How important are 28 week blood tests?

[NemophilistRebel]

I haven’t had mine, I’m now 31 weeks and all my upcoming ante natal appointments have now been cancelled

Do I need to request this or be ok without?

There normally just to check iron levels but you could request this from docs or your next appointment x

They use it to check your iron level and will prescribe a supplement if your levels are low. It is an important test.

I'm not in the UK and didn't have 28week blood tests. So they must not be essential. I'm sure if it was, they'd organize it for you.

Why is your antenatal care being cancelled?
I am a midwife myself and women’s antenatal care is an essential contact. Have your appointments been cancelled because you or your family are symptomatic of COVID19?

28/40 bloods are to look at your HB, we would also tend to do a group and antibody screen at this point (at my trust anyway). A glucose tolerance test is also done at around 28 wks if indicated.

Did you not have a 28 week appointment?

Unless you are symptomatic of anaemia or of a negative blood group and require an Anti-D injection, then we could postpone this appointment. However all maternity care should be according to schedule.

@moonshinescarelet
I have 3 appointments that were booked in the coming weeks and all have been cancelled other than one at 36 weeks with my consultant.

Although I have also received a text message from the hospital to say to wait for further instructions for that, so I assume it might be over the phone instead.

@MoonshineScarelet thank you that is reassuring. I don’t think I have any symptoms of anemia so have no worries myself otherwise

Who would I be best contacting to get prescribed something to help with recurrent thrush?
Each pregnancy I get it horrifically towards the end and am usually prescribed a batch of the pills to take orally.

I’ve only been able to get canesten from the pharmacy and have gone through so much and it’s not really doing anything anymore

I seem to be in an area where the midwives are run off their feet as I’ve been trying to contact my midwife for weeks and she’s not got back to me.

I can’t seem to get through to my GP either

We normally use the online patient portal to book appointments but that’s now offline for future bookings

I think your best bet maybe to call your GP for the caneston prescription.
I think all services are struggling right now. However that is not your fault and should not be a barrier to accessing care. Thrush is particularly uncomfortable and a valid reason to seek attention.
I appreciate different areas are managing their workload and care provision different during the current crisis, so am certain your care will be reorganised. However if you don’t hear anything within the next week I would chase it up again.

Thank you 🙏🏻

Word of advice...
Buy the urine dipstick things online.
Do one every week at home as these can pick up a great amount (for me, totally sudden out of nowhere gestational diabetes at 39 weeks)