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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Midwife Availability (or lack of)!

23 replies

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 17:19

Just found out I'm pregnant,.. can't get a midwife appointment for 5 weeks..by which time I'll be 14 weeks pregnant. Anyone else in the same ridiculous position of literally having to do the first trimester with no medical advice and any suggestions on private care I could seek instead?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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brokenhead · 03/01/2019 17:21

I can suggest a great private midwife in Kent look up Kent Midwiffery practise
But don't you need the neuchal scan?

Can you ring the maternity day care , because sometimes the GP surgery is obstructive when you're trying to get a booking appt

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 17:25

Ok thanks, will have a look there and maybe for others nearer me. I've registered for my scan just waiting for a date. They say they want you to see the midwife first but I'll just lie if necessary and go anyway, I'm not delaying that!

OP posts:

Spargle · 03/01/2019 17:29

Have you spoken to your local hospital’s early pregnancy unit? There might be availability of midwives a bit further away from home at a midwife centre - mine, I think, is based there, but comes to my gp’s surgery once every two weeks.

Also, unless you don’t want to have the tests in the first scan, you’ll need to have it before the baby measures 14+1, which might happen before you believe yourself to have reached that point (I went from 12+6 to 13+1 at my scan, meaning the baby was conceived 3 days before I ovulated! A prodigy!), so you might want to make sure provision is made for your scan as close to 12 weeks as you can manage.

My first midwife appointment was made for when I believed I was 11+5; I was worried that they wouldn’t get the scan booked in time, but they did!

Good luck!

Anyat212 · 03/01/2019 17:34

@morethan40mum

They will ask for your pregnancy notes at reception before you even get in the scan room so they can record everything in there. I’m sure I got mine when I had my first appointment with the midwife, have they specifically said you need to see your midwife first? Might be worth checking with them and explaining your situation, as it’s not your fault.

I’d be annoyed at that wait! Also congrats!

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 17:40

Ok, thanks. I'll call the midwives at the hospital where I've registered for my scan to see if I can get an earlier appointment.

OP posts:

11yrgap · 03/01/2019 17:40

Not had to wait as long as you but did wait about 3 weeks from informing GP I was pregnant to seeing midwife which I think was a bit longer than my first pregnancy. This time I had to fill a form out for midwife to contact me.

I had my booking appointment on xmas eve so couldn't do bloods. I've been given the forms to take to phlebotomist as my next appointment with the midwife not until Feb.

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 17:42

They say online you must see the midwife first and the forms have a section for the midwife to have filled in. I've tried and tried with my surgery to get a sooner appointment but the midwife is only there once a week and need's an hour appointment, that's eight people a week- hardly sufficient capacity! The surgery don't seem to care it's my first pregnancy and just say it doesn't matter!

OP posts:

mumofmunchkin · 03/01/2019 17:45

It’s normal not to see the midwife until you are 8-11 weeks, but 14 weeks is too late - as others have said you risk missing the window for nuchal testing.

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 17:52

I've looked at private options for this test instead, as that's going to be my safety option if I can't get a scan any sooner.

OP posts:

brokenhead · 03/01/2019 17:54

You can self refer online for the midwives
Do that and then add a note

Please call me I am already almost finished the first trimester and explain what the gp said

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 18:06

I self-referred yesterday, sadly before I realised I couldn't get a midwife appt. So I'll chase up my registration tomorrow and explain and see what they say. It's so worrying.

OP posts:

Anyat212 · 03/01/2019 18:09

OP what a crappy position you are in! I guess I’m lucky that my GP surgery just told me to contact the local midwifes based in my area myself. I can imagine how disappointed you will be especially as it’s your first, I think Receptionists over look this at times.

I’m shocked there’s only 1 midwife - 1 day per week! I’m based in the North East and we have several in the centre I go to. As a PP stated 14 weeks is late and they know that! I’d definitely chase up the registration tomorrow - hopefully you’ll get sorted soon!

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 18:11

Thanks everyone. this is my first time on here (obviously) and I;m very glad of all your support and advice

OP posts:

brokenhead · 03/01/2019 18:11

Just wondering
Have you had a baby before or got a friend who had a baby in the same post code recently?
They might have the midwife mobile number you could text? Xx

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 18:14

No sadly not..but Ive got a few options to try now so fingers crossed.

OP posts:

Triskaidekaphilia · 03/01/2019 18:26

Not as bad but I'm not being seen until 11+3 by dates but according to a private scan I had I might actually be 12+1 by then! That's at a different centre to the one near me but didn't want to wait any longer than that. I'm a bit worried that it will be too late to do the tests by the time I get my scan

elliejjtiny · 03/01/2019 18:39

I had my dating scan before my booking in appointment with my last 3 pregnancies. My midwife is only at the Dr surgery for antenatal clinic 1 morning a week, I think that's fairly normal. She does another 1 morning at a different Dr surgery and the rest is paperwork and postnatal home visits. I had one of my booking in appointments at the birthing centre because my midwife was off sick. They do postnatal check ups there for mums who have babies in the neonatal unit too. Could that he an option for you?

Naschkatze · 03/01/2019 18:47

Had this issue throughout my latest pregnancy. Two midwives do a clinic two days each week at my surgery and that is it... I could never get an appointment! I had to ring the midwife office, based at another local surgery and go there for appointments instead. If you look online can you find the number for your local midwife team? Or health visitors might be easier to track down and ask them for it?

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 18:48

Yep possibly..theyre my first call tomorrow to see.

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PepsiLola · 03/01/2019 19:21

In my area there are midwife run centres and drop in point where you don't need appointments. I am sure you will have nosed online but I thought I'd mention in case you are not aware of these x

FirstTimeBumps · 03/01/2019 20:31

@morethan40mum what area are you based in? My NHS midwife was only available on a Tuesday afternoon, had my booking appointment with someone else at a local children's centre because my assigned midwife was off on holiday. Following a load of issues when moving trying to get my hospital records transferred I swapped to an NHS commissioned service which was available in my area at 16 weeks and haven't looked back. Is there any option for this for you in your area?

Original poster

morethan40mum · 03/01/2019 21:05

Im not sure..I think there is only community midwives based at the hospital and those that come to my doctors, which is only one day a week. I will hopefully know more when I get through to the hospital tomorrow.

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Triskaidekaphilia · 03/01/2019 21:31

If I wanted to get my scan booked in before I've had my booking appointment could I do that? Who would I speak to? Alternatively, how soon after booking appointment would they be able to book my scan in for?

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