First Pregnancy Appointment

[awynhol91]

I found out I was pregnant for the first time last week. I'm 5 weeks pregnant now. I called my local GP surgery on the morning I found out I was pregnant and, because of coronavirus, the person I spoke to filled out my maternity referral form for me and said that was that.
I called today to say I hadn't heard anything yet but I was told that the first appointment is the 12 week scan and so I might not hear anything for 5 weeks.
Is this right? The NHS website says there's a first appointment before you're 10 weeks. I queried this with the person I spoke to and she said that I was wrong - didn't mention anything about it being to do with Covid-19.
I feel a bit lost and confused now. Have I misunderstood something?

Usually the first appointment with the NHS is the booking appointment & is an appointment with a midwife to discuss previous medical history, family your BMI and current medical conditions etc.
I don't know whether they have scrapped this due to covid but as far as I knew it was a very important appointment as they also do a risk assessment? Might be worth calling the maternity unit at hospital that you're with for the rest of your pregnancy and speak to a midwife about getting this appointment?
Hope you manage to sort it

I found out i was pregnant in December so pre-covid and the 'system' then was to self refer to the midwives. No need to see a GP.
Around 8 weeks I received a letter with my booking appointment details which was for when I was between 9 and 10 weeks. (this appt was f2f then but I understand most are telephone appointments now).
I was over 12 weeks when I got my scan appointment letter and the scan itself was for when I was 13+6.

Even pre-covid, early pregnancy can be very frustrating as you're basically on your own for the first few months unless you have any issues that require medical attention.

I've still had my booking appointment during the pandemic at 8 weeks. They do bloods and your BMI and lots of important questions so I would say it's still an essential appointment. They did most of mine over the phone then i just saw her face to face for the bloods and for her to give me my maternity notes. It might be worth you ringing up the antenatal clinic at the hospital where you will have baby and ask them what the process is. At my last trust we didn't go through the GP at all we booked all appointments through the antenatal clinic so maybe it's the same where you are? Keep pushing though, the booking appointment picks up if you're high risk, need consultant care etc, the scan doesn't.

I think it’s a bit different everywhere, and Covid has compounded that. I had nothing until 10 weeks, when I had a telephone appt with a midwife, and now waiting for 12 week scan when they will do bloods etc too. Without wanting sound brutal, I’ve been surprised how little anyone cares in the early moths of pregnancy! If you start bleeding or whatever they might step in, but if everything’s fine then you’re on your own really. It’s normal!

I had a booking appointment over the phone at 8 weeks, and then scan and bloods at 12+6 (all during the Covid lockdown). It may be your trust is merging the scan and booking appointment together, which is why you've been told you wont be seen until 12 weeks, but you could always find the antenatal clinic number and give them a call to see if they have received your referral and when you can expect to hear from them?

A lot of local authorities are now doing the booking appointment at the 12 weeks scan, it’s the new guidance. Some places are adhering to it, some are still offering appointments, but it is completely normal now.

I was told the first booking appointment should be before you are 10 weeks pregnant, as the important blood tests should be carried out before this at some point. So definitely refer yourself to the midwife team OP, as others have said. They'll probably do part of it over the phone to limit contact time, but they'll invite you in for the blood tests etc. Congratulations!

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I feel much more reassured. I'll wait a couple of weeks and then see if I can contact the maternity services at the hospital directly :D

@Somethingsnappy I've never heard anything about the initial blood tests being time critical? It seems lots of trusts are just taking them at the same time as your dating scan now so it can't be that important.

The bloods I had taken at the booking appointment were just to confirm blood type and rule out things like hiv, hepatitis etc...not really anything that would make a difference being tested at 10 weeks vs 12 weeks.

It was the screening test bloods that needed to be taken at a certain time as that test can only be done up to 14 weeks.

As much as the first trimester can be a bit of a 'lonely' time for antenatal care, it does actually make sense to me to do the booking appt on the phone then do all the bloods together when you have your first scan.

I see your point, Sel! My midwife team said to book it before ten weeks, as they do the blood tests before then, but I guess it must just be how things are done here. If other areas do it differently, the blood tests must not be time critical.

Each area is different. I was pregnant at the beginning of lockdown and did a phone consult with GP. He provided the self-referral link to the midwives, but apparently I could have done that myself, without needing a GP appointment. I referred at 4+3 and didn't hear anything at all till 9+5!!! Even then, that was only to advise that the midwife would call at about 10+2 for the booking in appointment.

I have just had my telephone consultation with Midwife today at 9+4 after self referring around 4 weeks ago. Went through medical history, personal info and what will happen when I am invited to scan, which will be the blood tests, BMI etc. Advised I should receive a letter in the next week or two inviting me to scan :)

Definitely seems to be different depending on where you live. Currently 8 weeks, wasn't able to self refer until reached 7 week mark. Booking appt over the phone booked in for 9 weeks