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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Has anyone else had this?!

14 replies

SavanahXx · 10/02/2020 21:56

I received a letter for my 12 week scan today. It says that it's my first antenatal appointment at the hospital and that the appointment can take 3 hours?

I have already had my booking appointment, and had an early scan at 9+1. Does anyone know why it could be a 3 hour appointment? I know that it won't take 3 hours for the scan, so does this mean I'll be seeing a consultant? I'm really confused and it's really got me panicking.

TIA x

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Original poster

SavanahXx · 11/02/2020 00:10

Bump

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Peony99 · 11/02/2020 00:15

It might just be that they want to make sure you leave 3hs (in case you need to see a doc after the scan or something), not that it will be a 3h appt if everything is fine.

Original poster

SavanahXx · 11/02/2020 00:21

@Peony99 it's just odd, never had that with any of my other pregnancies, they normally give you a hour block 🤔

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caffeinebuzz · 11/02/2020 00:23

At my hospital they send you to have bloods taken after the 12 week scan. That can involve waiting a couple of hours on a bad day, so maybe they're just preparing you for that.

Original poster

SavanahXx · 11/02/2020 00:26

@caffeinebuzz so do you have the extra bloods, even though they are done at your booking appointment too?

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caffeinebuzz · 11/02/2020 00:53

Yes, I also had them at booking appointment both times. Booking was done by community midwife rather than at the hospital, not sure if that makes a difference.

Oonchook · 11/02/2020 06:59

I was at the hospital for about 3 hours for my first scan but I did have a consultant appointment afterwards (which took about 5 minutes!) Where I am they take bloods for the Downs/Edwards/Patau screening test after the scan as it's combined with the scan measurements. The scan can also take a while if baby's not co-operating. So I would allow for 3 hours and hope that it's not!

Cherryrainbow · 11/02/2020 08:04

I was told by my midwife that they now do everything the bloodtests etc. Along with the scan appointment so I suspect it will be allocated around 3 hours as most of it will be waiting around.

I remember having a scan with my first son, drinking water 1 hour before the appointment then the appointment was an hour late. I could have cried, thought I was going to pee all over the table when I finally got to lay down for the scan haha.

Babyfg · 11/02/2020 08:06

My letter said that too. To leave three hours for the appointment. I had bloods after my scan too.

Luckily it did not take the full three hours but I think on a busy day it could easily

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 11/02/2020 08:10

They're saying it CAN take 3 hours, not WILL take 3 hours.

I also had bloods after my 12 week scan. I saw some ladies being taken away for consultant appointments after the scan, I saw some come out in tears and were swiftly taken away by midwives. Theres a lot of stuff that can go on, and they probably just like to do it all in one go.

chocolate26 · 11/02/2020 09:22

When I had my 12 week scan I was in the hospital for 2 hours, waiting for our scan, having the scan and then waiting for bloods to be taken for the combined tests they offer. I think they tell you 3 hours so you give yourself enough time 😊

LittleBoyJuly2020 · 11/02/2020 09:36

I was at the hospital for 5 hours for my 12 week scan. A long wait for scan, long wait for bloods and then another long wait to see a consultant and midwives inbetween. Nightmare.
My letter also said 3 hours, so it's likely they say that in case it's a super busy and chaotic day like mine was.

pottypotamus · 11/02/2020 12:21

Yes if you opt for the combined screening, they'll take bloods on the day of your scan.

It probably can take 3 hours as mine took almost 2 hours on a relatively quiet day. I had to go to pathology for my bloods to be taken and then come back to the antenatal dept again to be seen by a midwife for some screening questions.

Monstamio · 11/02/2020 12:44

They're just warning you that it might take that long. It probably won't, though. Midwifery and obstetric services are struggling under an immense load at the moment, there just isn't any flex to absorb stuff, which can translate to long waits for patients.

My latest scan I was in and out in under an hour (and we were 15 mins early). In my last pregnancy, the baby was being uncooperative, so I was sent to walk around the hospital for 40 minutes and then come back, at which point they had to try to slot me in amongst other appointments. So that was a good 2 hours.

When I had my missed miscarriage, there was a wait for another sonographer to confirm what the first one had seen, I was then escorted to a private room where a midwife ran through my options for management and was later seen by a nurse to do the pre-operative tests so I didn't have to come back in before my operation. That all took ages.

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