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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

4 weeks for a midwife appointment?!

36 replies

FernGullysWoollyPully · 10/04/2015 17:53

I'm 16 weeks next week and went to the surgery to book an appointment for then to have my first antenatal appointment and hear the baby. I'm not being precious here, it's my 5th baby and I know it could wait but it's one of the 'milestones' in pregnancy and is obviously lovely however many babies you've had. Am I wrong in thinking that 4 weeks for an appointment with the midwife is crazy?! She only does 1 clinic a week and only takes 3 appointments per clinic which are fully booked.

When did this become the norm? I can't remember struggling for appointments with any of my others.

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Mostlyjustaluker · 10/04/2015 17:57

Have you not already seen a midwife or had your 12 week scan?

notasleep · 10/04/2015 18:01

I don't know if it's the same everywhere but where I am there's an overflow team of midwives who you can get appointments with at short notice..

Did you have a booking appt?

Original poster

FernGullysWoollyPully · 10/04/2015 18:02

Yes I saw her at 8 weeks for booking and had a scan at 11+3 but the norm where I am is to see the mw at 16 weeks to hear the heartbeat.

OP posts:

fairgame · 10/04/2015 18:03

Can you ring the midwives direct as they might squeeze you in a bit earlier or do a home booking visit rather than a surgery visit. That's what they did with me.

Original poster

FernGullysWoollyPully · 10/04/2015 18:05

At the booking she told me that I can't call her directly because she never answers the phone! I was already worried about this but now I can't even get an appointment through the surgery I'm aghast!

OP posts:

fairgame · 10/04/2015 18:06

xpost you've already had a booking visit. Still try them direct. In a lot areas they are really stretched. My friend didn't see the midwife as much when she had her second, she said they just leave you to get on with it

YouMakeMyHeartSmile · 10/04/2015 18:07

My midwife doesn't check the heartbeat at all, not at 16 weeks and not for the rest of the pregnancy! They say it isn't a reliable indicator of wellbeing and monitoring movements is much more important. A lot of midwives don't check at 16 weeks as it can be difficult to find and can cause more concern than good. I'm on my second pregnancy and have never had it done at 16 weeks.
A 16 week appt for a urine dip and blood pressure check is the norm though.

fairgame · 10/04/2015 18:07

xpost again!
It's shit you're right

youlemming · 10/04/2015 18:11

As soon as I've had one appointment I book the next before I leave the surgery if it's within the 5 wks they open the bookings up until or at least call to book with 3-4 wk minimum before I'm due to see her, as even though there are 2 clinics a week they get booked up fast, I would never expect to wait till that week and get one.

YouMakeMyHeartSmile · 10/04/2015 18:32

Agree with youlemming, I booked my 16 week appointment at my booking appointment, which was at 10 weeks.

Original poster

FernGullysWoollyPully · 10/04/2015 18:45

Its longer than 5 weeks ago that I last saw her. I was 8 weeks. She told me to wait until I got close to 16 weeks then ring or call in for an appointment. I'm 15 weeks now so am doing it a bit early. I don't expect anything, I'm just a bit shocked that it's totally booked up for the next 4 weeks and I won't be able to contact her at all.

OP posts:

notasleep · 10/04/2015 20:29

Yeah that does seem strange.

Have you asked if there is another team of MWs you can see? My gp's receptionist gave me their details when I couldn't get a mw appt at the surgery.

Also second posters above who said that it's not standard practice to listen to hb at 16 weeks, I was told that the guidelines had changed as they often can't find anything and end up referring for scans unecessarily.

madreloco · 10/04/2015 20:37

You don't need an appointment, why would they give you one?
You see medical professsionals for needed medical procedures and check ups. Not because you feel like it.

I had my booking in at 15 weeks and will see a midwife at 24 weeks. Thats standard where I live. It's pregnancy, not illness.

MissTwister · 10/04/2015 21:47

16 weeks is one of the NHS standard appointment times so I assume one does need an appointment at this point to check BP, urine etc. Mine checked for heartbeat but I know not all do

If you had your booking in appt at 15 weeks that's after the scan and the first trimester so how can you get any of the advice on testing or health such as folic acid?

carbolicsoaprocked · 10/04/2015 22:50

I had problems trying to get my 32 week appointment due to 2 public holidays in a row on the day she does her clinic, so I called the local community midwife team who do an overspill clinic.
Madreloco - didn't you have a 12 weeks scan?! That would drive most madres loco I think.

BlinkAndMiss · 10/04/2015 23:03

Yep 16 weeks is a standard appointment - 5th baby or 1st, you should be given the appointment. My midwife makes the next appointment at the current one, it ensures you get one. You should ring back and insist on that appointment. With DS2 I've only missed the 24wk appointment but it was offered, I just decided I could wait until 28 weeks.

BlinkAndMiss · 10/04/2015 23:06

It's not an appointment for illness, it's antenatal care which is necessary Madreloco. That's fine for you if you've had no issues that require the standard appointments but some people don't want to take the risk.

Roseybee10 · 11/04/2015 02:55

That's a bit mad isn't it.
Although with both pregnancies they refused to try and listen to the heartbeat at 16 weeks (was the same stupid mw) as it was 'too early'.

YouMakeMyHeartSmile · 11/04/2015 08:21

I couldn't get a 41 week appointment last time as they didn't have any slots! Luckily baby came at 40+6

NickyEds · 11/04/2015 08:30

Yes, I think this is becoming more common. I rang for my booking in appointment at 7 weeks and didn't get in until 10 weeks, booked scan then and didn't get that until 14 weeks (so too late for ntdespite being assured they'd get me in in time), they decided to merge 16 week appointment with the 15 week quad test I now needed, then they decided to merge my next mw appointment with Glucose tolerance test next week. Up shot is that I'm 27 weeks and have seen the mw twice and have had a 12 week gap between seeing her. I still haven't seen "my" mw at all. At the 15 week appointment all the mw did was complain to me about how under staffed they were, rushed me through etc.

anroga · 11/04/2015 09:56

You know my situation nickyeds from my thread and I am amazed to find out what has been going on with you. I am still waiting for an appointment for my glucose intolerance test and a consultant appointment as I am intermediate risk. I am going to be on that phone on Monday chasing them again and every day if I need to I am so angry that we are just left floundering by these useless midwives! This is my first baby through icsi and I thought I would get a lot more support than this, since I was discharged from my clinic I have basically been on my own. I have had to beg them to book me in and then just like you after reassuring me I was within the period on tues I was told I was too late for the nuchal scan and screening. It's not good enough! Sorry I have ranted on!

YouMakeMyHeartSmile · 11/04/2015 10:42

A friend of mine has just moved areas at 33 weeks pregnant, due to see a midwife at 34 weeks (and also needs to book in with a new hospital). They've said they can't see her to book her in until 38 weeks and if the baby comes before then she should just turn up at her preferred hospital and they won't turn her away!

Bigbadgeorge · 11/04/2015 13:57

Yep changed guidelines between my first dc (2013) and my second (pregnant) to where they don't listen to heartbeat at 16 weeks. I was gutted as I was really looking forward to that reassurance. I had the appointment at 18 weeks and it was a waste of time. Took my blood pressure, that's it.

Original poster

FernGullysWoollyPully · 11/04/2015 14:04

Sorry for the late reply. Yes I did ask if there was anywhere else in could go and the gp receptionist said I'd have to go to another gp and ask if their clinic can take me as a one off or just not bother!

OP posts:

madreloco · 11/04/2015 14:16

It's not an appointment for illness, it's antenatal care which is necessary Madreloco.

When its necessary, you get the appointments. OP wants an appt that the professionals don't deem necessary. You don't need very frequent appts for pregnancy UNLESS you do, in which case you will. That is, if there is room for those that need them by getting the ones who don't to stop demanding them!

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