Newbie + 1st pregnancy - when and how will my 12 week/nuchal scan be booked ?

[carrioke]

Hi ladies,

I am a complete newbie to the pregnancy thing :-) We have been very lucky for ICSI to work first time and are now waiting for our 12 weeks scan. We live in St Albans and I have had the Booking -in appointment ( at St ALbans hospital with a community midwife)and given lots of info and booklets, but we forgot to ask when and how is the 12 week scan made. If any local St Albans ladies could help me that would be much appreciated

Do I ring maternity hospital ( Watford)or my local Dr's ( Maltings Surgery - St Albans)
Do I get a phonecall or letter and if so when as I will be 12 weeks on Monday and have heard nothing yet?
Do I get a choice of dates/times for appointment? I work in a school and hubbie would neeed advance warning to book time off.
Where would the scan be, at the Maltings, St Albans hospital or Watford general?

Many thanks in advance

Congratulations! I'm not local so I don't know where it will be, but you should just get a letter through with your appointment date (well,I did!). I got mine about 10 days after the booking in appointment and about 4 weeks notice of scan - remember your nuchal fold scan will probably be done as close to 13 weeks as possible, not 12 weeks.

I'm a teacher and just took my letter into school and cover sorted with no problem - they have to let you go so you should have no worries

Right, have just re-read and somehow missed the 2nd paragraph! How long since your booking in appointment? Do you have a number for the midwife? Maybe give her a ring? I got no choice of appointments by the way

Round here you have your booking in appointment and then you get your hospital scan date through the post.

I'd give your midwife a quick ring just to query that it's being sorted as the nuchal scan if you're having it must be done before 13+6 iirc and you don't want to leave it too late.

No you won't get a choice of dates and times. You are entitled to time off for scans, not your dh though. It's an annoying fact of life but unless he's willing to take unpaid leave you can't guarantee he can attend. They're very, very busy generally and will book you in for a slot that is often difficult to change due to high demand.

I am another first timer, greetings carrioke!

Every area appears to be different. I had an appointment with the community midwife at my GPs surgery which I thought was going to be my booking appointment but wasn't. She then arranged my booking appointment at the hospital for next week (I'll be 10+5 by then) and I called the hospital today about the 12 week scan and they say that will be arranged at my booking appointment.

Factor in that ante-natal appointments are at a different hopsital to the one I'll deliver in and it's mighty confusing! Hope yours is a bit simpler.

Thanks ladies. I haven't told the school yet, as first want to make sure everything is ok and then tell family and friends before work. So looks like a sickie...eek Will maybe tell school at 4 months, that's if I don't show to much by then :-)

Thanks also for the heads up that the nuchal will be nearer to 13 weeks. The booking in was on Good Friday, so not that long ago really.

Thanks again xxxx