How long before 1st MW letter?

[simonjhardy]

Hi all,

We (well... my lovely GF!) are 8 weeks pregnant. Saw the GP 2 weeks ago to refer to the antenatal unit at our local hospital (Royal London).

Just wondering what your experiences have been in waiting for the 1st letter to arrive with details of your booking/1st can appointment in?

Did you wait a couple of weeks after the GP appointment? Or did they leave it white close to the mark and send you the letter close to the date of the scan/booking?

I believe in our area they combine the booking and 1st scan at 12 weeks or so, but it would just be nice to know the date and time to book the morning/afternoon off of work earlier rather than later.

We're not overly worried (chose to have a scan this weekend just gone just for the heck of it!), but we just want to get our live organised and have these sit downs and chats arranged upfront.

Thanks in advance!

I'm in East London (Whipps Cross hospital). They were pretty slow and disorganised with me. My referral letter was sent off to the hospital midwife unit at approx 8 weeks. By 12 weeks, still nothing, no booking appt, no scan appt. I had to ring and beg to get a scan appointment within the nuchal testing window, and won't be getting a booking appointment till I'm 15 weeks (got the letter through for that one at about 12.5 weeks).
Hopefully the Royal will be a bit better with you. Id start phoning to chase them at 11 weeks if there's no word by then.
Good luck with your scan!

Thanks!

yeah I've spoken to the MF unit at Royal London and they couldn't have been more helpful. Very nice indeed!

They put me in touch with the antenatal booking unit who were pretty much the opposite! Said I should expect a letter in the next few day (didn't ask our details) and when I asked when should I be looking to call if no letter arrives they muttered to me 11 weeks in a very dismissive grunting way...