Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Do you really carry your pregnancy medical folder EVERYWHERE??

49 replies

angels1 · 04/08/2010 14:42

I'm 11 weeks and had booking in today. Was given my pregnancy medical folder thingy you keep and told to take it to all appointments (understandable) but was also told I needed to take it pretty much EVERYWHERE with me should I suddenly be taken ill/something go wrong and have to go to hospital they would need to see it straight away.

While I understand the logic, if I take it everywhere with me I know that I'm likely to lose it somewhere along the lines (or spill juice on it or something). I suggested to my mw I just kept it in my car, as if I go anywhere then I go in my car so it would always be with me, but she told me not to do that should the car get stolen.

So, do you actually take it EVERYWHERE you go?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ethelina · 04/08/2010 16:06

Mine lives in a lovely soft leather satchel bag along with my spare wee pot, I dumped the plastic Bounty wallet too, Iooks all swizz when I go for appointments. I'm 36 weeks now - shame it's the only thing that's packed and ready...

D0G · 04/08/2010 16:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Maclaren · 04/08/2010 17:04

I have GBS and GD so yes I carry them everywhere with me just in case! I have a big handbag so it makes no real difference for me.

moonstorm · 04/08/2010 17:05

Definitely yes..

My waters went with great gusto at 35 weeks last pregnancy, I would have been lost without them. I have them in a plastic wallet, then folded in half, it's not that big a deal for me really. If I was involved in an accident/ my waters went prematurely again then at least the medics would have something to look at!

CuppaTeaJanice · 04/08/2010 17:12

I had to use the plastic folder that the notes came in as an impromptu sick bag in the car once!

Wasn't advised to carry them everywhere though, only on holiday or if staying overnight in a different town.

pixiestix · 04/08/2010 17:16

God no! Although I had probably better dig them out soon as I'm 32+5...

scgd · 04/08/2010 17:30

I've carried them around since about 23 weeks since i was told off by the midwife for not carrying them on me at all times! At first i moaned a lot about 'was it really necessary?' but the midwife clearly, and quite rightly, pointed out that any written notes were not kept on any computer systems and in an emergency they could potentially save mine or my baby's life. i'm 33+4 now and have to say i agree totally. i have a middle section in my not too big a bag, i have them folded in half longways, zip it up and they never leave me. yes they're a bit battered looking but they're there all the same! i never have to take them out of my bag, and it means i have them at all times. i too know the important details of my health, but if i was taken ill and was unconscious for example, that knowledge to me is irrelevant. i'm the type of person who likes everything just so, so i guess i dont mind having to carry them around if it means that i'm happy that all info is readily available to those should they need it

Principle · 04/08/2010 19:20

Only when i go trips away and not that im 39 weeks I just take it with me, Im not high risk but i figure its better to be safe than sorry,

beanlet · 04/08/2010 19:26

God no. Just to antenatal appointments, and you only need the yellow A4 booklet, but make sure you keep any correspondnce (e.g. blood test results) in there as well or write them in. And take a copy (e.g. photograph each page) before you have to hand it over at the hospital.

beanlet · 04/08/2010 19:30

Oh -- and in case of emergency, put your blood type, allergies and next-of-kin contacts on a credit-card sized piece of cardboard and keep it in an obvious place in your purse/wallet.

mummytosquidgies · 04/08/2010 21:01

I feel so lucky there's no enormous folder for us to lug around here (Denmark), we just get an envelope. However they use identity cards here so a lot of info is on a central database, so they can find a lot of what they need on that. The notes are literally just about the baby. Blood test results etc go on the central system.

My envelope lives on the fridge, and I only ever take it with us if we're going somewhere overnight or longer. In an absolute emergency I doubt they're going to sit and go through it anyway, and the hospital have a copy as it is.

Honeybee79 · 04/08/2010 22:39

Nope, I take it to appointments only and if I am going on hol then I take it. If they want me to carry it everywhere then they need a new design - it's totally impractical!

LadyRabbit · 05/08/2010 02:13

Oh Gawd I must be a real saddo because ever since I got given them they have lived in my bag religiously. I sort of like having them with me. I like to take them out and have a little look at how far we've come.... (34 weeks)

I need to get out more

yellowflowers · 05/08/2010 10:31

Haven't even thought about it. Lives in box file on my desk and comes with me to appointments only.

PinkElephant73 · 05/08/2010 14:47

I never took mine anywhere for DC1 and 2 except for appts, and I dont think anyone suggested I should. TBH I probably would have left them somewhere by mistake.
Think it would be a bit ott to be carrying them round at the moment as only 13 weeks.
maybe different if you are high risk but seems a bit ott to me.

legallyblond · 05/08/2010 15:08

Yes - I take my actual notes absolutely everywhere with me. I took them out of the special folder and just carry the notes booklet in an A4 foler - it fits in my ratherlarge handbag. The only time I don't carry them is when nipping our with my DH to the shop round the corner. He knows I am pg (obviously!) so could always nip back to the house to get them.

I carry them becasue a v good friend is a consultant obstetrian and from day one explained to me how vital it is that you have them with you in case you faint, or fall or randomly have something happen to you. Any medical professional who treats you, even if its for a sprained ankle etc, needs to know your full pg history immediately. He (the obstetritian) considers it v dangerous not to have your notes with you....

daisystone · 05/08/2010 17:03

it seems as though our midwives and doctors are all giving conflicting advice then....

JustOneMorePlease · 05/08/2010 17:40

I ended up giving birth extremely quickly at 35 weeks having started at a friends house near the hospital about half an hour from home were my notes were!

Should have had them with me, but the midwifes didn't bat an eyelid when i didn't have them. Baby was crowned by then!!!

But luckily i had no medical history and a straight forward low risk pregnancy.

It is difficult coz you could be walking to the local postbox and faint, so i do thing that there has to be a bit of common sense applied!!!

Lindsay2610 · 05/08/2010 20:14

We all got chastised by the midwife in our ante-natal class for not carrying them with us, but my midwife has never mentioned it! Mind you, she's not been brilliant so far in several respects.

Anyway, ante-natal midwife made a convincing argument, so now I carry them with me.

nymphadora · 05/08/2010 20:41

I was told to carry them towards the end. An 29 weeks now & quite often have them scrunched folded in my bag but not always.I have been ill a lot & am on fortnightly appts as well ad loads of GP ones in between so regularly need them

Zimm · 06/08/2010 13:50

Gosh i am 39 weeks and only take them to appointments but then again they are so standrad there is nothing in there anyone would need to know - they could check baby's presentation and my blood PDQ if necessary. never heard of ppl taking them everywhere..

tablefor3 · 06/08/2010 14:12

Although, the only small flaw in everyone's plans is, if you are out cold will the drs and nurses going rummaging through your bag to see if you are one of the diligent ones that actually carries their notes with them!?

Maybe they do....

Swazzee · 06/08/2010 14:58

And equally, it's all very well knowing that you're 'low risk' or 'textbook' but if you're out cold you can't tell the medical staff that, and they sure won't want to assume it...

Palace39 · 06/08/2010 15:03

My midwife said just to take them to appointments with her and make sure we take them to hospital when i go in to labour. I have however kept them in the car for the last 6 weeks (i would forget to take them to appointments otherwise), but now i'm due in 10 days they are by the phone so that dh can access the number for the labour ward easily. There is a note on my hospital bag to pick them up on the way out!

Flip

1 2