34 week appointments

[moomin35]

Can anyone tell me what happens at the 34 week appointment with the midwife? Thank you :-)

Well, I haven't had mine yet either, but as far as I'm aware it's pretty much the same as the last few in my area: measure bump, listen to baby's heartbeat, take BP, test urine. I think they may start to discuss birth plans as well...

Nothing that hasn't happened at the previous ones. Are you expecting something new?

Blood pressure, urine, measure, listen, maybe a bit about planned place of birth, but that's more at 36 weeks normally.

I just have mine next week and had read somewhere that there would be an internal examination which I just wanted to be prepared for if that was the case!!
Also is this the appointment where they test for strep b?
All the appointments seem so similar so far I just wondered if they get any more detailed as I get further to my due date?

I'm 41 weeks now and all my appointments have been the same up until the 40 week. bp, urine heartbeat and feel of tummy ect :)

I don't think internal examinations are standard practice in UK unless there are specific medical reasons. I'm expecting dc3 (34 week appointment tomorrow :)) and havent ever had an internal unless in labour (or suspected labour) to determine how dilated I was.

Didn't know they tested for strep b though, how do they do this?

No routine internals pre labour in the UK. That is very common in the US though.

I'm 37 weeks with dc2, no one's had a look inside until I was actually in labour, and no one has ever mentioned strep b, except for some books which I think may have been originally written with a US audience in mind.

No internal and no routine testing for strep b in
The uk

Yep if you want strep b testing you have to pay for it to be done privately.

The reason the NHS don't test is because strep b can come and go all the time. So it can be present at 34 weeks but then disappear by birth... or vice versa... so any strep test result at 34 weeks isn't particularly reliable. Instead, they will give you iv antibiotics against strep at birth, if you fall into certain "high risk of strep" categories (such as waters breaking several hours before onset of labour).

oops im not sure where i picked that up about strep b (must be reading too many US sites!), i think i meant to say do you get an anti-D treatment if you are rhesus negative (i don't even know what that is!!). That's a relief about the internal examination -i wasn't beginning to get nervous about it so glad i don't have to worry about that!

If your blood group was rhesus negative it would have been mentioned by now. check your blood group in your notes if you want to put your mind at rest.

If you were rhesus negative you'd definitely know about it by now!

I've attended my 25 week appointment today and my next one with the midwife is at 34 weeks. She says we will be discussing feeding options then.

Sounds odd, JC74 - I had appts at 28 and 31 weeks as well, and I'm sure only the 28-week one was for first-time mothers only

I've been under consultant care and now discharged to the community midwife team. However, I'm back at the hospital at 28 weeks for my anti D jab and an ante-natal appointment. I've only met my midwife twice!

No mention of an appointment at 31 weeks.

I found out about being rhesus negative at 12 weeks with first child then had anti d injection at 28 weeks like I have done now this time. All my appts been the same with urine and bp checks, then listen to baby's heartbeat and now feeling tummy for positioning. I had appt at 32 weeks and my next one is 35 weeks. No internals and no mention of strep b

Hmm, maybe it's an area thing then JC74?