First midwife apt at 9+3

[TTCat39]

Hi, this is my first pregnancy so forgive the naivety of my question! I've been booked in for my first midwife appointment, which will be a phone appointment, when I'll be 9 weeks 3 days. This is delayed from what I believe should be 8 weeks because my GP tells me "the midwife isn't here that week". I'm reading that some tests need to be done before the 10 week mark. It doesn't sound like this leaves enough time to sort this out.

Do I need to request an earlier appointment somehow? Any advice greatly appreciated.

Hi OP. It’s not a naive question at all - when you speak to your midwife I would ask them what appointments etc you can expect as different NHS trusts seem to be doing it differently at the moment. They may well provide you the info on email I seem to think it’s one of the leaflets my midwife emailed me.

Your booking in appointment sounds about right. I had mine at 10 weeks on the phone then a follow up appointment at 11 weeks to take blood, weight and urine. I then had my scan and combined screening test at 12 weeks 6 days. I believe the scan and combined test should be done before 13 weeks 6 days but do check with your midwife.

The trust I’m in aren’t doing 16 week appointments for non first time mothers so the next time I’ll see or talk to anyone will be my 20 week scan then my midwife at 24 weeks.

Hope that helps and congratulations xx

Thanks @Wibblewobble99
The NHS website says I should be offered sickle cell and thalassaemia tests before 10 weeks. Would the timing for this be ok? It doesn't say they should be completed before 10 weeks...I'm just thinking I'd be unlikely to get an appointment in the 3 working days remaining before I hit the 10 week mark.

Hi @TTCat39, sorry just seen this. I don’t know if everyone gets tested or if it’s just if your in a high risk group. When you have your booking in appt they’ll run through loads of questions including ethnicity and family histories. I think it’s one of the tests that’s ‘best done before’ but not sure if it HAS to be done before? Please ask when you speak to your midwife, if so they’ll send you for a blood test at a hospital they’ll do them same day in all likelihood.