booking appointment and dating scan

[joosiewoosie]

Hi all,
Newbie here. I am about 5 and a half weeks pregnant and today received a letter from my midwife giving me the date for my 'booking appointment'.
Will I receive a separate appointment for the dating scan soon too, or will i have to book it with her? By the time I have my booking appointment, I will be 10 weeks and it'll be just a handful of working days before Xmas. I'm concerned that i will not get a scan appointment until the new year.
What are your experiences folks? I'm in NWKent btw.
Thanks,
Joosie

Generally the MW arranges the dating scan at your booking appointment, or at least sends off the paperwork then. I got my letter in the post a week after booking in, and the scan was about ten days after I got the letter.

It may well not be till the new year as the ultrasound dept will probably be closed to non emergencies on all the bank holidays. But so long as the NT measurement is done before 14 weeks there isn't a problem.

Oh, also, is it worth partners coming to booking appointment? My hubs is keen to be involved in it all, and I'd like it too, but don't want to look odd or needy! Wild horses would not keep him away from scans though!

Partners can be useful at booking in appointments as they do ask about family medical history. Unfortunately I've not had the Spouse at mine because they always clashed with stuff he can't get out of but as well as the scans, he's come to some of the routine midwife appointments just to a. meet the midwife and b. hear the heartbeat :)

If he wants to be there and you want him there, I cant see the issue. :)

Dp has come to pretty much every appointment with me, mainly because he likes the half day out of work to lounge about. :o

My MW organised my dating scan (which included a nuchal fold scan) after my booking in. If DP can make your booking in, and he (and you!) want him to be there, then do take him along. As Issy says, they will ask for his family medical history too, so it's very useful, plus I found I forgot afterwards half of what the MW told me, so DP was great for filling in the gaps.

Be warned - the MW will ask you all sorts of personal questions about past STDs, previous pregnancies, whether you (or your mother) has ever had depression etc. Not an issue with a partner that will no doubt know everything about you but worth knowing if you choose to take someone else (a supportive friend/mother etc) along instead.

Good luck and congratulations!

It depends where u live. I had my booking on appt at the end of 9 weeks. She then gave me the details to ring up and book my scan myself

I made my booking-in appointment, and the letter with the appointment for my dating scan followed a couple of days later, here it's made automatically when you make the booking-in appointment rather than having to wait for the MW to do it at the appointment.

Ring the hospital and ask because it varies from area to area.

It's personal preference as to whether DH attends your antenatal appointments or not - DH attended all of my appointments last time, and intends to come to them all again this time. Whilst they are generally very dull, it keeps him involved and I absolutely cannot imagine him not being there if the MW finds a measurement is off or can't find a heartbeat with the doppler.

Thanks folks. All of the above is very helpful...and very quick! I'm pleased I joined mumsnet now! I'm sure I'll speak to you all again soon! :)