Just how important is the 40 weeks check-up?

[AmeliaEarhart]

I'm not having one, because the antenatal clinic can't fit me in

I have made an appointment at the MFAU for 41 weeks, but I'm feeling a bit fed up that I'm not going to be seen before now and then (I'm 38 weeks and 2 days), especially as apparently my baby's head isn't engaged yet and no one has discussed my birth plan with me or management of prolonged pregnancy - both of which should have happened by now according to my schedule of care.

Am I just being a neurotic first-timer?

the what?

have never heard of a 40 week check-up so I would hazard a guess it's not crucial

Well at this stage in your pregnancy you would normally be having your BP checked every 2 weeks, also your wee checked. So yes I think its important.

Plus you're often offered a sweep at 40 weeks. And yes you should have had IOL and birth plan discussed.

Guess you could always get your BP and wee checked at the GP surgery by the nurse.

Is it your first pregnancy? Have you written a birth plan? I'm sure lots of people on here would be happy to discuss it with you. :)

I don't think management of a prolonged pregnancy is discussed until you're actually overdue - I'm on second preg with a 41 week appt instead of 40 week appt as our local clinic only runs fortnightly. At the 41 week appt they'll offer me a sweep if I want one but I can decline it if I choose. Around here, I think they'll also book an induction date for the following week (42 weeks) just in case, but you can discuss whether you want to hang on a bit beyond the 2 week cut-off, they don't like you going much further past though in case the placenta stops working as efficiently.

Sorry, missed the last line of your post - clearly it is your first pregnancy! VivaLeBeaver makes a good point re blood pressure and urine, might be worth making an appt with the nurse for that.

If you insist that you want one they will find you an appt by overbooking a clinic.

Well, yeah, I guess the 'discussion of birth plan' bit isn't so important to me (seeing as my birth plan consists of 'nice natural waterbirth, unless things go pear-shaped and then you can do whatever the heck you like to get the baby out'), and I do know about induction and the various steps involved from NCT class.

I'm more annoyed that I seem to have fallen between 2 stools - midwife at my GP's surgery tells me I must go to the antenatal clinic at the hospital, antenatal clinic at hospital can't fit me in. All I have to go by for who I should be seeing and when is the schedule of care printed in my antenatal record.

Plus I'm a bit worried about the un-engaged head. Surely that's not a good sign at this stage

There's some good stuff here about unengaged heads;

www.homebirth.org.uk/highhead.htm

Some babies don't engage until labour starts: "If this is your first baby, it's natural to worry if he still hasn't engaged when your labour starts. Rest assured that, in most cases, this is not a problem".. I've been engaged for the past week and am overdue, last time it wasn't long after the head engaged labour started so it depends on the baby/position of placenta etc.