The Maternity Booklet

[FluffyJawsOfDoom]

...the one that contains all your medical notes and scan results etc.

When she gave it to me, the MW told me to take it "everywhere" - but now I'm wondering how literally she meant that? I assumed she just meant to appointments, but I've just read elsewhere on MN that some people literally keep it in their handbag 24/7?

Mine told me to keep it in my handbag. I only actually do if I'm out on my own or going far away.

I carry mine everywhere as if anything were to happen then my full PG history is there for the relevant people. xx

I think you only need to worry about carrying it around towards the end of your pregnancy - unless you've got a pre existing condition or other stuff they would need to know about if treating you. IMO.

I find it way too big to carry everywhere, though I tend to keep it in the car so I'm rarely far away from it.

I made sure DH and my mum both knew where I kept it in case of emergency, but apart from specific baby appointments, the only time it came out of the house was when I went away for a long weekend.

I'll start taking it out in the car with me from about 30 weeks, other than that I leave it in a safe place at home (DH would be able to find it). I did take it when we went abroad recently.

I only take mine to appointments, but I realise that at 33 weeks pregnant I should probably put it in my bag wherever I go.

I only actually carried them when going away somewhere. If I was close enough to home/work to be admitted to my booked hospital anyway, then DH could easily be grabbing them and they can contact my midwife.

That said, I added 150 miles onto a 200 mile journey at one point because we got 50 miles up the motorway and realised they'd been forgotten. But I'd been feeling a bit funny that morning and was worried if I didn't perk up I'd be at the doctors/hospital the next day.

I did need them away from home once too (when I was carrying them). Not an emergency situation, but didn't have a whole day for them to be fetched for me.

The massive folder they give you? I have only taken mine with me to appointments and when I went away for the weekend. I didn't know I was supposed to carry it around, I'm 38+2 now.

Yeah it's like an ever-expanding A4 booklet lalabaloo

It's interesting to note most of you carry it around! I think I'll try and make sure it lives in my massive handbag from now on, and take it on holiday (which I hadn't even considered doing ) - thanks :)

when I was waiting in triage recently someone came in by ambulance who had collapsed while shopping. The midwife asked for her notes and when she didn't have them told her she was meant to take them everywere with her.

I still don't perhaps I should but they are so big - why can't they do them in A5 size instead of A4 bet more people would carry around a small but thick bundle rather than the A4

I didn't carry them with me in my first pregnancy. Only took them to appts and to hospital when I was in labour.

I don't carry them this time round either. Only pull them out when going to MW appt. I'm nearly 37 weeks

My midwife told me to take them everywhere with me. I did this very diligently for the first bit of pregnancy, but now ironically when I'm more likely to need them (34 weeks today) I have got out of the habit and they stay at home. To be honest as my pregnancy so far has been mercifully uncomplicated I don't think there's anything very helpful to them in there anyway! I probably should start taking them with me though. I do always take them with me when going on a long journey or staying away from home.

After forgetting to bring it to my first scan I decided it was easier to keep it in my bag - no need to ever take it out, no chance of forgetting it at appointments, and of course should I be in an accident any medical staff will find out pretty quickly that they have a pregnant lady in their care.

I never took mine anywhere, but at 22wks I had to be rushed to hospital with bleeding, and was told to keep them with me all the time now in case it happens again. They're big, but so's my handbag :o

Folded it in half, shoved it in my bag and took it everywhere (thankfully because i had awful babt-brain. And once when after a jolt in the car/no movement after/ got to hosp quick-time it was tge last thing on my mibd!)

After it started looking really tatty i stuck it in an a5 zip-up folder

My mw told me to take them everywhere. I must've given her a look because she said LITERALLY everywhere... Even if you're just popping out for a loaf of bread. I used it as an excuse to buy a new handbag we've also got a new crazy policy at work where we're not allowed to carry our bags around with us, so I use it as a way round that too. Have been out a couple of times without it, but as I'm a newbie I'm generally doing as I'm told!

My mw told me to take them everywhere. I must've given her a look because she said LITERALLY everywhere... Even if you're just popping out for a loaf of bread. I used it as an excuse to buy a new handbag we've also got a new crazy policy at work where we're not allowed to carry our bags around with us, so I use it as a way round that too. Have been out a couple of times without it, but as I'm a newbie I'm generally doing as I'm told!

35+1 today and I've started thinking about carrying them to work with me for the last couple of weeks - DP works from home so I've worked on the basis that if I needed them in a hurry, he'd be the first person to be contacted anyway. I took them with me when we had a week's holiday in February to visit relatives when I was 25 weeks (about a 600 mile round trip).

Bearing in mind that there were 3 babies due in my department in work in the space of 6 weeks (I was due second) and mine has been the only one still in situ for the past week, I can see why I probably should be a little more cautious...

Hmm - My are at home, but I'm only 16 weeks...I'm sensing an excuse for buying a big new handbag though!

I took mine to AN appointments. The rest of the time it lived in various locations around the house.