Need help to prepare for booking appointment.

[Laney79]

So. Here I am. Got my BFP this morning and frankly am freaking out.
We decided not to "try" but to stop trying not to...and here we are. It was a really tough decision as I have a bad phobia of dr's/medical profession and needles! I'm better than I was but I still struggle with even simple appointments.

My coping mechanism is all about control and preparation...so can anyone fill me in on what I should expect at my booking appointment? What will they want to do/test/ask? If I need to have any needles will I be OK to use ametop gel to numb my arm first?

I'm petrified.

Hi! Congratulations!

The booming appointment wasn't very invasive at all. I don't think they did anything besides ask questions about dates and medical history/ lifestyle. At most they may have taken a urine sample.

I was a bit scared of all the medical side at first but it wasn't nearly as bad as expected. My first v examination was when I was overdue.
Good luck!

Booking not booming haha

I Had blood taken at all 3 of my booking in appointments. They asked if I consented to HIV screening on top of all the usual stuff.

They want a long family medical history - if your DH/DP isn't going to be there make sure you know if any conditions run in his family.

They will also ask questions about domestic violence and previous pregnancies. They may ask you these alone.

Other than that it’s a lot of form filling in!

Same for me, bloods and urine, weight and blood pressure and just lots of questions. They will ask to see you alone first (if you go with your OH) which is just procedure to ask about domestic violence so don't take offence at it.
Ametop should be absolutely fine, put it in a couple of places so they've got options where to take the blood from.
Congratulations!

Bloods
Urine
BMI
Blood Pressure
Carbon Monoxide testing (you blow into a tube)

Then there will be a big booklet that the midwife will fill in with you about yours and your DPs medical histories.

They will check you are taking folic acid and vitamin D

They will discuss with you where you might want to give birth (and go for scans etc)

They will ask what you want the baby to be screened for (e.g Down's syndrome, Edwards Syndrome etc)

They will then ask about domestic violence/ any previous history with social services.

Then they may book you in for your 12 week scan and 16 week appointment depending on how they do things in your trust.

They will then send you off with a big file of stuff full of leaflets about pregnancy, screening tests and vaccinations, possibly a sample of some pregnancy vitamins and an empty urine bottle to bring back with a sample at your 16 week appointment.

Can you tell I've had 4 booking appointments in 2.5 years?

Pastabest got it spot on :)

Hi @Laney79 i Have a needle phobia too and am petrified of ringing my doctors cause i know whats coming. I totally understand. Im 7 weeks today and need to ring them but the anxiety really overwhelms me.

Ive had this phobia since childhood and tried hypnotherapy twice which hasnt worked, i dont really have any advice for you except you are not alone and you can message me if you want to share experiences. I really do feel for you i absolutely get it x

I also hate needles and so far I've only needed a blood test at my booking appointment and 12 week scan for the screening test. I've also had a flu jab and a whooping cough jab at 13 and 23 weeks respectively.

Also, there was no mention of domestic abuse or my partner having to leave the room at any point.

They weighed me, took my BP, did a CO test (breathe in to a tube), measured my height and asked a lot of questions about mine and my partner's family history as well as our current circumstances etc. Oh, they also checked my wee.

I nearly passed out because of the blood test at the booking but this was because I acted too brave, didn't let her know how I was feeling but since then everyone has always let me lie down and relax so I do regret not telling her first. She was lovely about it too. I have another blood test coming up at 28 weeks and I'm nowhere near as scared for it.

They also didn't give me a booklet for my notes because our trust is paperless.. so don't get worried if you don't get one (although I'm sure they'd mention that!)

Hi op, I have a fear of needles too and am the same with knowing what's going to happen helping!
At my booking appointment I had to give a urine sample but didn't give blood. The midwife sat me and my partner down and asked about our medical histories including mental health issues and actually asked us about where we were living idk if that's normal or not ! The booking appointment is very simple and I wouldn't stress too much op

Look up hypnobirthing and book onto a course/read all you can. I had a big phobia or hospitals/drs/blood tests and hypnobirthing taught be how to relax through all of it and breathe. Made pregnancy and birth a million times better for me than they could have been.

Congratulations!!

I would second a hypnobirthing course, I think everyone would benefit from this but if you are particularly anxious then it will be an excellent resource for you.

Practically speaking like most others have said you will generally need to have blood taken and do a urine sample.

If you have the budget, you might also want to consider an independent midwife or a doula.

I have a phobia of needles. At my booking in appt, was due a blood test and then another at 12 week scan but when I explained they said they could combine all the tests at my 12 week scan. I also told myself that I was doing this for health of baby which helped me through it.

I would also recommend writing SEVERLY NEEDLEPHOBIC or something similar in big letters on the front of your notes. When I was in hospital to give birth we had a few incidents with mainly doctors or consultants not reading my notes properly and then barging in to do tests with little warning. Or telling me I needed a blood test in the morning, meaning I would get no sleep. After a midwife wrote it right on the front (and I had a sign on my door) things improved.

I also declined the second blood screening at 26 weeks, but that was a personal choice and you will need to weigh up the pros and cons of declining screening yourself.

I had to have steroid injections before birth (prem baby) and was given a first tiny tiny injection to numb the area. Can't remember what it was called but worked. Though my specific phobia is more to do with cannulas, blood tests and pain than needles themselves as I am now ok with single injections.