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

Original poster

First midwife appointment

22 replies

Kaytee1987 · 25/11/2015 15:38

What tests do they carry out at this appointment? I've seen a few people talk about getting a carbon monoxide test, surely if you don't smoke and have no leaks at home this is a complete waste of time and money. Is everyone offered this?

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5madthings · 25/11/2015 15:42

I have never been offered it and until I got pregnant was a smoker. I told midwife this as well.

Ime the first app or 'booking in' is just a form filling exercise, they did weigh me and check my blood pressure but it was mainly answering questions re my health and family history etc.

T
Am 21wks with baby 6 and it's been the same each time.

Jibberjabberjooo · 25/11/2015 15:46

Never heard of it and I have two children.

At your booking in appointment they take bloods for full blood count, HIV status, blood group, that sort of thing, dip your wee for infections and glucose, take your BP and your weight and go through your and your partner's medical history. They may or not may not give you a scan date, depends on your area. They'll also give you your hospital notes to take to every appointment and they are supposed to ask you if you suffer from domestic violence. Takes about an hour.

Original poster
Kaytee1987 · 25/11/2015 15:47

I had my weigh in and blood pressure at my gp. When I called midwife for my appointment she mentioned blood tests but not what they would be testing for x

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Kaytee1987 · 25/11/2015 15:49

Ok thanks, hopefully I will know all the answers for DH as he won't be able to make it. Would be good to get a list of the questions beforehand so he can fill out his section x

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Jibberjabberjooo · 25/11/2015 15:50

You'll have your BP taken every time.

Bloods are routine, they need to know your blood group for your rhesus status incase you need the anti-d jab and incase you bleed a lot after labour and need a blood transfusion. You'll get bloods taken several times throughout your pregnancy. You'll get more before your scan.

Jibberjabberjooo · 25/11/2015 15:51

It's questions like heart problems, diabetes, inherited conditions, epilepsy, DVT, that sort of stuff.

5madthings · 25/11/2015 15:52

I had to go to hospital for yhe blood test but I have crap veins and midwife couldn't get any.

The midwife will still do blood pressure etc even if gp has. They will do your blood pressure and test urine etc at each midwife app.

Yes to it taking about an hour. It's mainly just paperwork.

Inwaiting · 25/11/2015 15:57

the carbon monoxide test is voluntary you don't have to do it. it came in around 6 months ago in our ward my midwife said.

I've had mine this morning. It took around an hour and a half for the first part and then I had to go to a separate hospital to have bloods taken. It did take up most of the morning.

Loads of questions around your health, if you're scared at home/dv etc, partners health and family history

I found some of the questions repetitive.

Snossidge · 25/11/2015 16:00

I had the carbon monoxide thing every time, you can turn it down if you want but it literally takes about 30 secs - you just blow into a tube thing.

Littleelffriend · 25/11/2015 16:46

I had carbon monoxide done at my first appointment

Iammad · 25/11/2015 16:52

Yep I had mine done, painless.
Just like doing the asthma peak flow.
This is baby number 6 and it's only this one (I'm 32 weeks now) that I have had it done.

Junosmum · 25/11/2015 17:29

I didn't have the carbon monoxide test, wasn't offered it.

The bloods are for your blood group, hep B, HIV, hemoglobin (iron) level, syphilis, rubella and if you are in the risk group sickle cell anemia. They are all voluntary.

You get your bloods done again at 28 weeks for a few other things too.

Runningupthathill82 · 25/11/2015 17:35

I've had the carbon monoxide test done at every appointment I'm both my pregnancies. It depends on whether your area is one of the trusts that does it or not.
It can be quite interesting - I've never smoked, but got a higher than usual reading the day I walked to the hospital along the busy ring road.

seven201 · 25/11/2015 17:54

I had the carbon monoxide test too and am a non- smoker. She told me they have to in case I was lying so they can support me to quit! She said she's not meant to tell what it's for, but morally she doesn't like not saying why!

Original poster
Kaytee1987 · 25/11/2015 18:49

Carbon monoxide testing sounds like nanny state, if I tell someone I don't smoke I expect them to believe me and even if they didn't smoking isn't illegal so up to the individual whether we agree with it or not. Might say no to it just on principle lol.

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Snossidge · 25/11/2015 19:13

No one's going to make you Confused You can accept or decline any tests you want in pregnancy. Having HIV isn't illegal but they test for that too.

Runningupthathill82 · 25/11/2015 19:30

Don't think there's any need to "lol" - even if you don't smoke, the test could be useful for showing up if there's any problems with your heating system etc at home, which you'd want to get sorted before the baby arrives anyway.
Nobody will force you to have the test. But my perspective was that although I don't smoke, it could potentially show up something worrying - so why not blow into the tube, as I'm there anyway?

YouAndMeAreGoingToFallOut · 25/11/2015 19:39

I had the carbon monoxide test at mine. The midwife said "it probably isn't really necessary since you've told me you don't smoke." I replied: "well I could be lying about that I suppose". She looked a bit shifty, so it was pretty clear that's why they do it!

sparechange · 25/11/2015 19:45

The Carbon Monoxide test is in some areas where there are higher levels of smoking
I think the hospitals get financial incentives for reducing rates, and some of them can offer vouchers to women who give up while pregnant

Original poster
Kaytee1987 · 25/11/2015 19:51

I was 'lol' at the idea of saying no to it out of principle as I really doubt I would do that. I have carbon monoxide detectors at home so don't think I've any problem with heating etc. Was reading an article about the testing earlier and it does seem a bit ridiculous, ppl that are smoking know they shouldn't be doing it anyway. Wrt comparing it to other tests presumably someone might not know they had an sti etc but they know if they're a smoker or not.

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mrsmugoo · 26/11/2015 08:40

I had the carbon monoxide test at my booking in last week, it must be new as I didn't have it last time.

I'm a non smoker so I blew a 1. I didn't have a problem doing it even though I knew my reading would be virtually non existent as I don't have gas heating at home either. She did say living in a city centre can trigger a reading from air pollution which was interesting.

Really don't see why anyone would feel they needed to decline it unless they were telling porky pies about how many cigarettes they smoke?

Original poster
Kaytee1987 · 26/11/2015 13:03

Doubt I would decline it but the reason they insist is incase you're lying which is a bit insulting as it's treating women like children xx

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