Trying to get a midwife appointment- 38 weeks

[RachelDod]

I'll be 38 weeks pregnant on Saturday. My last midwife appointment was 2 weeks and 2 days ago. Because of the Christmas break my midwife couldn't book me in for an appointment until 3rd Jan which will be 4 weeks since my last appointment and usually you should be seen every two weeks at this stage.

Because of this my midwife told me to call on 27th December (today) to arrange to be seen at the hospital for a check up, if I didn't want to wait four weeks between appointments. I called today and the midwife on duty didn't really understand what I was saying. She said at lunchtime she would call me back but I haven't heard anything. Do you think it's OK for me to go to the maternity assessment unit tomorrow and see if I can be checked?

I understand it would be getting measured, blood pressure and listening to baby's heartbeat which I am keen to do and not wait until 3rd. I have been to the MAU once before for a blood test and it is a walk in clinic where appointments are not needed.

Can you give the MAU a call?
Explain your concers/situation?

I'd just go. Once you're there they can't exactly turn you away. If your midwife said you could be seen then you should be. Just explain when you get there xx

Is there a reason you can't wait to the 3rd?
At my hospital you could go and get checked but it was usually to do with reduced movements or because of something, not just a general check.

No reason why I can't wait but then it would be a four week gap between appointments and I don't want anything to be missed.

To be honest I'd just wait till the 3rd Jan it's really not far away, unless your concerned about movements etc then obviously get seen. I've also had 4 weeks between my appoint due to Xmas but it's just one of those things

I am 36+4 and being seem every two weeks just now. Went in for a routine check up today and they found the feral heartbeat to be too fast so had to be traced for two hours in hospital this afternoon, luckily everything was ok but that would of been missed if I had to wait till Jan. I think 4 weeks is too long to wait at this stage so yes I would go to the assessment unit and ask to be checked. X

I would be tempted to turn up to MAU tomorrow and tell them that your midwife told you to go as a walk in this week as it wasn’t possible to get you any appointments this week. Yes it’s perhaps a bit of a
white lie but I also wouldn’t want anything to be missed. There’s a reason you’re meant to be seen every 2 weeks at this stage.

If this isn’t possible for any reason I’d try and get in with your GP tomorrow if you have a surgery that will let you make appts on the day. They should do BP, Urine and check baby’s heartbeat for you.

I would go, best to be safe :)

I’m a midwife and I would go, 4 weeks is far too long to wait between antenatal checks and if they haven’t returned your call they’ve left you with no alternative really.

Oh also I think people assume that midwife checks are only really important if baby isn’t moving as much and that’s really not the case. They check for early signs of potentially very serious conditions like pre-eclampsia and so I really disagree with pp who say to wait til the 3rd unless you have reduced movements. Baby’s movements can be fine and you still be having early warning signs of other conditions.

Thank you for the replies. I have had a call back and am seeing a midwife tomorrow morning at the hospital for routine checks so feel better knowing I have an appointment and won't leave things too long.

Im 35 weeks and not got my next appointment until 8th jan which will be 3 weeks since my last appointment. Midwife didnt mention anything to me about going to the hospital for checks. Personally i would only go if you are worried about anything.

Glad you’ve got an appointment. I wouldn’t be happy to wait 4 weeks at that point either. At my 38 week appointment my blood pressure spiked and I had to go in for monitoring because they were worried about pre-eclampsia. It’s not just the baby that needs checking.