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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Is this a bad sign? (Midwife related)

17 replies

MarmiteAndPB · 03/07/2017 10:09

First pregnancy - so I'm not really sure how everything works!

I went to the GP about a week after I found out I was pregnant, and he put in a referral form to the community midwives. About 2 weeks later I hadn't heard anything so I called the GP, who gave me a number for the community midwives. I tried that number and left a message. They hadn't responded after four days so I tried again. This time I got through and was given a mobile number for the midwife who covers my area. By this point it was a Saturday so I didn't expect her to pick up, but I left a message and am hoping that she will call today.

I'm just wondering whether this is normal, or a sign of poor organisation? Should I be more pro-active in trying to get in contact? I don't want to be pushy - I'm sure that they are very busy - but I'm now 9 weeks pregnant and haven't got any appointments booked in and have never done this before! Will there be a long waiting list for a booking a scan etc? I don't want everything to be delayed because it took so long to get the process rolling...

Any advice or reassurance would be welcome! If this is just the way things work then I'm happy to accept that. I'm not impatient so much as concerned that I should be doing more.

Thanks!

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loveulotslikejellytots · 03/07/2017 10:22

In my experience my midwife was so busy it did take ages to get back to me. But she told me to just keep leaving messages and state that it was urgent. Similar to you I hadn't had a date through for my 12 week scan until I was 10 weeks. I just had to be flexible on where I went (a few different hospitals and units here do scanning). Keep badgering her!

Christinedonna · 03/07/2017 10:36

Get used to it! They are very busy admittedly but it does sometimes feel like you're pestering someone that doesn't care

AvoidingCallenetics · 03/07/2017 10:41

If you don't hear from her within a week, can you go back to the gp and ask them to book you for your 12 week scan?

Original poster

MarmiteAndPB · 03/07/2017 10:42

Thanks, that's very reassuring! I'm always worried about pestering people, but I don't want to slip through the net by being unassertive. Good to know it's likely not too late to get the scan booked in!

I just didn't expect that it would be down to a single midwife for contact and appointments - I figured that (at least for the first appointment) they would have some sort of centralised system that would book in people as they were referred. Then maybe it would be individual arrangements once you had met a particular midwife assigned to you.

It's harder because I share an office and I don't want to tell people at work yet, so I don't have many opportunities to call and chase things up. But I'll keep at it!

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NotAnotherUserName5 · 03/07/2017 10:44

I left booking in really late (11 weeks)

Midwife got in touch on a Sunday, was seen on the Wednesday and my scan was booked on for the Friday whilst at my booking appointment.

They will fit you in in time, so don't worry about that. My experience of the midwives are busy but will fit you in.

Original poster

MarmiteAndPB · 03/07/2017 10:45

@AvoidingCallenetics Thanks that's a good suggestion. I'll definitely ask at the GP if I haven't managed to get through by then. I hadn't thought about going back through them - it felt as though they has passed me off to the next part of the system and wouldn't be able to help but I'm sure they must be able to do something if it comes down to it!

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Original poster

MarmiteAndPB · 03/07/2017 10:48

@NotAnotherUserName5 Thanks! That's very good to know. I wasn't sure that things could be booked in so quickly. As long as everything that needs to be done can be done in time, I'm not so concerned about the wait

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TipTop333 · 03/07/2017 10:53

This is similar to my booking experience in this pregnancy, but rest assured that once you have the first appointment, the next one is usually then booked on the spot. So once you're in, you're in. Although that may vary in different areas...

Original poster

MarmiteAndPB · 03/07/2017 13:42

Thanks @TipTop333 that's a relief! I'd hate to have to go through this kind of thing for every appointment!

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RoseVase2010 · 03/07/2017 13:48

I think it varies depending on where you are.

With No1 I was given a number by my GP and called the community team to book in. With No.2 I booked directly with my surgery.

BringMeTea123 · 03/07/2017 14:47

It took ages for a midwife to get in touch with me after seeing a GP too. I remember a mobile number calling me on a Saturday afternoon and I didn't answer it as I didn't recognise it but she left me a message (i called her back when i heard the message). Think I was about 7 weeks and she came to see me the following week. Around 8 weeks she just went though general stuff and gave me my green notes.
My appointment for my scan came through the post a couple of weeks later. They book your 20 week scan for you when you go for your 12th.

However at 9 weeks I'd be starting to get worried. I think you need to chase your community midwifes. Check you have the right number and call them and explain that you've had nobody see you yet and no sage for a scan yet. I'm sure when you explain they will get their fingers out and get it sorted for you x

BentleyBelly · 03/07/2017 15:17

I saw my GP at 7 weeks, chased the local midwives at 10 weeks, they booked a scan for 13 and I had my booking appointment on a bank holiday at 14 weeks! Its my second though and it was only the scan I was bothered about, they are busy and we got there in the end!

AvoidingCallenetics · 03/07/2017 16:22

14 weeks would be too long a wait for my liking. It's been 9 years since my last pg but don't nuchal fold scans need to be done at 11 weeks or so?

BentleyBelly · 03/07/2017 18:58

Ours was done at 13+2 weeks no problem. Tbh the booking in appointment is only taking medical history and bloods for general screening, there really isn't any urgency unless you have a high risk pregnancy.

Thissameearth · 03/07/2017 19:17

I think NT has to be done by 14 weeks then it's too late so do combined bloods? Plus you can be earlier or further along than you think. Hope she gets back to you soon. I don't think I called MW until I was about 8 weeks though and I think my first appt was week 10 BUT my scan date was booked and given to me over the phone in week 8 when I called up and made my first midwife appt.

Thissameearth · 03/07/2017 19:24

Just checked NHS - yes NT is done 11-14 weeks and if you're after that then different testing is offered. So main thing is to get scan booked but still have plenty time.

I'm 25+3 now and am surprised there's relatively little interaction with NHS re pregnancy as it is so important and life changing TO ME but relatively little they can or need to do.

Original poster

MarmiteAndPB · 04/07/2017 09:21

Thanks everyone. It definitely sounds as though the scan is the important thing then.

I did get through to the midwife today, but she said that she couldn't do anything and I had to ask the GP to resend the referral form! Why couldn't they have said that on Saturday?! So the GP said they'll do that today and I should hear back from the midwives (again) within a few days. I'll chase them up on Thursday if I haven't heard anything because this is getting irritating and it feels as though it's just been unnecessary delays at this point. Argh!

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