34 week appointment, feeling lost

[PhoebeBear]

Hi all.
So I had my 34 week appointment with my midwife yesterday, she measured my bump as usual and says baby is almost engaged and sent me on my way. My next appointment is on the 24th July (I'll be 38 weeks the day after) but I feel a bit lost.. she hasn't talked to me about early signs of labour yet or my results from blood tests.. I was told in a class I went to that she would start to mention some things. I just feel like it's a long time to wait for my next appointment..
Thoughts? X

Sorry but I wasn't told about any of that stuff by my midwife. I suppose they should but she didn't. I googled it all

Aren’t your blood results available on your record online? All of my pregnancy notes are.

As for the other stuff, I think it’s down to you to educate yourself on things like early signs of labour! There’s plenty of info online, reputable sites like the NHS one, plus you can usually attend a class on the NHS about labour. Haven’t you attended or been booked onto one?

Midwife didn't mention anything to me, I believe they only discuss blood tests if there a problem and I attended the NHS classes who discussed early labour etc

@EmeraldRubyShark I've been to one class which was about how to bath your baby🙄 all the other classes are fully booked and past my due date. On the NHS website and even the app I've been given by my midwife it says at the 34 week appointment she should start to mention how to notice early signs of labour. My midwife has not been very helpful at all. It's my first baby and she puts down in my note just dashes (/) on stuff like blood test results and weight/ stomach measurements/ all other important information

My midwife didn't mention it to me either, I had to ask her and then we discussed it

If she hasn’t mentioned them then your blood tests will be fine.

If you need something from your midwife then you need to ask. There are lots of good books out there about labour and looking after a baby which will tell you so much more than your midwife can in 10 mins.

The positive birth company online hypnobirthing course is full of loads of info about birth and lots of people rate. The positive birth book (by different person) it also really good.

I would also recommend ‘Ina mays guide to childbirth’. If you need more time to go through things though then contact your midwife and ask, that’s what she’s for.

@hormonesorDHbeingadick yeah I had a feeling blood tests would be fine since I didn't hear back. I tried booking up a hypnobirthing course but they were also fully booked so I've just watched a lot of YouTube videos to be honest and I feel like that's helped

Just phone and ask explaining that the classes were full.

What I will say, is I'm sure you will know when it happens although I think the signs can ne a bit different for everyone and hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Its unfortunately luck of where you live as to whether nhs provides that information. I moved between my two pregnancies and it's a shocking difference. All I've ever been told about early Labour signs is that 'you just know' which isn't helpful when it's your first and isn't always true (although was true for me).

Emerald most people don't get online notes and blood tests don't gst coppied on to maternity notes unless they've checked them and there is a problem.

The positive birth hypnobirthing company is an online course and it contains at least 10 times more info than my NHS course.

I don't think I got told anything for my first regarding signs of labour. I'd booked an nct course so got some info from there but I just read things online. There's lot of online material which is very easy to find.

There will become a point when you will know regardless of if you spot the early signs or not.
I had lots of early signs but didn't think it was the real deal until my waters went. And there was no denying that.
I think my midwife was more looking for bump size, how baby was doing in there, my health and state of mind unless I specifically asked for something

My midwife didn’t tell me any of that. And as for classes, I attended two, then went into labour. 37 weeks, 7am lost my plug, 8am mild cramping, 8:30am arrived at hospital, 9:15am contractions started, 9:40am moved to the delivery room, as I started pushing, they broke my waters and said ‘remember what you learnt in your classes with your breathing’, I took the gas and air out of my mouth and said ‘I’m not doing that until next week!’and 2 pushes he arrived!

@Snowy81 wow that sounds like an amazing birth! So quick too!

Yeah I guess I'll know when it happens. So far I've had the odd period cramp but nothing as if I think labour will begin (I hope not anyways as it's too soon)

As for the courses- the woman leading the course explained to us that a lot of people book up but then don't arrive on the day, which is such a shame as their places could be took by people who want to go. There was 6 empty seats in the class I attended.

the woman leading the course explained to us that a lot of people book up but then don't arrive on the day

That’s terrible, what’s wrong with some people? Guarantee if they’d paid like you do with NCT classes they wouldn’t take the piss by not valuing a service like the NHS just because they’ve not had to pay at the point of use for it.

I’m sixteen weeks and have got booked onto all of our classes, only cos I asked though. Didn’t wanna leave it too late as they get booked up.

@PhoebeBear do you have a birth plan appointment? I had one at 36w and that's when the midwife discussed early signs of labour with me (along with my birth preferences), who to ring, when to ring etc. The signs of labour bit was very brief and like most others here I learnt it all from the positive birth company course, as the NHS antenatal classes are renowned here for being a bit useless.

@Capybaras I haven't no. That's what I mean my next appointment is at 38 weeks and I have nothing in between , midwife says just see you next time. Thought they would help with birth plan

Most of my friends didn’t have midwives who had the time to spend on making a birth plan together, just gave them some notes to think about and then it’s down to you as it’s your opinions about what you’d prefer to happen.

There’s a template here

assets.nhs.uk/prod/documents/My-birth-plan-nhs.docx

To get started, you can print it out and fill it in yourself and if you have any questions save them for your next appointment.

I thought after 34wks you have fortnightly appointments until your due date? Really odd that you've basically got a month inbetween, especially at this stage!
When it's your first baby they're normally more on the ball but in this case, Google will be your bestfriend.

@MissPollyHadADolly19 thanks, I'm glad you see it from my point too!
Yeah it's a huge gap and I probably wouldn't be that bothered if I was still in my 20 odd weeks but because I'm nearing the end it puzzled me as to why such a huge gap! 🤔
Hopefully by 38 week app I can get more information. Luckily I got midwife on call if I ever do need her in emergency 😊

I'm sure I had more appointments than that closer to the due date.

Do you have NCT classes near you?

I just think it's awful they're leaving you so long.
For reference my appointments are 28, 33, 36, 38 then 40wks. You should query with your midwifery team on why there is such a long gap.
As my pregnancy is with a new paternity they class it as a first pregnancy so I have all the appointments I would if i was a first timer.
Hope you get it sorted OP, pregnancy is a scary time.

It's odd that you don't have a 36 week appointment. My notes had details on the cover of when a standard pregnant woman should see the midwife and it detailed first time mums or all mums. Have you got that somewhere?

Regardless I'd start prepping now for your labour as you may not make it to 38 weeks. I went into labour the day after my 36 week appointment (36+6) and he came a few hours later in the early hours of 37+0. He is also my first.

Your notes should have info about where to write your birth preferences, or if it doesn't then you can get a template of things to think about online. Also talk to your birthing partner about what you do and don't want, and if you don't know the options then educate yourself on them. We found the positive birth company online pack really useful to just know what's going to happen (more so than NCT) and also, Google is your friend! It's also advisable to think about worst case scenarios such as if baby needs to go elsewhere post birth for some extra help, does your birthing partner stay with you or go with baby? What if you both need to be taken elsewhere? Then what? This just avoids you having to make decisions in the here and now.

As others have said you'll know when you're in proper labour. In hindsight I had period type pains on and off for a few days which I just thought was my body gearing itself up for a few weeks time. Then had a very normal Saturday where we packed our hospital bag and built furniture, discussed when I'd begin to feel properly pregnant over dinner... Got to 11pm and I realised it might be starting as the pains intensified, called the hospital around 1am and they said to call back in the morning, by 4am they'd ramped up, got to hospital at 5am, in the room for 6am at 7cm dialated and he was here 2 hours later. Then thought , now what?!

I’m 29w and started the online positive birth pack after people suggested it on here. I haven’t finished it yet as we’re doing it in stages but already I feel more clued up about what to expect. I attended an nhs antenatal class too recently and they do snippets of everything and I got lots from it but if I had done that on its own I would have walked away feeling really unprepared. Some of the positive birthing videos are on you tube so if you don’t want to buy the pack look for hypnobirthing videos with a lady called siobhan.

I attended every class available and DH came to some but when labour started we both sat looking at each other saying " do you think this is it ??