What to expect at my first midwife appointment.

[BeckyG86]

Hello.

I have my first midwife appointment on Wednesday- my dates show I will be 10 weeks that day. This is my first pregnancy and not entirely sure what they will do on that day.

My main question is will I have to take a urine sample with me? When I booked the appointment they didn’t say and didn’t give me a sample bottle, and I have just called the surgery and she wasn’t sure.

Aside from this what should I expect? I know it’s going to be about an hour and my Husband is coming with me. I have heard about height and weight and questioning me, but don’t know what else to expect.

Thank you.

They'll go through all your medical history, ask a million questions about anything you can think of. Take a urine sample, take bloods, blood pressure, height weight.

It's really boring. Lol

I'm also ten weeks next Wednesday and my first appointment with the midwife is tomorrow. I wasn't told to bring anything (including husband) and also no idea what to expect, aside from what you've mentioned. It'll be a learning experience!

They'll get you to do a wee there so be prepared! My midwife then gives me pita for further appointments. Wee sample everyone basically

If it's your booking in they'll take bloods and ask you all about your / the dads medical history. Past pregnancies etc

They should provide you with a pot at the appointment and ask you to do your first sample while you're there.

It's essentially just a load of medical questions and may do your first set of bloods

My appointment is early so will be pretty much when I get up so am going to do the urine sample before I go. I would struggle to do one at the doctors with how close it is. They said to take one with me and got to collect a bottle. Thank you, and best of luck aliensprig for your appointment tomorrow. They did try to get me in today but the midwife is on holiday this week.

It varies a lot depending where you live - my was just medical history, blood pressure and weight. Bloods and urine I have to have done at GP surgery.

They never told me to take a urine sample to my appointments. The first, they asked me to bring one back the same day, the second they made me do it during the appointment. (Obviously in the toilet! Not in the nurse's office!)

It's a lot of form filling and answering questions.

You have to breath into a carbon dioxide machine too, which I had forgotten about.

Blood drawn for various reasons.

That's about it!

My midwife appointment is at my GP surgery so she may do blood tests there and then. I called my GP today to ask whether I needed a urine sample and the receptionist said she wasn't sure but I could do one there. I said my appointment was in the morning so I could do one before I go so getting a sample bottle tomorrow or Tuesday. With the space of time between getting up and the appointment I would struggle to go at the doctors! don't think I can go on demand! Hehe!

Thank you for your help everyone!

I'm also guessing they will get in touch with the hospital and then I will receive a letter in the post for my 12 week scan.

My booking in appointment was in my home and she took bloods here.

They'll ask lots of questions, and get you to fill in the longest form if your life :D
You to blood tests. Height. Weight. CO breathing test.

Also, they'll tell you about the services that are offered, contact details.

Will let you know a rough timeframe of when things need to happen.

Will (maybe) give you some freebies from Bounty or similar.

They are assessing your well being. They will ask about your lifestyle etc and if they think there's any concern or extra support needed.

It's long and boring I'm afraid! Lots of questions!

My midwife just went though paperwork, height, weight and then I had to pee in a tube. She didn't ask how I was feeling which I thought she would off :/

Are the blood tests fasting blood tests?

@BeckyG86 no

Be prepared for an automatic aspirin prescription if the computer recommends it (after they put in all your details to calculate your pregnancy risk). Don’t automatically take it as gospel - ask your GP for advice first.

@Teddybear45 I've never heard of that with any of my friends and I wasn't told that. Although as an ivf pregnancy I was already on a blood thinner (not aspirin) due to progynova. It might be one of area dependent things which seems common with nhs midwives

I’m on a blood thinner too (not just for the progynova) but it comes up as a pop up. I’m keeping the aspirin aside for now as the consultant may well decide to put me on both later but should be for them to decide not a computer.

@Teddybear45 my midwife wasn't even in front of a computer! She was sat in my living room lol.

She didn't make any comment on my meds. Was happy I was well looked after. I sadly think your experience must be your area or midwives

Thank you everyone. The appointment is Wednesday morning so I am going in the doctors (or my Husband will) on Tuesday to pick up a sample bottle for when I get up Wednesday morning. The only thing I am worried about is having to do a urine sample whilst I am there because I struggle to go on demand, that’s why I am doing it in the morning before I go. I just hope they will accept that.

@praying - I think my experience is the more common one actually. Never heard of a midwife coming to someone’s home unless they were involved with social services and even then the booking appointment (along with all other main ones) is in either a hospital or GP surgery.

@Teddybear45 I live in the country. It's common round here for midwives to come to you for the longer appointments such as booking in. My sis in law lives in another part of the UK and in countryside and they also went to her.

But my comment was actually aimed at midwives telling lots of people to take aspirin not the location of appointments. I don't think it is common for midwives to
blankly tell people to take aspirin as I only have 1 friend who has taken it (after 3 miscarriages and referral to recurrent miscarriage clinic).

@beckyg86 you will have a urine test at every mw appointment that you go to so be prepared! There are blood tests a week or so before your 12wk scan (assuming you consent to the nuchal test screening), blood tests at your booking appointment and 2 or 3 others.

Thank you

All booking appts are done differently depending on your area.
Always your medical and previous obstetric history, partners relevant medical history and immediate family relevant medical history. Height, weight, urine sample. May ask about domestic abuse. Lots of information about appts and reading materials.

With regards to aspirin, that would only be recommended when high risk, ie. high BP, raised BMI etc.

Also regarding bookings and appts done at home, some areas do this, sometimes depending on location. Our homebirth team do all appts at home.