When should my first scan/appointment be?

[hrfvenia]

Hello everyone!

I found out yesterday that we are expecting, not planned but delighted at the news.

Went to the doctors today to have it confirmed and doc said I am 5 weeks thereabouts, and gave me a letter on how to book my first midwife appointment for when I'm 8-10 weeks, However when I rang the lady on the phone originally booked me in for the 11th of January, which would be 10 weeks, but then another woman in the background said that date was 'too early' and it needed to be later, so booked me in for the 25th of January.

I explained what the doctor had said and what the letter said but they weren't interested.
Should I be worried? A friend has said the 8 week appointment is to check bloods etc and I'm worried that leaving it till 12 weeks might be detrimental?

I was going to ring back up but don't want to look stupid.

Thanks for any help in advance x

Firstly congrats .
My booking appointment (all 4) wasn't until 11 weeks, they will do family history,bloods etc.

Depending on your area you may get sent an appointment for your 12 week scan separately (like me) or your midwife may schedule it at the appointment.
HTH

I must admit I thought it was usually around 8 weeks as that gave them time to get you registered & get you a '12' week scan booked. The 8 week appt doesn't really matter if it's late but the first scan needs to be done by a certain point if you want the abnormality checks done.

I'd ring back and check as I'd be concerned about missing the scan window.

Oh & congratulations

They don't take blood at the 8 week appointment, don't worry. They normally do that a bit later. It does seem late for a dating scan, though. They told me that it needs to be done before 10 weeks or the dating isn't accurate. I would phone back and ask if the appointment for the dating scan is coming separately.

Do you know about what to eat and avoid and stuff like that? Do you have folic acid? They normally go through all of this at the 8 week appointment so you could say that you're worried about this, if you are.

I think this varies from area to area, but where I live, you get the first appointment (booking in appointment ) at about 8 weeks.

I had a booking appointment at around 8 weeks then a scan at 13 weeks. You then get appointments at 16 weeks, another scan at 20 weeks then further appointments at 24, 28, 31, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks for a first low risk pregnancy.

Definitely varies massively from area to area as I did have bloods taken at my 8 week appt

I had bloods taken at my 8 week appointment - checking blood type, iron levels, immunity to certain things IIRC.

Dating scans at about 12 weeks, with more bloods taken then, as I'd opted to have the Downs /Edwards / Patau screening done.

I was told the absolute latest should be the 12th week. My GP managed to lose my referral forms. I called them up to ask when I had been referred cos i had been waiting for a month. An hour later a woman called me up in a panic and booked me in for an appointment that day which was lucky cos it turned out I was already 12 weeks at that point.

They (the NHS) have targets for seeing everyone before 12 weeks. Beyond that it is pretty flexible.

I had my booking appt at 5+ 1 (they had a slot, or wait another 3 weeks, am impatient!) . They didn't seem to mind if it was a bit soon

They did take blood then.

Scan appt made after the booking in- for 12+ 3 which is 28th Dec

Hmmm so it looks like I'll be riding back in the morning.

I work in childcare so am pretty clued up as to what to do/don't do, eat/not eat and what supplements to take.

I don't drink an awful amount anyway, I do smoke but have cut down and will stop in the next couple of days, and have started taking folic acid and Vit D.

Doctor did say they would take blood, I live in Lancashire.

I'm just a bit confused and don't want to ring up again and be told that I'm being silly.

I do want to be tested for abnormalities, not that it would make a difference, we'd just like to be prepared.

Any advice on what to say to the midwife department other than 'the kind ladies on mumsnet told me to!'

X

As others have said it really depends on the area as it does seem to vary quite a bit. where I live i have a choice of 2 hospitals, at one of them they do the booking in at the same time as the 12 week scan. At the other hospital booking in is done by the community midwives around 9-10 weeks. I did however already have my 12 week scan appointment sceduled before I even heard from the midwife to schedule my booking in apt.

Definitely agree it depends on the location. I saw a midwife at 10 weeks (family history, bloods, urine etc) & then my dating scan was booked in for 2 weeks later. I didn't see anyone before 10 week appointment.

I had mine at 9 weeks, had a docs appt prior to that as was moving to a new area and the doctor signed my initial forms as well as the one to get exemption from paying for dental treatment. This triggered me getting scan letter a couple of days later so maybe same will happen for you.

Seemed complicated to get into system at the start but from the booking in was all good. Best to ring again to be sure

Thankyou everybody for your well wishes and advice. It is very much appreciated.

I'm going to ring in the morning and clarify, hopefully with a different person than today!

Update for anybody interested, rang back and explained my concerns and am now booked in for the 30th December ☺️☺️ Thanks for everybody's help!

This forum has helped me so much already and it's only been 3 days!!

I'm booked in at 6 weeks so god know! They didn't even question how far gone I was!

Ah, great news! Lovely that you'll get to see someone before the end of the year.

You need an appointment with the midwife ideally 8-9 weeks. They book your 12 week scan at this appointment.

Oh well can't harm having an early one! I rang and said I've just found out I'm pregnant and they booked me an appointment straight away! Family friend has also had one at 6 weeks so dunno each area is different I guess