Pregnant during covid

[catnip99]

Hi everyone just came on here to ask has anyone who conceived during or just before lockdown had many appointments?

I've had 1 over the phone midwife appointment and I've had my 12 week scan last week where I had bloods done and blood pressure and that is all I've had, can't help but worry that I should've at least seen a midwife by now? I'm 12+1 today
I know due to covid everything is minimal but I overthink everything and just would like to hear other people's experiences? I'm not high risk or anything so I know I'm not as important

I'm also the only person in my group of friends that is pregnant so havent got anyone to share experiences with during this not normal time

Any experiences and reassurance welcome
Thanks x

I'm almost 11 weeks.
I had a phone appointment for booking in, it just limits the amount of time the midwifes have to be in a room with you, safety for both of you.
I did have to go in for blood pressure, urine, height and weight, and overall summary of booking appointment.
That midwife was lovely and got the ball rolling with consultant appointment straight after my scan on the 29th.

Scan on 29th which I think is still alone at present :(
And I have to book in with midwife at GP at 16 weeks, and thatll be face to face as far as I know.

I was having IVF in Feb and was likely the last to have embryos implanted at the clinic before lockdown. I was pregnant at the beginning of lockdown, but sadly MC at almost 10 weeks (mid April). Despite doing a midwife referral at 4 weeks, I heard nothing till 10 weeks. I advised the receptionist that I 'might' be MC'ing, but would still like to speak to the midwife later that day. They never called back!!!

Sorry if TMI, but I was refused a scan by 2 EPU's when my bleeding started, despite being high risk, having 2 embryos implanted and previous retained products. I ended up walking 50min each way during lockdown to hand in products of conception for testing. Despite physically already being in the EPU, they still didn't scan me! My experience of lock down pregnancy hasn't been great at all!

I'm well aware that medical services have been stretched (I'm frontline myself) but Midwifery services are 'supposed' to still be open as normal, but both units I called said that in normal times, I would have been scanned.

You aren't alone OP. There are many others pregnant during lockdown and doing what they can.

I'm 31 weeks so my first appointments were pre-covid.

For reference, I had a booking in appt between 9 and 10 weeks then had my dating scan at 13+6 so no extra appointments to what you're getting now, just one has been changed to a telephone appt instead of f2f.
The first 'proper' midwife appointment would normally be at 16 weeks.

Early pregnancy is a very slow and frustrating time regardless of coronavirus. I'm a FTM and was surprised at how little contact there is in the first half of pregnancy. It's totally normal though.

As PP said first proper midwife appt is generally at 16 werks. Mine was pre covid and lasted less than 10 mins, consisting of urine screen and BP, and asking if I'd had flu jab. Many people during COVID had this appt cancelled so the next one would be either seeing a midwife after 20 week scan (I did) or 24 week appt. it's still just BP and urine at that stage tho, measurements etc don't start Til appointments after 28 weeks.

I got pregnant at the start of lockdown and so far I've had my booking apt over the phone, a face to face apt for bloods/BP/urine as part of booking process, then my dating and 12 week scan (both alone).

I've been told my 16 week appointment will be over the phone though and they won't actually see me face to face until 28 weeks after my 20 week scan.

They have added extra "checking in" phone calls though to make sure everything is ok.

@catnip99 There seems to be completely different levels of care depending what area of the UK you’re in. So far I’ve had:

• Booking in appt over phone at 9 weeks just taking my details
• 12 week scan where they did bloods/BP/ urine sample and gave me my notes
• Phonecall from the midwife to ask how I was at 16ish weeks

None of those have been with my midwife that I’m registered with but I think that’s pretty normal.

Have 20 week scan this week and I have my first face to face midwife appointment scheduled for 22 weeks for urine & BP check and to get my Whooping Cough vaccine. All appointments to be attended alone.

This is my first pregnancy and I’m classed as high risk but have been told my case “isn’t juicy enough” to give me consultant appointments because of Coronavirus so haven’t heard from consultant at all.

Hope that’s helpful and puts your mind at rest! 22 weeks definitely feels quite far on to be seeing a midwife for the first time but I guess they’re just trying to limit any contact that isn’t completely necessary.
The only part of my care that I can say I’ve been worried with so far was that I had a few bleeds - one being at around 14 weeks. Phoned EPU and was told it was fine etc, just to monitor at home and don’t call back unless it got worse. Still going 3 days later (although no heavier) so I called back for reassurance as it was stressing me out and was really given into trouble by the midwife because apparently it’s plastered all over the computer system that I’m Rhesus Negative so any bleeding after 12 weeks needs an Anti-D injection within 72 hours. Was told I should have gone in as soon as bleeding started. I didn’t know my blood type, hadn’t had any results back yet from my 12 week bloods and had just been following advice that I’d got from the first midwife I’d spoken to a few days before 🤷🏻‍♀️ So that really annoyed me! I’m sure that was just a mix up somewhere but just be careful if results are taking a while to come back or there’s anything you’re not sure of!

I am 25w so pre covid. My appts have been f2f booking appt 8w.
12w scan.
16w pointless point appt.
20w scan
Next appt will be 28w and hopefully 28w.

So 20w to wait between appts, essentially. Feel very much left to it with a suck it and see approach.

FTM.

I'm currently 19 weeks
Had booking appointment over the phone.
12 week scan where the record hight weight and do bloods.
Next will be back to do my 20 week.

It been really hard to get in touch with my midwife hopefullh things will soon get better x

At my GP surgery they booked me in with MW for booking in appointment (this tuesday) but I also had to have a phone appt with GP who then booked in my 12 week scan with the hospital.

MW called me last week (not booked) and did most of the questions for the booking in appt over the phone but they are going to do bloods on tuesday face to face (obviously!).

I haven't seen anybody else on MN who had this arrangement! Most people seem to be getting bloods done for first time at 12w scan.

I'm 18 weeks I've had two phone appointments and one scan at 13 weeks, the midwife said I'd see her at 24th week appointment so I'm not sure if that is just because of the relaxing of measures or they have to see you to measure bump ect.

All honestly maternity care seems to have gone to shit. I fact the NHS seems to have decided they only treat Covid now and that no other medical matter matters.

I saw a midwife for my booking in appointment which was pre-Covid and in early Feb.
Had my 12 week scan which my husband was able to be at but if I had had it 2 days later husband wouldn’t have been allowed.
I attended the EPU with bleeding. Husband not allowed in. Everything okay luckily.
I refused a 16 week phone call telling them I think they are pointless. Can’t do my urine or blood pressure over the phone.
At 20 weeks scan had urine and blood pressure down by the rudest midwife known to mankind.
24 weeks would have been a phone call again but I refused.
At the end of June I get my 28 week appointment where apparently they actually see me.

My in-laws are both doctors one of whom is a GP is shocked at the lack of care. He has taken up doing my blood pressure ect.

I'm pre-COVID (30 weeks now)

8 week booking appt & bloods
12 week scan
16 week midwife appt
20 week scan
28 week midwife appt & bloods

Next midwife appointment 31 weeks!

FTM and was surprised at how little contact you have with midwife but there isn't really much to discuss in the early days - just keep cooking that baby! 😃

I am about 32 weeks with my second and realised late so phone call booking in. Then bloods and I did see a midwife, 20 week scan, saw a midwife again at 28 weeks more blood, next appointment this week. As others have said there's not much to discuss or that they can do in the early stages.

I am 16 weeks and found out I was pregnant just prior to lockdown.

So far 8 weeks booking in over phone
9 weeks face to face bloods, urine and BP
13 weeks scan and bloods

And I’ve been told:
16 weeks - telephone check in
20 week - scan
24 weeks - glucose tolerance test
28 weeks - face to face midwife
34 weeks - face to face midwife
40 weeks - face to face midwife

Not massively different from my first pregnancy to be honest.

Good luck! Just ask for help if it’s needed. You don’t get a massive amount of midwifery input in first half of pregnancy anyway.

I m 21 weeks and I ve had
Booking appointment at 10 weeks (over the phone and they forgot to tell me so turned up to my gp then had to chase the appointment)
Dating scan alone at 13 weeks with bloods taken after
I should have had a phone appointment at 16 weeks and no one told me to book it so went without
20 week scan I was very lucky to have DH there as my hospital is allowing one guest to only 20 week scans now after unfortunately I think some mums got terrible news with no one there to support them so they changed their minds on their rules.
I saw a midwife after the 20 week scan who did my blood pressure and a urine test and got me my blood results, I had my screening ones back at 13 weeks but my iron, hiv, hepatitis etc results I only got then so it's lucky that they all came back fine so I didnt miss out on anything.

I ve been told I ll get face to face appointments as normal now from 25 weeks so I ll be ringing to book that in soon but I m prepared that things might not go that way.

i'm 26weeks currently - so i had my booking in appt around 8/9 weeks and that was the last time i saw my MW in person until my appointment next week. all been phone based or scans since...

Hi all, thank you for all these responses !!
I'm 20 years old pregnant with my first💜

Can't believe the way some of you have been treated however my 12 week scan wasn't much better
I went to my scan at the hospital and that was my first physical appointment, I was the youngest person there and everyone knew it aswell as I have still got quite a baby face so the stares were unreal, the midwife that took my bloods etc was horrific to me, I'm quite heavily tattooed on both arms so the first midwife couldn't get any bloods and got really angry at me, and then the next midwife I saw who would try and take my bloods told me to my face that she hates tattoos and that they're a bit ridiculous and was I not thinking about my future when I had this many done! They were also treating me like I was just meant to know what I was doing there when I've literally never stepped foot in that part of the hospital before so it made me feel horrible
I got treated like a child and then practically marched out the door afterwards, just wish my fiancé could've been there as maybe they wouldn't have been so bad.

I believe I've got a 16 week phone call appointment coming up soon which I had completely forgot about so that's a bit of relief

Thank you for all of the reassurance ladies, big relief to me and my overthinking brain

@catnip99 I d be mentioning it to PALS at the hospital, that was completely inappropriate how they spoke to you.

I am 9 weeks.
Have had:

• a brief 5 min telephone conversation with midwife to introduce at around 5 weeks
• a separate call at about 6 weeks to ask if I wanted to opt into the screening
• last week at 8 weeks I had I suppose my booking in appointment, over the phone
• next week at 10 weeks I have my first face to fact appointment at the local Children and Family Centre with midwife, I think she will give me the slips to then go and have my bloods done.