High Risk Indicators?

[williamsj33]

Hi,

In my first GP appointment to confirm pregnancy I flagged that I have a brother who had serious heart problems at young age. One month later and still no contact from my chosen maternity ward in London. I finally rang their desk and was told my first booking appointment is not until the end of my first trimester. Is this odd is general? I would have thought that someone flagging a first degree relative with heart disease and sudden death in their 20's would merit and earlier appointment to investigate potential high risk in pregnancy? Any insights would be much appreciated!

Sorr to hear you're worrying
It's possible there's just not much they could do until you're much further along and the heart is big enough for problems to start show on a scan (I think some possible problems can be picked up at 12 weeks, some not until 20), similarly I think genetic testing can't be done until a certain point in the pregnancy. Meantime it might be worth researching your brother's condition (if you've not already done so) to find out whether there is a risk that you could pass it on to your child if you do not have it yourself.

Really it depends on what the condition is. I agree any problems that would be visible in the heart won't be visible at the first scan, the 12 week scan is only for dating purposes. The 20 week scan would show any visible problems.

If it's a genetic condition that you could be at risk of passing on you would need genetic counselling, if you decided to have testing done I think CVS has to be done at 11 weeks but amniocentesis can be done at any stage after that. Really I'd say it depends on your views and what you would do if your baby had the condition as to how urgent it is.

Thanks ladies. I think I'm going to contact the maternity ward again. I don't believe the condition shows up until 20's so any tests for the baby would be genetic. More worried about myself being vetted at the moment because pregnancy might bring on problems despite the fact that I have never really had any so far!