Midwife angst

[imisssushi]

Hey Mum'sNetters, my first midwife appointment is coming up, at the end of October, by which time I will be 16 weeks pregnant and in the 2nd trimester. I'm 40, had a miscarriage in the spring, and this is my first pregnancy that's lasted this long. Am I being unreasonable? Does anyone besides me think that a first visit to a midwife should occur prior to 16 weeks??

Given you history, yes, I do think you should have seen a midwife earlier. I have had 2 first-tri MCs and so was anxious to see mid-wife. I saw her at 12 wks after scan, which was fine for me as I knew all was ok. I wasn't fussed about seeing her any sooner.

If you are anxious, perhaps you could request a scan at the early preg unit? I had 2 - at 7 and 9 wks. Really helped with nerves.

hi there. Have you had a booking appointment yet?

I am 40 and had a miscarriage and am now pregnant through IVF. My first midwife appointment after the booking was at 17 weeks. Looking at my notes it looks like much was done or said other than the midwife checking I felt ok. No measurements or bloods were taken. It's pretty normal I think.

I would have thought so! I'm 37 weeks with DC2 and first saw my mw at 6 weeks (no appointments until 13 weeks so it was go then or wait longer than I wantded to). Had to fight my corner with the Keeper of the Diary (the GP's receptionist) but mw had no problem at all in seeing me at 6 weeks. Had a scan at 12 weeks - although I gather some areas this doesn't actualy happen - then 'full booking' with the mw at 14 weeks. Subsequent appointments have been at 17, 20 (anomaly scan), 25, 28, 31, 34, 35 (another scan - low-lying placenta) and 37 week with the next one at 39 weeks.

Do you have a number for the antenatal clinic? Can you call the community midwife office and see you can be seen sooner? Someone might be along to say it's fine to wait until 16 weeks but that sounds wrong to me!

I'd push my GP for an early reassurance scan if I were you.

Here they do a 12 week dating scan as standard but I know that doesn't happen everywhere. But your fist MW appointment after booking is at 16 weeks.

I'm currently 27wks preg with number 2 but have had 3 Miscarriages and I'm 38. I got to see a community midwife very early on who organised a reassurance scan at 8 weeks on my GP's recommendation.

Push for what will help you through what I know is a very worrying time. And I hope all goes well for you.

Incidentally, I had bloods done at 14 weeks that showed I was already anaemic, so was glad I'd seen the mw sooner!

I'm also 40 and 14 weeks after two previous miscarriages.
I'm assuming this is your first appointment AFTER a booking appointment, at which bloods, basic obs/checks and discussion on screening etc took place. If so, I think it's standard, if not then I would certainely push for a closer appt.

If you had you booking appt then this is standard, not sure what else you expect to be honest? your schedule is following the nice guidelines.

with my first I didn't have booking in until 16 weeks as the referral forms had been lost apparently.

If you haven't had booking in then no yanbu you should be seen be 12 weeks, though maternity care is so overstretched that unfortunately it can't always happen.

Thanks for all your messages! I do feel better. Forgot to say in my first post that I did have the booking appt in Sept, but when appt for mw was booked for end of Oct, that just seemed ages away. In the spring when I was pregnant, had my first mw appt at 8 weeks, so 16 weeks seemed really odd to me, but from reading your messages, I guess it's pretty standard. Relief!