregnancy hormones which made me feel dreadful) sent off for a scan (twins which can apparently knock you health wise.) If no joy at midwife Id try elsewhere, call 101 they’ll probably get you an appointment somewhere.

How many weeks pregnant are you? The service is on its knees, no excuse as you absolutely should be able to get an appointment but they might be waiting until you're 10 weeks or so for your booking in appointment?

How many weeks are you? Why don’t you go to your GP?

If you've got symptoms you need help managing then speak to your GP. How many weeks are you?

Yeah need to know how many weeks you are really. Sickness etc though it’s a GP you need not a midwife.

I was at the gp last week and they did blood tests, not given anything. 9 weeks.

Also I read today that there are certain tests they should take before 10 weeks which doesn't feel likely at this point.

The midwife doesn't do a lot for symptoms, they'll refer you back to your GP.

You also don't really see them a lot in the earlier half. You'll have booking in around 8 - 10 weeks, but that's never with your actual midwife in my Trust, and then you have an appointment at 16 weeks if it's your first, or it might be slightly later for your second. Then you don't see them until 24 weeks or so...

For any health related stuff, they'll refer you on - either back to your GP for something fairly routine like morning sickness or sciatica, or to perinatal mental health support if it's a mental health issue.

They're also not very responsive at the best of times, to be honest. I'm half way now and emailed them last Monday; no reply yet. They're very overworked.

Hello, just a quick note to say that in my experience anyway, midwife does not deal with symptoms. They are sympathetic but don't prescribe. Definitely go to GP for sickness medication (I went straight to GP for medication this time, weeks before my booking in appt).

You should definitely get a booking in appt though. How far along are you? For my first I went bang on 8 weeks but for my second it was nearly 11 due to clinic closures, etc. have you checked the maternity unit's website? They may have an online form?

I never saw midwive until 5 months with first and 35 weeks with 2nd, go to yr GP if u r worried.

Sorry, just seen 9 weeks. Booking in should happen by 10 weeks ideally. I am not sure what the tests are though - I've had the same every appt. CO2, bloods, urine for glucose. Blood pressure.

Are you in the UK?

Why did the GP do bloods? They don't usually confirm pregnancy.

You'll have a booking in appointment around 8 - 10 weeks usually, but they don't do more than bloods until your 12 week scan, which most Trusts are trying to do closer to 13 weeks now. If you've already had bloods, you may just have a telephone booking in appointment now.

Then you'll have your scan plus more bloods at 12 weeks, and then a urine test for infections at 16. If you opt out of the chromosomal testing, you won't have bloods at 12 weeks.

Yes I'm in the UK. GP did bloods due to how I'm feeling.

They don't have email or online form, I've already checked. Only way to contact them is phone.

Your GP can refer you to the midwife service, have they done that? Have you filled in a referral form to refer yourself?

Your booking appointment is usually around 8-10 weeks.

Have you actually asked the GP to refer you to the midwife, or self referred if that's a thing in your area?

I.e. are you in their system and not getting an appointment through, or are you just not in their system at all?

Your booking appointment should be imminent but they can't get you an appointment if you haven't actually been properly referred!

You’re allowed to be pushy I remember GP not really wanting to give anything but I insisted. Genuinely felt dreadful and had other dc to look after . I think though when my blood tests came in he was a bit like no wonder you are feeling so awful 🤦‍♀️ Just go back say you are not coping.

Not sure what tests need to be carried out before ten weeks? A lot of places combine first scan with booking in appointment now. Like a conveyer belt a room for questions, next waiting room weight and height, next waiting room bloods. Then off for a scan.

In a nice way midwife isn’t interested in you till booking in at 12 weeks where I am.

From experience the midwife wont do anything for your symptoms and refer you back to the GP.....who will most likely tell you to deal with it. I suffered really bad with sickness and nausea with my first. It wasn't HG level so I just had to deal with it.

Booking appointments seem to be later and later now. You use to be seem at 6 weeks back when I was first pregnant, last pregnancy 2 years ago it was 10 weeks. I'd keep chasing for a booking appointment date at the very least.

I would completely bypass the midwife and go directly to your GP. From my experience the maternity unit don’t really care until after 20 weeks.

I had a booking in appointment at 8 weeks. I was only booked in for 30 minutes as someone made a mistake with the appointment. I was just asked a load of questions on the form and then kicked out. I wasn’t even asked how I was feeling/or doing!

There was no time and all the questions were so rushed. I didn’t even get a chance to explain the dizziness I was experiencing, nor could I remember all important health complications from my previous pregnancy as it was so rushed. I felt like a tick box. No test were made despite me mentioning I had recurrent UTIs and kidney failure from my last pregnancy (in my last pregnancy 6 years ago urine test in the booking in appointment picked up my first symptomless UTI). Never mind the fact I ended up saying my MH is completely fine in response to one of the tick boxes as I could see the midwife didn’t care/want to know, and I struggle to talk about my issues anyway, let alone in that environment.

I’ve lost all faith now. I’d rather see the GP and get a 10 minute slot but at least have their full attention.

Have you had your booking in appointment with a midwife? You should have this between 8-10 weeks. They will go through all your medical history and pregnancy details at this point. You will then have a scan at between 11-13 weeks which is called a 'dating' scan.

Have these been booked in for you? Depending on your area, you self refer to the hospital you want, or your GP does it for you.

In terms of symptoms - go to your GP!

@purplespink I would suggest you contact your hospital! my daughter could not get appointments with the midwife either and just 8 weeks before delivery (she had a terrible time with hyperemesis all through pregnancy!) the consultant at hospital was very worried about the baby and asked why the midwives had done nothing for her and when she told him that she had never managed to get appointments he absolutely wiped the floor with the health board! for her second baby the hospital demanded only hospital visits and no midwives involved. her baby nearly died!!

Is it? I thought the birth rate was falling?

You should have a booking-in appointment scheduled- do you?

But that will be pretty fast as it’s collecting lots of information. Make sure your turn up ready with your urine sample and Take your dp or make sure you take all his medical history - if you can get through the booking in fast then there may be a few minutes to talk about symptoms.

I knew someone with hyperemesis gravidum and it’s a serious condition, if you might be one of these unlucky mums then you really need extra help.

If you're struggling with symptoms you need the GP anyway, not the midwife.

It is on its knees. The NHS is on its knees.