16 week mw appt

[SLR1906]

Hello ladies

I will have my 16 weeks mw appt in a few weeks but what will the appointment actually be about?? Should i take my DH? I dont want him to miss out on anything, my nail tech mentioned that you get to hear heartbeat?? We've never heard that so would love him to be there but also dont want him to come and it be something simple and feel silly. He hasnt been to a mw appt yet because the first one was just full of questions so i thought there was no point.

Ive looked through all the booklets i was given and cant see anything about what actually happens at this appt either.

Thank you

Following as I don’t know either!

I did get to hear the heartbeat but I know that not all areas do it so you might not. I didn’t take DH to any midwife appointments, I don’t think it’s worth it personally. They’re just checking your blood pressure, urine etc and checking how you are.

I think it depends where you live. Some midwives don't listen for the heartbeat as it can still be difficult to find at 16 weeks. However, my midwife did listen in and found my baby's pretty much straight away. They'll do a urine sample, check your blood pressure etc. Your DH doesn't have to go as it's not a long appointment but my DP came with me to hear the heartbeat.

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I can’t remember exactly but I’m sure my MW only started listening to heartbeat and measuring tummy after 20 weeks, but not sure if this is the case everywhere. And of the course the usual urine sample and blood pressure.

Hb is at the discretion of the mw, if it's done & you ask nicely you might be allowed to record it. Urine will be dipped & bp taken, anomaly scan discussed, you'll get the results forom your booking bloods too.

Urine dip, blood pressure check and heartbeat check. Then measure bump from 25 week appt onwards. They are very quick mine were always 10 minutes max and I always went by myself as DH took time off work to come to the scans. If your DH can come I don't see any reason why he shouldn't!

From

I had a group appointment and no heartbeat check, the info was very basic (diet, exercise , travelling, antenatal classes), took DH with me, almost everyone came with a partner, but he could definitely skip this appointment

Heartbeat, blood pressure, urine sample, ask questions about how you're feeling then tell you that's normal in pregnancy. Later they're feel belly to determine baby's position and measure fundal height.

They may give you a vile to fill up with urine ahead of time before next appointment.

*Later they will

Guidelines say that they shouldn't be listening for heartbeat at 16 weeks, but some do.

Often at 16 weeks, HB is still very difficult to find and this causes a lot of stress.

I'd read beforehand that they wouldn't listen for heartbeat any more, but she did - and other people in my area have found the same - so assuming your nail tech lives near you, she may well be right. To be honest, if they don't listen to the heartbeat then there really isn't much else that is worth him coming for, the rest of the appointment is very routine and quick.

Yep my midwives found the heartbeat at the 16 week check ups each time. They do warn you they may not find it as it is early but they try regardless.

Midwife didn't check heartbeat at my 16 week appointment, it was only after my 20 week scan she started to check the heartbeat. I think at my 16 week appointment she only checked my urine, blood pressure & asked how I was feeling in general.

Thank you everyone 😅 ive told him and will let him decide what he wants to do, it may be more worth while him coming to a later appt say 28 weeks or whatever.