Is it worth OH going to booking in app with midwife? (UCH, London)

[MrsLilac]

I have my first booking in appointment on Saturday. I will be 11 weeks. My husband was thinking of coming in the off chance that he gets to hear the heart beat. I know some places will listen but others don't now. It's at UCH in North London. What happens at these appointments? Is it worth him coming? Did you take your OH? Sorry for all the questions!

They won't listen with a Doppler at 11 weeks I wouldn't have thought.

But they ask a lot of family history medical questions, so him being there is probably useful.

I probably wouldn't bother as I don't think you'll be able to hear the heartbeat until 16 weeks. The family history questions concern ethnicity and if there are any inherited conditions in his family.

I wouldn't have thought you would get to hear the heartbeat until your 12 week scan, as it will be so tricky if not impossible to find in the early weeks with a Doppler which in turn can cause unnecessary anxiety, especially if not located. I don't think your hubby would much enjoy the booking appointment, but scans are another matter and he most definitely should attend those.

They won't listen for the heartbeat at 11 weeks. I would leave him at home assuming you know the answers to questions about family medical history.

I have my care at UCHL. No heartbeat listening at booking appt. They take a lot of information from you. Take urine and blood. That's it. My husband came and I was glad to have him there, but no fun stuff....

It's as much his as yours! My do came to both booking ins, is the start of the official journey. He didn't always make it to all the other appts due to work, but definitely for the heartbeat ones. After twenty weeks, I think. Can't remember!!

I had my booking in appointment about 3 weeks ago at 8.5 weeks and pretty much posted this exact thread!
I'm in the north so nowhere near you but my oh didn't come- tbh I felt abit uncomfortable waitingn cause a couple came out the room and another couple was in the waiting room with me.
When talking with the midwife she asked me if I had a partner... But when I told her yes and explained I didn't want him to book a day off for this she said he will be relieved cause it was basically paper work! And all directed at me apart from a tiny bit on medical history but I filled that out with my partner before my appointment.
She also took bloods, did blood pressure, asked copious amounts of questions and that was pretty much it!
I asked about a heart beat and she said nowhere listens till 16 weeks- so I'm guessing that's be same for your location

I'd honestly reccomend getting oh to book days off for more exciting things like scans and the 16 week appointment ! Good luck:)

Dh. I don't have a do, whatever that is!!

It's just medical history, BP, urine and bloods. Unless there are complex hereditary conditions on his side, leave him at home.

The mw didn't listen to the heartbeat for me until 16 weeks, and even that is earlier than NICE guidelines now I think. But we also heard the heartbeat at the 12 week scan.

I didn't even hear the heartbeat at the 12 week
Scan!

I would say it's up to you if you would like the extra support and if your husband wants to know what's happening, but it's not very clinically interesting at that stage. They don't normally listen to the heartbeat at that stage and some hospitals don't bother doing much heartbeat listening at all as I gather it's not seen as necessary except to reassure the parents. My husband came for a lot of my appointments for my first baby so that he knew as much as possible to help prepare, but second time around he's been to virtually none. I've got my 37 week appointment tomorrow and he's coming to that but that's because we're expecting to make a decision about induction and I'm at a different hospital to last time so have questions about the process etc; as he may need to be my advocate when I'm in labour I want him to know what's going to happen and to have the chance to ask any questions he has.

If he does go, there may be a section where the midwife wants to speak to you alone. This is so that she can ask you the questions to satisfy herself that you're not in a position of risk at home and it's thoroughly routine.

I didn't take my dh as its all bloods and paperwork. Had my 116 week today (at 18 weeks) and no heartbeat until the next one in 5 weeks. Hope this helps.

I'm at UCH for antenatal care (currently 19 weeks), the booking appointment is administrative (bloods, medical history, urine etc) but you won't get a heartbeat check, so it's your decision on whether you want your partner there for the start of the journey.

At the 12 week scan, you may get a chance to hear the HB as we did. UCH don't check heartbeats in the routine 16 week midwife appointment (I did ask but I was told it's not in the guidelines), they do at 24 weeks, so something to look forward to.

Hope that helps, good luck with your booking appointment and the rest of your pregnancy.

Thanks so much for the responses ladies. Decided he can stay at home. His brother is visiting from America so if rather he had quality time with him. Can wait for my scan now as in Desperate to hear the heartbeat (admin know everyone always is!). Thanks again.