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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

I feel silly having a midwife appointment and blood tests at 5+3

25 replies

cookie2019 · 31/10/2019 16:05

Hi everyone,

This is my first pregnancy and it's something my DH and I have been planning.

I got a bit too excited and booked a midwife appointment at only 5 weeks but I thought that it was best to start the ball rolling now.

The midwife kept saying it was too early to be seeing her but she would give me the paperwork for my blood tests and she was call me in a few weeks to get me in for the "proper" booking appointment.

I felt like such a numpty but felt even worse when I went to get my bloods done today and the lady picked up the form and showed her colleague and said in front of the whole room "can you believe they send ladies in at only 5 weeks pregnant now".

I feel like a bit of a fraud now and it's kind of made me feel stupid for taking up everyone's time so early in the pregnancy.

Should I have waited?

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GirlInTheDirtyShirt · 31/10/2019 16:07

You probably should, yes, but that doesn’t mean she should have been so rude.

Alpacathebag · 31/10/2019 16:14

Were you not asked how far along you were when you booked the appointment?

But yes you probably should wait till 8 weeks.

Original poster

cookie2019 · 31/10/2019 16:15

Thank you for replying. I should have reached out to someone and found out what the normal procedure was.

OP posts:

Teachermaths · 31/10/2019 16:17

To be fair the midwife did tell you 8 weeks was more "normal".

Your GP receptionist should have told you this as well.

Original poster

cookie2019 · 31/10/2019 16:18

She did tell me to get the bloods done this week.

OP posts:

APD1981 · 31/10/2019 16:22

It's so difficult, isn't it? I am 8+5 with my first and went to see my GP about a week after I found out (so about 5 weeks). I knew there wouldn't be anything he could do at that point but just wanted to get the ball rolling. Plus he's a very caring GP for all my family and I lost my dad in July and I was so excited to tell him my good news after he was very involved with dad. He just gave me a number to call to get a booking appointment and when I called it they asked for my LMP date and so my booking appt has come through for next week (I'll be 9+6 then).

You perhaps were a bit eager but it is so understandable especially when it's a much wanted baby. There is absolutely no need to rudeness though and I'm sorry they've made you feel like that. It's such an exciting /worrying time that you don't really need that to worry about too!

MLP123 · 31/10/2019 16:25

Don’t feel silly, it’s an exciting time and if it’s your 1st pregnancy then everything is new! When I rang to book mine the GP receptionist asked how far along I was and booked my appt for around the 8 week mark. That is probably what they should have done with yours too. Don’t worry about it though, just enjoy being pregnant.

Passthecherrycoke · 31/10/2019 16:26

It’s not your fault, they shouldn’t have booked your appointment until you were 8 or whatever weeks

Original poster

cookie2019 · 31/10/2019 16:26

@APD1981 Thank you! I think I'm maybe feeling a bit emotional in general and so this just made me feel like such an idiot. I just called the surgery and they booked in a midwife appointment when I said I was pregnant and wasn't sure what the next step was.

OP posts:

Original poster

cookie2019 · 31/10/2019 16:29

Thank you @MLP123 and @Passthecherrycoke. I might have been a bit over-keen but it's nice to know that normally I wouldn't have been booked in so early so I'm not a complete plonker!

OP posts:

SmileCheese · 31/10/2019 16:29

Did you tell them how far along you were? If so then they can hardly criticise when they allowed you to book so early. Where I live you aren't allowed to book an appointment until you are 8 weeks so by the time you see a midwife its normally about 10 weeks.

APD1981 · 31/10/2019 16:31

Don't think another thing of it. It's done and it's not the end of the world. You should enjoy all the good and exciting times of being pregnant. I'm trying to enjoy it when I'm not worrying!

Forget it now x

Original poster

cookie2019 · 31/10/2019 16:32

@SmileCheese - I didn't say how many weeks.

@APD1981 Thank you :)

OP posts:

Pinkblueberry · 31/10/2019 16:33

Well yes you should have waited, but I don’t think it’s entirely your fault. I’m not really sure why they agreed to see you at 5 weeks in the first place.

SmileCheese · 31/10/2019 16:35

I didn't say how many weeks.

Didn't they ask you?? Surely that's a perfectly normal question to ask along with is it your first pregnancy and do you know the date of your LMP? How on earth were you supposed to know when to book if no one gave you any advice or asked for any information.

Original poster

cookie2019 · 31/10/2019 16:43

They didn't ask when I booked. I just said on the phone "I've found out I'm pregnant a couple of days a go .. what is the next step" Then got booked in.

Thank you for your replies everyone :). I feel less of an idiot now!

OP posts:

Andersonx3 · 31/10/2019 17:15

I saw my GP when I was 4 weeks - purely because I have spinal arthritis and was on a lot of strong medication that I needed his advice over. When I saw him he advised me on my meds and then said check in with the receptionists in regards to booking appointment which I had at 9 weeks. If it weren't for him telling me when to book, I wouldn't have known. It's not common knowledge for FTM. Yes it's early, but you weren't to know and ultimately they booked you in!

RuthW · 31/10/2019 17:28

I work in the NHS. Yes you were too early but you need to complain about confidentiality about her shouting that you were 5 weeks.

Bol87 · 31/10/2019 20:47

Well, they booked you in. They are the experts, not you. They should have asked! When I called my GP, they sent my number to a midwife who called & asked my dates and worked out my predicted due date. She then booked me in at 9 weeks.

Don’t feel bad. At the end of the day, you’d booking appointment is a loada questions & some bloods to check health & blood group. Having it at 5 or 8 weeks isn’t overly important. Did they book in your 12 week scan?

2littleChicks · 31/10/2019 21:21

@cookie2019 don't stress - I've met some awful midwives in my time and I've only had two kids.
One even told me I wasn't in labour when I was 25 weeks because I "didn't know" what contractions were - despite it being my second baby.
Turns out only because I trusted my own instinct and went to a different hospital, I was in fact in labour and they did a fantastic job looking after me and keeping the baby in!
I had a midwife appt around 5-6 weeks because I genuinely had no idea how far along I was.
Enjoy your moment! This is your first baby. The most exciting time.
Don't let stressy overworked women ruin that for you because no one asked a simple question when you first called up.
Congratulations! And have a wonderful pregnancy.

fonxey · 31/10/2019 21:25

Not your fault! It's not as if you know being a ftm what procedure is. I certainly didn't. I phoned gps and rather cluelessly asked if i should see gp about it. I figured I'd tell them as usual and they refer me to midwife.

But no, i was told i needed to phone mw. In fact they said i needed to fill in a form so i wasted my time going to doc surgery to pick up said form only to find out was a bit of paper with a phone number on it. Why they couldn't just have told me this over the phone. But anyway.

I phoned them up at prob 3-4 weeks and they asked me how far along i was. It should be procedure and if it isn't they are dumbasses.

They always ask me when i book a mw appt now even at 34 weeks.

What they said to you was rude and obviously would make a person fell bad. But it isn't your fault at all.

People don't get pregnant and then test it like a matter of simple business. They get excited and want to do something about it.

But the nhs just treats you like your baby doesn't matter at all until it's viable at 12 weeks and as if you may as well but bother up until then. Least that's how i felt.

Letthemysterybe · 31/10/2019 21:25

What are your bloods for? I don’t think I had blood taken in either pregnancy. I had blood taken a gazillion times during my fertility treatment though, so it could have just all blurred in to one.

Bol87 · 31/10/2019 22:17

Bloods at the booking appointment are to check general health (anaemia etc) & also to confirm your blood group in case your are negative blood group and will need injections. And in case of the need of transfusion after a bleed in labour.

Bloods are done at booking & 28 weeks. 28 weeks is mostly looking for anaemia I think and maybe other health markers.

OnePotato2Potato · 01/11/2019 00:19

When I called for my booking in appointment the receptionist gave me a slot for when I would be just over 5 weeks. I even queried this with her, whether I was coming in too early but she said it was fine. Went in, midwife saw me, took history etc then gave me the blood test form and told me to go for the tests when I was 7 weeks at least. I think that might have been an error on the part of your midwife there.

Don’t feel embarrassed or guilty at all!

mistermagpie · 01/11/2019 04:03

It's not your fault, they should have told you it was too early when you phoned.

I had the reverse situation and only phoned when I was nearly 10 weeks in this pregnancy. They gave me a right lecture for leaving it too late to get an appointment, but it's my third baby and I think I was bit blasé...

Think no more about it and enjoy your pregnancy x

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