Booking in appointments

[choockychoo]

I am around 8 weeks pregnant now, I work full time and it's been so busy because of Christmas that I've been unable to get any time off to get a booking in appointment. The midwife is only at my surgery on Fridays and because of Christmas and New Years my booking in appointment will be on 13th January and that will make me 11 weeks.
Is it ok to have such a late booking in appointment? I've seen on here that most people gave them around 6 weeks.

Ours are at 10 weeks. The only thing is that they need to pass your details on to the hospital to arrange your scan which has to happen between 11 and 13 weeks (I think) in order to do the nuchal screening...I would be tempTed to just ring the midwife sooner and just let her know your dates as she may want to get the ball rolling for that.

I went at 7+5 and my midwife commented that I was very early for booking in. She normally sees ladies at around 10 weeks. The GP referred me for my 12 week scan when I first went to report that I was pregnant.
If you ring and ask for a scan referral (you'll need that at around 12 weeks) then it's fine to wait for your booking in.

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I don't think 6 weeks is average. I think 8-10 weeks is more common as a target, and it seems to be closer to the 10-12 week mark a lot of the time. I'm 8 weeks today and my booking appointment is the 6th of January. The only reassurance I'd want, if I were you, would be that this won't unduly delay your 12 week scan. Sometimes they organise the scan at the booking appointment. There's no reason to panic though, scans can usually be organised quickly if needed.

Is it possible to get a phone number for your local community midwives and just confirm with them that an 11 week booking appointment is ok? They will probably say yes, but if not they may be able to help you by squeezing you into another clinic or something else your GP receptionist can't do.

Your employer is required by law to give you paid time off to attend antenatal appointments.

I couldn't get my booking in appointment until 12th January which will make me 11 weeks.
there doesn't seem to be any worries with that. X

The only concern is that you may not get your 12 week dating scan until later.

Your employer must give you paid time off to attend appointments.

Is that the law? That employers must give paid time off to attend appointments.
My employers don't give paid time off for anything.

Only pregnancy appointments, kezmarie. They have to give you paid time off, including reasonable travel time and it includes things like parenting classes if your midwives recommend them. That's why a lot of us tell employers before 12 weeks when we don't tell anyone else.

Oh right I didn't realise that.
I'll have to have a meeting with the manager at some point.
I told him when I found out at 4 weeks so he already knows. Thanks for that.

I had my booking in appointment at 12+4!

My midwife spoke to me on the phone at 10 weeks and said she would refer me for my 12 week scan before I saw her to book in. Ended up having my 12 week scan the day before my booking in appointment!

If you are concerned- speak to your midwife and ask her to refer you for your 12 week scan before you see her.

I had mine at 12+5 due to being on hols. Got in touch with the midwife and she pre-arranged a scan rather than waiting for referral at the booking in - which was the next day.

You don't have to have your booking in appointment before actually booking your 12 week scan - mine were made at the same time, first pregnancy they wrote to me with respective dates, second it was done over the phone. My area like to book in between 8 and 9+6, so scheduled me in for next Thursday when I'll be 8+3. And yes maternity appointments have to be given as paid time off by law.

I know you have to get paid time off for appointments, but as I've had miscarriage in the past I'm weary about telling anyone yet, seems as soon as I tell people n get excited the worst happens!
Thanks for your help I'm gonna ring the midwife today and see what she says