Frequency of antenatal visits to midwife

[handlemecarefully]

Can anyone remember how often you should be seen antenatally by your midwife?

I saw her eons ago for booking in and haven't seen her since. I'm 23 weeks now....

The just leave you to get on with it in subsequent sproggings I think. Saw mine at booking, won't now see till 16 wks then 28 wks then 32...........

every months til about 32 weeks...then every two weeks...then every week
but i did have high blood pressure for the last 6 weeks....and gave birth at 37.5 weeks...

Mine was once a month till 28 wks. Then every 2 wks till 36 wks. Then once a week. Seemed like a lot though.

They seem to have changed the drill since I had DS2.

I had my booking appointment last week - won't now see midwives again until after anomalies scan at 20 weeks.

I was seen at 16weeks by consultant(previous c- section) then started seeing midwife at 20 weeks, then every 4 weeks until 32 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks then weekly. I think this is the norm but they seem quite happy to let you go longer between visits if you're happy to and it's a subsequent pregnancy. I liked the reassurance of regular visits. Have you had a 20 week scan? sometimes they don't see you until after that.So then see you at 24 weeks, do they contact you? I always had to contact them for an appointment even the first one.

The new NICE guidelines are just 7 antenatal appointments in otherwise low risk, 2nd or subsequent pregnancies. It works out something like
1- before 12 weeks
2- around 15-16 weeks (AFP test usually done)
3 - 20 weeks (scan)
4 - 28 weeks
5 - 34 weeks
6 - 37 weeks
7 - 39 weeks
8 - 41 weeks (if necessary)

Most of us will have a 12 week scan, too, which really makes 8 appointments for anyone who gets to 40 weeks. You can search the NICE website and find the guidelines for 1st time pregnancies; Offhand, I think first timers are supposed to have additional appointments at 24 & 31 weeks.

I had an appt at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 20 weeks, 26 weeks then fortnightly until 36 weeks when they become weekly. Seems a lot compared to those on here! 1st timer and no medical conditions etc.

I've only had appts at 12, 20, 24 and 1 planned for 28 so far, and I'm supposed to be being kept an eye on..! And the 24 week appt. was one I made myself!!

My last pregnancy I saw my Dr every 4 weeks then every 2 weeks then every week until the end. I only saw midwives at the clinic which was my booking appointment at 12 weeks then again when I was 32 weeks and at 41 weeks.

This time they have changed it. I saw a midwife for my booking appointment, I saw another one when I had my amnio at 16 weeks. I don't see another midwife until I'm 24 weeks and I have to make that appointment myself. On my notes there is a calendar with circles on certain weeks which I assume means that I have to go see midwife then. So I've to go at 24,28,34,38 and 40 weeks. I've to go back at 41 weeks to see the consultant if I've not delivered by then. I'm also getting an extra scan at 28 weeks so they can check the babies heart. I'm not sure if I'll see my own Dr at the same stages or not. I know that I've to go back when I'm 24 weeks to see her so I'll find out then.
I guess they are still classing me as low risk even though I've had a lot more problems so far this pregnancy.

handlemecarefully, it was the same for me - I saw her at booking in when she barely looked at me (just filled in lots of forms) and then not till ages later, though I did have the 20 week scan at the hospital with other m'wives. At the end (now week 38) it is every 2 weeks, alternating midwife and doctor.

Thanks all - especially snowflakeyzebra for the new guidelines on antenatal care. As I am a low risk pregnancy and since I've had a scan at 20 weeks (and bp etc was checked at that point), I won't worry about chasing up another appointment until I am 28 weeks.

It all seems a bit laissez faire though!

I thought it all seemed a bit infrequent (especially in the middle months) last time but its less frequent this time and I'm more relaxed although was a bit peeved that they left the booking in appt to 13 weeks.

So I've had:
Booking in - 13 weeks
Dating scan followed by blood tests 15 weeks

And have fetal anomaly scan booked for 20 weeks but unless something is picked up I won't have to go to the antenatal dept post-scan as used to be the routine last time.

Then I'm to make an appt to see comm. midwife at 21 weeks. But she did explain at booking-in that if I have a straightforward pregnancy the appts will be less frequent.

I've had a lot fewer midwife visist this time too, in fact not seen my midwife yet and I'm 24 weeks. Had a dating scan at 15 weeks, and booking in details at the same time, anomaly scan at 21 weeks. and will see midwife for the first time at 25 weeks.

It does seem too few, I want to discuss a home birth etc and noone has even asked anything about that, or I might be really depressed, even though it's not my first time, how would they know?

Has anyone had internal's at their midwife appts? I haven't had any yet and wondered if we have them? I've been having appts once every 4 weeks but 22 wk scan showed babies head was a bit small so now going to midwife fortnightly to check it's growing ok. Anyone else had that?

Are you in the USA? Did your mw actually say she was going to do internals? I don't understand why they would help monitor baby's head size... I think internals are very common in pregnancy in USA, but the UK attitude seems to be 'don't disturb anything down there.'

I agree with Cavy, internals are much more common in the US then UK. Where are you? I'm not sure how accurate an internal would be for assessing head size especially in the second trimester and if the head hasn't engaged.

Anyone?

Hi! Sorry didn't make myself clear. Am in UK and no the internals question wasn't related to head being small! Just wondered if we have any internals full stop until go in for labour!