I feel lost!

[MahamChoudhury]

I live in London and am 8+ weeks. Due to Covid-19, I feel like I have not had any sort of support from the medical team. I have only ever been on call with my Midwife once in all this time and that was for her to take my medical info. No other tests or anything. I am literally just living on hope that the baby is ok. I got a letter that my booking scan is on the 15th June. That would be the first time I would ever come face to face with a medical professional. Am I the only one going through this pregnancy alone? How many times do women get to see their midwives/gps in a non-pandemic world?
My mother is no more; my best friend had a miscarriage 2 years ago and has been trying since to conceive. I don't want to tell anyone else about this pregnancy because I have not had any sort of confirmation or assurance from the medical perspective so far. I feel like I literally have no one to talk to or help/guide me through this journey except Google.

This is perfectly normal, you only initially have 1 appointment with your midwife before your 12 weeks scan anyway and she has done that on the phone. There's really not a lot of contact at the beginning. I have just seen my midwife today for the second time and I'm 28 weeks now. Good luck with your pregnancy.

I found out I was pregnant back in October. My first appointment was like yours at 8 weeks and then had the 12 weeks scan. So before corona this was still standard practice. Your appointments wouldn’t normally be more than every four weeks until the mid third trimester (for a non-high risk pregnancy - could have more with consultant led). I understand how you feel though. The time until that first scan drags and can be a very anxious time.

This is normal. You have your booking appointment around 8-12 weeks and then your scan around 12-14 weeks. Most of the first trimester is just waiting around.

Yep same here. My booking appointment is on the 10th I'll be 10 weeks! I've had a private scan though and another on Saturday just to make sure everything is ok and put my mind at rest. Is that an option for you.?

I didn't see anyone until 12 weeks, and then again no one til 20 weeks. this is normal, though it feels a bit odd as you are going through a huge change. Try to relax, the NHS website has all the info you need

As PPs have said, this is all normal. Here is a picture of the weeks it is normal to have a midwife appointment.

If you had seen the midwife at the booking in appointment, it would have just been a chat anyway. They may have taken blood then but mine was a separate appointment with a nurse. I know a lot are combining blood tests with the 12 week scan.

I’m 24 weeks now. I’ve seen the midwife twice so far and I have another appointment next week.

Thank you so much for your replies. It has put my mind at ease. I remember my sister-in-law had her blood and urine test taken in the initial weeks and then she had her appointment with the midwife and then the booking appt and then the scan so I was just worried that maybe that's the standard usually.
I have only been told abt the booking appointment which is on the 15th. No mention of the scan. Is that something I should ask my midwife about?

I got a letter from the hospital after my 8 week booking in appointment with the midwife which said when my 12 week scan would be.

From the sounds of it, you’ve had your booking in appointment over the phone (did they ask lots of family history questions?) so should be getting a date soon.

Totally normal. There’s really not much to be done in the early stages, you have more appointments towards the end, when they will be checking your urine and babies heartbeat at each appointment. Your booking appointment is just lots of questions about medical history, so it’s no different doing it over the phone, and you have your first scan and some blood tests at about 12 weeks.

You normally get a separate letter with the scan date on it. Chase up with your midwife if you haven’t heard anything by 10 weeks, but I wouldn’t expect to get it much before that (although I got date quite early this time, last time I didn’t).

Early pregnancy feels like it takes forever! So does the rest I’m afraid

Early pregnancy feels like it takes forever! So does the rest I’m afraid

This!!! 100%. I feel like I’ve been pregnant forever and I still have 16 weeks (maybe even 18 weeks) to go! When I look back though, the time has gone really quickly but right now, it feels like forever!

@@lmadamchaudhury I have only been told abt the booking appointment which is on the 15th. No mention of the scan. Is that something I should ask my midwife about?

Have you registered with the hospital as well as your community midwife? Just ring ante natal clinic and ask about your 12 wk scan referral/date.
As others have said, standard hosp appts are:
8 weeks booking in with midwife
12 weeks scan
20 weeks scan

Standard community appts for first time mum with community midwife in gp or health centre

16 weeks
24 weeks
28 weeks
32 weeks
36 weeks
38 weeks
40 weeks
41 weeks

Community will take blood maybe for iron test once around 28'weeks, will get any immunisations you want, and check urine bp and baby on the Doppler at each attendance

@BeingATwatItsABingThing and @Ginfilledcats

Thanks a lot for your messages. I just went back and checked the letter I got and it says 'dating scan is on the 15th'. You were right...I had the booking appointment earlier on the phone. This gives me some relief....I would finally have a scan in about 2 weeks!
Didn't know that even in early booking appointment all they would do is ask about the family history. My booking appointment call was only like 20 mins where the midwife kept asking questions and I replied and that was it. Wasn't very helpful for someone who has no experience of pregnancies and has no one to talk me through this process.

Anyway, thanks a lot!!! This has been most helpful!

The first trimester is the worst I think. The appointments are few and far between and you have nothing to show for the pregnancy other than feeling crap.

It will start to get exciting soon and MN is brilliant for asking questions and getting great responses from people.