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Original poster

Haven't seen the MW since I was 10 weeks

28 replies

NickysMam · 07/10/2013 09:35

is that normal?

I'm pretty sure that with DS, I was seen at 16 weeks. I'm 17 weeks tomorrow and I haven't heard anything. No appointments are written on my notes. I'm labeled as a low risk pregnancy but surely she would've seen me by now?

I'll call up obviously but wondering if this is how they do things now

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Writerwannabe83 · 07/10/2013 09:44

I would call them - I thought all when had to have a 16week contact regardless of whether they are high risk or low risk. I had my first midwife contact when I was 6 weeks and they made me my 16 week appointment whilst I was there.

Graciescotland · 07/10/2013 09:46

I'd call as well, I thought they did blood tests at 16 weeks.

Excited2meetmyprincess · 07/10/2013 09:46

I would call as I had an appointment at 16 weeks as well x

gininteacupsandleavesonthelawn · 07/10/2013 09:50

Did you not have a 12week scan?

bundaberg · 07/10/2013 09:50

call them. with my first baby they sent me an appt, but when i changed surgery for my second it was done differently and they were expecting me to make the appt.

Twiddlebum · 07/10/2013 09:56

Maybe it was you that was supposed to make the appointment?? That's how it works here. At the booking in appointment I was given a load of booklets and in one of them it told me when to make appointments etc.

greentshirt · 07/10/2013 10:02

The schedule of appts is in my notes in the info section. It also says it's different for 2nd and subsequent children. You get more appts in your first pregnancy

onedogandababy · 07/10/2013 10:03

Yep for a 2nd baby, low risk you should have appts at booking, 16, 28, 34, 36, 38 & 41 weeks. Scans at 12 & 20 weeks ish.

midwifeandmum · 07/10/2013 10:05

You should of seen the mw after ur 12 wk scan. At my trust in scotland, we see the lady the day of her 12 wk scan then ask her if she would like the AFSP test for spina bifida and down syndrome. She will then usually have this done at her 16 wk app with mw. Either way we see ladies at 16 wks.

Contact the maternity unit and speak with the community mws

Best of luck

EeyoreIsh · 07/10/2013 10:11

In my area you need to make the appointments yourself. We're given a sheet that tells us when and we then do the booking.

louloubellamozzarella · 07/10/2013 12:05

You probably need to call either your midwife or GP to book an appointment (GP if appointments take place in your surgery with a midwife).

I thought I'd be sent an appointment but didn't receive anything. No info telling me I needed to book myself. I called my GP to check - thinking I'd then have to call MW - but they booked me straight into the weekly midwife surgery. Good job they had space as I was just coming up to 16 weeks. The guidance could be a lot better!!

fluffyraggies · 07/10/2013 12:13

Yes, i think i had one at 8, and then my next was after my 12 week scan (at about 15 weeks).

and then nothing till 25 weeks! but we wont go into that. thats just how it is these days

Ring and speak to her if you can OP.

SaucyJack · 07/10/2013 12:15

16 week appts are standard here too.

Had to make/chase up my own appt tho.

rugbychick · 07/10/2013 12:24

16 weeks where I am too. There was list of times I needed to see the midwife (plus the one gp appt) at the front of my maternity notes. It told you at the bottom of the sheet which appts you needed whether it was your first, or subsequent babies. Then told we needed to make the appt

PrincessKitKat · 07/10/2013 15:17

I had to make my own 16 week app - but nobody told me either (luckily I asked).

Not really rating the whole 'midwife/scan/maternity care' process so far. It's like a birth conveyor belt & they seem to think everyone knows what they're supposed to do...

McBaby · 07/10/2013 16:43

We have to make our own appointments, as everyone doesn't get a midwife appointment as standard if your with a consultant etc.

midwifeandmum · 07/10/2013 17:17

Im sorry to hear that princess kit but im sure if ur confused u could ask for advice from ur maternity unit.

But believe me us mws get just as confused as you pregnant ladies lol. Guidelines are ALWAYS changing things so it can be a bugger to get ur head round, especially if it was different rules with a previous child

Xenadog · 07/10/2013 17:38

I think that the whole appointment thing is just weird. I really wish there was a standard for healthcare which was easy to understand. My first mw appointment was at about 9 weeks or so and then I had my 16 weeks at the hospital as I'm high risk. Anyway half the things the mw said she was going to Discuss with me at my 16 week appointment didn't get mentioned and I didn't know I was supposed to bring them up with the nurse or the doctor - felt like I was the parcel in pass the parcel.

Back to the mw for the 24 week appointment and it's like she's forgotten ever meeting me! I wasn't sure if she would book by appointment or if I had to as well. It's so confusing and I'm not sure who leads what part. I like to think I'm not stupid but this whole appointment thing makes me feel ridiculous! So to the OP I would say ring up mw and book and appointment and then ask for clarification about future appointments.

Julietee · 07/10/2013 17:42

In my area I think 16 week appt is only for first child. I had mine (had to make it myself as they seem patchy) and no blood tests. My next is at 24 weeks.

midwifeandmum I've never heard of that test! Is that the equivalent of the screening and bloods they do at our 12 week scan in England?

LadyMedea · 07/10/2013 17:47

This web page gives the standard timeline of NHS appointments, what varies seems to be whether you see your GP or midwife, round here in Berkshire it seems the midwife does the standard ones and the GP does the extrAs for first pregnancies. My midwife always books my next appointment with her but I book directly with the GP which is a good system.

The schedule wasn't pointed out to me although there is a chart in my notes, I think an info sheet repeating that webpage and showing the local arrangements for making appointments would be a good idea!

Frizz1986 · 07/10/2013 19:07

We have to make all our own mw appointments. There is a weekly clinic at the go surgery so as soon as i have one appointment i come out and book the next.
I was told that as a first timer the only extra appointments i would get are at 25 weeks and 31 weeks whereas on your second you miss those ones out, but you should still have the 16 week one.

HorryIsUpduffed · 08/10/2013 09:25

Subsequent pgy I had 10w, 16w, 24w, 28w, 32w, 36w, 38w, 39w, 40w, 41w (if he hadn't arrived). Plus clinic appt with 20w scan.

Under the home birth team I additionally have 22w, 30w, 34w and weekly thereafter.

HaPPy8 · 08/10/2013 09:26

You should have a 16 week appointment but normally you have to make it yourself - the mw won't make it for you. I would phone your GP receptionists and book it.

Wilberforce2 · 08/10/2013 09:37

I had to have an appointment at 16 weeks but did have to make it myself and then because she only works for one afternoon every other Thursday I couldn't get in until 18 weeks! I have to have my next one between 24 and 26 so I've just made it for 24 weeks.

LittlePeaPod · 08/10/2013 09:41

Hi Op we have to make our own appointments in my region.

PrincessKitKat I am with you on how poor the antenatal care is. This is my first and I got so fed up with the community midwifery care which was a rushed/convyer belt 10/15 min appointment with no actual advice that first I moved to the One2One care team who were better but eventually I thought fuck it and requested to be moved out of the NHS and now I have gone private. The difference in care is so obvious it makes me sad we don't get the same in the NHS.