Cannot get midwife appointment until 12 weeks

[Jonty09]

Hi, I'm just over 9 weeks pregnant. I'm trying to not be anxious but I feel like I have just been left to my own devices with no advice from doctors or midwife (not even spoken to midwife yet).
Finally got my booking appointment but the NHS have booked me in 2 days before I'm 12 weeks. Question is, I'm sure all NHS guidelines say you should have certain bloods before 8 weeks? Do you think I should try and push to be seen earlier? I understand the NHS are stretched but I don't want there to be any risk to my or the baby?

I'm afraid that's pretty normal. You'll usually have a booking appt with a midwife at 8-10 weeks and then a scan at 11-13 weeks. All very standard.

I didn't get seen until 14 weeks with my first pregnancy- at 40. No spaces available. They just didn't seem to care if anything happened before 12 weeks. That was 12 years ago. I just organised a private scan myself which wasn't that expensive though I appreciate not everyone could afford it. Maternity care was shocking unless it was an emergency - lack of staff mostly.

Sounds pretty standard!
Congratulations op

Completely normal

Thanks guys, I understand about not having an early scan (I don't think I'll get mine until 14 weeks) but I would have liked my first booking appointment for bloods/midwife before 12 weeks 😬
I might get an early private scan like one of you have suggested though

I didn't have any bloods done at my booking app, it's just a lot of questions.
Sounded pretty standard time frame

I had my booking in appointment done at 12 weeks, bloods were taken at my scan which was the week after.

At my hospital, St Mary's man ester, booking in appts and bloods are at 10 weeks. 12 week scans are at 13 weeks and 20 week scans are as close to 21 weeks as possi le but not over 21 weeks. It's how they like to do it there. Maybe they can see a bit more if it's a few days later.

Both the scans, and any consultant appointments you might need (e. G. If you're having a c section) are all made at that booking in appt. Booking in appts are at the hospital though. Where is yours? With my first, I used the local hospital so booking in was with the midwives at my gp surgery at 8 weeks.

My booking appointment was just a load of questions, my first set of bloods were done at my 12 week scan. I think that time frame is about normal 🤷🏼‍♀️

Strange how they don't do bloods at all booking appts. Booking appt bloods are for all sorts including iron levels, hiv, etc. The bloods at 12 week scan are just for the trisomy screening in the hospitals I have used.

I've had 3 kids over 14 years and I don't remember ever seeing a midwife before my 12 week scan . Maybe I did? No idea but I definitely didn't with my third who I was pregnant with last year.

@Jonty09

Thanks guys, I understand about not having an early scan (I don't think I'll get mine until 14 weeks) but I would have liked my first booking appointment for bloods/midwife before 12 weeks 😬 I might get an early private scan like one of you have suggested though

Hey I booked a private scan at 9 weeks. X

Check if you GP does the booking bloods, or the maternity unit. Our midwives never do because they're based in the HV centre and have no facilities to store blood. We get sent to the hospital instead or can arrange with the (much closer) GP ourselves.

If you have any cramps or spotting the early pregnancy clinic will scan you then that day x

I'd be pretty annoyed. My booking appointment was a week late at 10 weeks instead of 9 as they were so busy and I wasn't happy at all. They kept telling me they were inundated but that doesn't help me when I have had a previous high risk pregnancy!

I had my booking Appt at 10 weeks and that was before Covid.

Things have maybe changed since I had DC but booing app at 10 weeks with bloods then, then the first scan at 12 weeks was just standard.

It’s definitely on the late side but within normal (NHS site says 8-12 weeks). I had mine around 11 weeks this time which was actually more like 12 as they moved my due date. I think the only thing that can be an issue is screening for sickle cell anaemia, if that might be relevant for you. Otherwise I don’t think there’s anything that a couple of weeks would make any difference, and if there’s something specific it’s dealt with separately - I had a bleed at 10 weeks but was referred for a scan at the EPU via the GP. You don’t tend to have much interaction in the first few months as there’s not really much to do in the early stages. It steps up as you go along - I’m 37 weeks and seem to be going for appointments and scans all the bloody time now!

No bloods at my booking appointment this year (11 weeks) as was over the phone, saw midwife at 12 weeks who did the bloods and first scan at 13 weeks.

Just try to relax, they'll get to you x

Last year in peak covid19 they skipped the first bloods entirely so I doubt they are super important! The first appt they mostly ask a million Qs and tell you to take folic and vitamin D