39 weeks pregnant and no midwife

[Tweetypie95]

I'm a bit at a loss for what to do and feeling quite emotional about it actually.

I am 39 weeks pregnant with my first and we have just moved. I went along and registered at my new doctors and tried to get a appointment with a midwife as I have already missed my last appointment or maybe 2?

I am due next week and they can't fit me in until the 6th August. Anyone have any idea what I should do.

Are you booked in at hospital for delivery?
Do you have your notes?
You can contact your local supervisor of midwives - likely to be a senior midwife at one of the local hospitals - you could google, and ask for their advice.

Ring the local hospital. Start by asking for the antenatal clinic. If they can fit you in, great. If they can't, ring the assessment unit and get checked for movement? Can do both via switchboard.

Can you phone the hospital where you want to give birth? Ours had an antenatal clinic which might fit you in a bit sooner. At the very least they could give you their phone numbers for when you go into labour in case you need any advice before you go in. Is your pregnancy straightforward?

I just googled mine and there is an online self referral form that you can fill in.

This happened to me at 41+ weeks due to a combination of my midwife being off long term sick and a supremely unhelpful midwife cocking up my appointment, then not being able to find an appointment until ~45 weeks pregnant(!) then being unable to help me find any midwife to speak to.

I googled midwifes+area I live in and ended up with a number for community midwives and a number for triage. Phoned the community midwives with my tale of woe being left without care when very overdue (in tears) and they brought me in for an appointment that day, I think within 2 hours, and she was horrified how that happened. My backup was phoning triage, which is not an unreasonable next step, if left with no care at full term.

Basically try to find the community midwifes and just keep phoning numbers until someone answers and helps you.

I am unimpressed on your behalf. And it's just not fair to pile that stress on when heavily pregnant. I hope it's resolved swiftly for you.

Do you still have a place at the hospital? A lot of GPs don't have a midwife (ours doesn't) but the hospital can then provide care, so I'd agree with others about calling them. Luckily you're far enough along that time should sort this out soon, and if you do have any issues at all the labour ward is probably the best place to present in any case! Good luck and congratulations

Absolutely, speak to the hospital and get them to sort it out, it's them that will be seeing you soon so it's in both your interests.

OP GPs are suppose to do some antenatal checks as well - I've had appointments with mine off schedule. Though some make it difficult.

Also do as PPs said to get a midwife by ringing round or even turning up in person - DO NOT use online forms or emails as they take days to answer them.

If you have any local birthing units or small community hospitals I would phone one of those. I'm due to give birth in a unit up the road and they have a 24 hour phone line which gets you directly through to a midwife. My GP surgery isn't really interested and it takes ages for them to refer you.