16 week antenatal check-up - how long does it last for?

[nh101]

I have just tried to book to see the MW for my 16-week check and was told she only sees people between 2pm and 3pm on Tuesdays and that she sees 8 people in that time. Obviously, 2pm is not so convenient for work as it is right in the middle of the day so I would rather it had been later, but 3 is not much better so I have booked for 2.

So how long will this check-up last? 10 minutes? It's an hour's drive each way so it seems a long way for not very much.

HI

I had mine on Monday - same scenario, wouldn't do later than 2pm, I had to rush back from work and - no joke, it lasted about 4 minutes. I was less than impressed. The midwife had been double booked so I didn't even get to see her, saw a GP who measured my BP, listened to the heartbeat (worth it for that I suppose) and said come back at 20 weeks. Really wasn't worth the considerable hassle getting there - I wouldn't worry if you can't make it - I'm sure you could make an appt with a GP at a better time to measure your bp.

I don't have 16 week MW appointments with my hospital. The hospital info says to see the GP at 16 weeks but the MW told me not to bother if felt OK as the GP "wouldn't know what to do with me".... Had the booking one at 10 weeks and the next one at 21 weeks.

I'll give the MWs a ring and see if I can see the GP. I am not doing four hours driving in one day just so I can have my bp checked! Thanks for you replies.

I'm using mine as an excuse to have a whole afternoon off on the grounds it'd take me so long to get there and back...

I'd love that! Maybe I'll give it a try, see what my boss says...

remind me - do you get called for your mw appts? i had my booking appt but have no others planned (am 21wks)

hard to believe i've done this before...

my mw called me a couple of days after my booking in one with a date for my 21 week one but i guess they're all different

jem, your name is freaking me out a bit - has a lot in common with my dh

I was there for 75 minutes last week. at a lot of faffing with paperwork and unneccessary nonsense.

thankfully no more til 22 weeks now

we don't get called, we make the next appointment at the previous one, if that makes sense.

I got a list at booking of when they recommend appts. Tis less frequent for subsequent babies

We have to make our own appts. I got called for my 12-week one which was when we filled out all the forms (long), but then she said I had to make my own appts to see her every four weeks from then.

every four weeks?!
I hope she's nice then - wouldn't want to see mine that often...