"preliminary appointment" does this mean a scan??

[kiki88]

rang the hosp (Antrim area) to see if my gp had referred me as I hadnt heard anything after 3wks of supposedly being referred. turns out they had me booked in for jan by mistake. iv been rebooked for monday afternoon. the gp hinted that everything is done at the hosp from now til baby is born implying I wouldn't be in the gp practice again. this is fine however the letter I got says it's a preliminary appointment that inc; height weight urine tested, full medical history, arrangements will be made to be seen at consultants clinic within a few wks, this first appointment can take an hour & half. I have booked a half day off work as has my partner as we are expecting a scan. the girl on the phone said I'd be scanned but reading the letter its making me doubt I will get one. gp thinks im abt 10wks but could be more. as the appointment is at the hosp do you think I will get a scan? seems a bit pointless to go there for a urine test & medical history? not sure how this would take an hour and half also

because my cycle has never been regular I cannot provide accurate dates for them to date the pregnancy. surely this would mean id get a dating scan?

Hi. Mine was a separate booking appointment and it took about an hour. It was the blood tests/blood pressure/urine test and then full family history. They assess your risk which decides if you can have choice of home birth etc.

The scan was done separately, mine was about a week after.

DH came to both. I had told work a little early so time off wasn't an issue (you are allowed paid time off for antenatal care but your partner isn't). DH is quite flexible at work and just said he had a doctor's appointment and came along. It was really good to have him there even though there's not that much for him to do (they will ask him a few family history questions).

Each hospital is different but it should be clear from the letter, and there should be some instructions eg need a full bladder for the scan etc. (you actually need to be prepared for the urine test as part of the booking appointment too!).

At the booking appointment they'll explain all for future appointments. Some of them are at my GP surgery.

I hope this helps

I'm at the Ulster and there the scan was done at the same time as the booking appointment, the whole thing took about 3 hours.

But just a booking appt. can easily take 1,5 - 2 hours and in most other NHS Trusts they're done separately!

hi kiki I'm at Antrim at my booking in the midwife did a quick scan before they sat you down to all the questions for booking in I think this is to make sure the pregnancy is viable before they put you in the system. Then you will get called back around 12 weeks for a detailed scan with the consultant. My antenatal care is shared so at 10 12 20 34 week's I ve been at the hospital and at 16 24 28 and soon 36 week's I see the community midwife at my gp surgery. I haven't had to see my gp for anything pregnancy related I made the appts as scheduled with the midwives.

I've just had my letters and I've been booked for 2 separate appts - a booking appt and a separate scan. Each are about 90m from memory.

hi umbrella. thanks for your experience, can find bugger all info abt peoples experiences in antrim. im 10wk +2 if gp dates are right. 12wks would be boxing day? dates could be completely wrong though as clear blue digital tested as 2-3wks when gp thought it was 6wk+5. all very confusing. hoping mondays appointment will be able to sort the dates. didn't want my partner missing the scan if I got one or him having to use holiday leave to sit in a waiting room

with Clearblue digi you add on 2 week's to the time range so so 2-3 weeks becomes 5 to 7 so sounds like your gp is close enough :) the scan on Monday is very quick literally 5 mins but they did give us a couple of scan photos. I have found them quite nice overall in Antrim you go downstairs near the shop on Monday for your appt. anything you want to know you can ask me

great :) im for outpatients dept 4 level a. even a little scan would be great. We're booked for snowboarding 4th jan which will now be a week of me lying about with the kindle. dont want to take any risks by falling once i know the pregnancy is all ok :)

got a quick scan. 3.28cm which midwife thinks equals 9wks altho Ithought I was 10. also got butchered trying to put the butterfly in to blood, tried 3 painful stabs on one arm with no joy and then 2 painful on the other before it worked & the million and one questions. felt wrecked afterwards. been referred for midwifery led care only. due to see community midwife in 4wks time

hate getting bloods they can never get my veins! glad you got to see baby and by the 12 week scan he she may have increased in size to match your dates :)

hope so :) so weird getting to hear the heartbeat too! little arms & legs growing, just about make them out in the pic :)

umbrella, my scan was dated as 9wks and got a letter to go back on 4th of march for appointment with radiographer when I'll be 20wks. do u get anymore scans in between the 2min booking scan at 9wks and 20? got an appointment with community midwife for 13th jan and I'll be 13wks then. I presume there are no scanning facilities in antrim health centre just the hosp?