booking first midwife appt

[Ann334]

Has anyone else used the new maternity matters self referal system?
Called my doctors last week to book first midwife appointment and they said the system has changed and I need to self refer online, and wouldnt been seen until 12 week scan.
Isnt this abit late?
I havnt heard back from them yet but anxious to get seen as 6 months ago had a miscarriage. Last time I contacted my doctor and they booked me straight in to see midwife at 8 weeks (although sadly I didnt make it that far).
I feel better about this pregnancy but also feel abit abandoned.
Any one else been through the system yet?
Currently 5w+4 :)
sorry for the essay!

Every area will be different but that's how it works at mine. I self-referred and was seen at about 12/13 weeks for my booking appointment and first scan. I rang the GP just to let them know, and they just checked over the phone whether I was taking folic and made me an appointment for my flu jab.

For me it was too long to wait so I booked a private scan at 9/10 weeks, money well spent for my own mental health!

This has happened to me. I self referred. I got a letter yesterday with my appointment. I'll be 11+4 by then. I also had a miscarriage earlier this year and I've had IVF so super anxious. On the NHS website it says to have some test before 10 weeks so it will be too late. I'm going to ring them on Monday to see if it can be earlier. I'm 5+5 today so still very early, not even expecting to make it that far, but it has stressed me out a bit.

with my 1st pregnancy i had to give a urine sample to the doctors which they sent to the hospital to confirm the pregnancy.
this time round they've just taken my word for it and booked me to see the midwife at 8 weeks

I think i might look into the early scan route in that case.
I read the same thing about the tests before 10 weeks and that concerns me that we arent getting those anymore?
Because of my previous experience it just doesn't feel real, well it does but im almost waiting for it to fail :( although im doing my best to look after myself (via my own online research) the receptionist at the doctors didnt bother asking me anything about supplements or my lifestyle.
I still have an appointment to give blood in 2 months that I havn't even cancelled because in the back of my mind i feel like I wont be pregnant by then. Is that mental?
Obviously I wont give blood if I am pregnant!

It's so normal to feel like this after a loss, I'm the same. I have a scan next Friday and until then I can't believe it's happening. And even if the scan goes well I'll still be thinking it will go wrong again, it's just a way to protect ourselves.

What tests need to be done before 10 weeks?

Here my GP arranges a booking appointment around 9/10 weeks and refers you to the hospital for the 12 week scan.

The booking and scan don't happen together on the same day.

NHS website says sickle cell disease and thalassaemia tests should be carried out before 10 weeks.
From what my GP surgery said it sounded like i wouldnt see anyone at all until the scan appointment at 12 weeks.
Im just not comfortable with that especially because its my first.
How do you guys feel?
And for those of you that have already had kids would you say that first appointment (the one before the scan) was worthwhile to you?

lillyleaf have you booked an early private scan?
sorry about your previous loss :( sounds like we are in similar situations

with my 1st pregnancy i saw the midwife at around 7 weeks and she booked me in fkr my "booking" at 9 weeks and also booked my scan for 12 weeks.

The booking was just asking family history etc dont remember having any tests until the 12 week scan though

@cherrryontop It depends on the area - my booking and scan were during the same appointment.

@Ann334 I'm IVF so still under the care of my clinic. My scan next week is a viability scan to see if anything is actually there and in the right place. I'll probably do a few more scans there before the NHS one. I had 2 scans last time before the awful scan when it was no longer growing and the heartbeat had stopped. I'll also do the harmony test with them (again if I get that far, I don't like thinking too far ahead). I think an early scan can be reassuring for the moment but after last time I know it only means things are good that day.

In my area we self refer which I did around 6/7 weeks. Had my scan & booking in one appointment at 13 weeks. No tests / contact with Midwife or appointments before that!

@lillyleaf I can only imagine how stressful, got everything crossed for you. We are only a day apart so who knows we could go into labour at the same time!
I’m such a newbie to all of this, was trying for just shy of a year, I guess I thought there would be more support once it actually happens. Dr google is the worst but I can’t stay away from it. Thanks for all your answers ladies!

Update!
Got my first appointment through for Monday, it won’t be at my normal doctors or with the midwife I’m supposed to see there because it seems they have done their best to get me seen by anyone to get me in early (I think I’ll be 7 weeks by then but have long cycles so they probably think I’ll be 8)
I did mention on the form about my previous loss so I wonder if that moved things along.
Definitely feeling better having a date to aim for. Am going to try to wait til 12 for the NHS scan as money is a factor and I have quite bad morning sickness/soreboobs/mood swings which is making me feel pretty darn pregnant...my poor partner haha.
Wishing you all the best

You won't need sickle cell or thalassaemia tests unless you're high risk. Don't worry about those. If you are high risk then mention it to the GP