Midwife appointments

[okokokthen]

Hi,

Is it normal for a booking in (initial appointment) with a midwife to be over the phone? I find this rather strange as with my first two it was face to face etc. Yet this time round it is over the phone in a weeks time!

I think it can depend on your area and trust honestly. Each seems to do things a little different.

Mine was face to face still

That’s weird- how are they supposed to reliably record your weight and co2 measurements?

Mine have always been face to face, including one booked for next week!

Most of it could probably be done over the phone, though there are a lot of quite sensitive questions about family history, miscarriage, mental illness etc that the midwife may well get better answers to if the meeting is face to face.

This pregnancy I have been asked to collect my handheld notes from the GP reception and fill in as much as I can before the booking appointment. Not had to do that before. I guess it leaves more time for discussing the answers rather than the midwife writing so much during the appointment.

Did they do your urine and blood at your other appointment?

Mines have all been face to face, my booking appointment was in the hospital I'm having the baby at so was good to get a feel for the place but would've been more convenient & less time consuming if it was over the phone.

No they haven't done anything so far. All I told them was I needed a booking appointment with the midwife, they asked how far I was (I don't know) so told them that and then they asked a few other questions as said I'd have a telephone appointment next week.

Don't know how they're meant to test my urine or anything through a phone call. Or even give me notes etc.

I have a home visit next Friday for my booking in even tho I've already had 3 scans but I was under the impression it had to be face to face as they do bloods at your first appointment

How many weeks are you? I've had friends who's had prebooking in appointments between 6-8 weeks then their main one 8+ weeks

I'd contact them and ask when your bloods & urine will be taken. You'll need your blood pressure checked too.
I think my booking appointment was at 12 weeks, my initial mw appointment was at 8 or 9 weeks. They took my weight at that.

If they do your booking in appointment so late now do you actually get a 12 week scan still?

I aren't sure how far I am but I suspect between 1&3 months.

Booking in in my area is always 8-10 weeks. They just request the scan after that appointment and you get it in time.

This time mine was cancelled because of bank holidays and moved to when I was 12 weeks so midwife did scan referral over the phone before appointment

Ok then. So hopefully she'll ask all relevant questions etc on the phone and arrange a scan and then we can actually get a date etc.

Is there any other way to tell how far you are without the scans? I haven't had a period since having my dc2

My dating scan was at 13 weeks, you can have that scan from 11-14 weeks I'm sure.

I did get a private scan at 10 weeks as I just couldn't wait until week 13.

It’s not a 12 week appointment. It’s often a 10-13 week appointment depending on your trust and how early you have your booking in appointment. This scan needs to he done before 14 weeks if there’s a NT test to he performed as 14 weeks is often both the test and abortion cut off at most hospitals. Similarly your 20 week appointment could be earlier or later.

My scan appointment letter came in with my booking appointment letter.

If you count 40 weeks from the first day of your last period. That's how it'll be worked out at your booking appointment. When I got my dating scan it was only out by a day (the baby wouldn't lie in position right enough)
The earlier scan I got was out by a few days but they said to go by NHS scan as the baby would be bigger.

Sorry just realised what you said about your period. Would be really hard to estimate a date I think unless you had done an ovulation test.

That is strange. I saw my MW face to face on every appointment. Could be to do with area though.

Hopefully have plenty of time for he first scan then as I aren't sure how quick/good this area is for midwives/doctors etc with us recently moving.

I had a 'pre booking' appointment which was face to face but nothing that couldn't have been done over the phone. I actually went in thinking it was my actual booking but that was 2 weeks later. Maybe this is a pre booking and you'll get given an actual booking appt then?

Did you tell the mw/gp that you had no idea how far along you are? In my area if you really have no idea they'll do a scan asap just in case you miss the cut off for the screening that's usually done at 12 weeks. You say you could be between 1-3 months? If it is 3 months you may well be almost 15 weeks by the time you get your dating scan so I'd call back and make it very clear that you've no idea on your dates

Mine changed in the 18m.since Dd.
The phone call was a few questions. When was your last period. How is your ur mood. Etc and then made a booking in apt.. So it was like a traige.

@HopefulFor2020 I know, that's why I kinda want them to hurry with things but don't know if I'm asking for too much. Realistically I'd really like to know how far I am ASAP rather than waiting even longer. I feel like the phone call is just their way of making me wait longer. I can't see why a phone call couldn't have been done this week yet I've to wait almost 2 weeks (from when I called) so it is a long time in terms of pregnancy.

It's quite annoying that I don't know how far along I am 😩 I'm tempted to call again today and ask if I can have the call any earlier as I'd like a dating scan ASAP

Well strangely enough for me I had a call today, from the midwife telling me I need a scan as soon as possible to find out how far I am etc. So looks like it'll be getting sorted :)