Covid and face to face appointments

[FudgeFlies]

Hi.

Just wondering about face to face appointments during covid-19. I’m 21+5 and still haven’t seen a midwife.

I’ve had my booking appointment and a 16 week appointment over the phone And another phone appt around 26 weeks.

Isn’t the midwife supposed to measure my bump and do urine and bloods?

I’ve got a fasting blood test due when I’m around 29/30 weeks but nothing booked again after that for now.

Anyone else have a similar experience? How important is it for the midwife to measure your bump size and do other tests face to face?

I'm pregnant with my first and it certainly feels a bit strange at the moment. I've had two midwife appointments by phone, the booking in (very rushed) and the 16-week one but I did have to go in early before my 12-week scan to do blood test, pressure, weight and urine. The midwife then discussed these on the phone at 16 weeks. So I agree that not having done any of that yet does seem odd. Is there a maternity unit you could call? I've now been told I won't see anyone face to face until 28 weeks. Just had the 20 week scan and next up is a phone call at 24 weeks. I don't have anything to compare it to but felt a bit lost for the first few months with no midwife to call and no idea what to do if I was worried, so I do sympathise. It's hard at the moment. Btw as far as I read, bump measurement only starts from 28 weeks. Have you not got anything booked in for then?

I think the current guidelines with covid are that the first face to face midwife appointment isn't until 28 weeks (then 32, 36, 38 and 40 ish). So it basically all happens in the 3rd trimester.

You have your scans at 12 and 20 ish weeks and should have had your bloods taken sometime in the first trimester (either around the time of booking in or when you went for your first scan) then they will take them again at 28 weeks.

Bump measurements start at 28 weeks too.

You’re ahead of me but I have my booking in appointment tomorrow face to face. My GP surgery said things were changing due to the fact shops are allowed to open and they were having more face to face (with patients wearing masks) so it might be that your 26 week appointment get changed to an in person one.

I think it varies a lot from trust to trust. I'm now 34 weeks and haven't been seen in person since mid-May (appointments since either cancelled as non-essential or done over the phone) but am assured that my future appointments will go ahead face to face beginning from next week and then every 2 weeks thereafter to d-day which is a relief as FTM so hard to know what to expect!

Ah! Maybe When I have my bloods at 29/30 weeks she’ll measure my bump and do the urine etc. Just feel like we’ve been left to deal with it on our own. I will mention it at my next phone appointment

I’m 39 weeks and have had all my appointments face to face. I’m in Scotland though

I’ve been told 28 weeks for a face to face appointment. I feel exactly the same, like we’ve just been left, it’s my first baby and I have no clue what I’m supposed to be doing or if things are normal. They gave me a phone number to call with any questions but no one ever answers and takes forever to call you back.
It took me 2 weeks to have a phone appointment even though I was 8 weeks when I found out, and it was only at this point they’d asked if I had started taking folic acid and said how important it is!
Because my pregnancy was completely unplanned and unexpected I was in a bit of a whirlwind and only started taking folic acid at 9 weeks. It scared me when the midwife told me how important it is and that not taking it can have consequences for the baby.

@Emilyw1993 that's not necessarily to do with covid. I'm a FTM and didn't have my booking in appointment until I was almost 10 weeks (pre-covid). Only then did I find out that I should have been taking folic acid and vitamin d.
My first scan wasn't until 13+6 (again pre-covid)

I've been told I won't see my midwife in person until I am 28 weeks due Covid. I'm only 5+5 now so hoping things could be different then

I'll be having my 16 week appointment face to face but that's only because I'm having bloods drawn for quad test (baby's position meant no combined test). Otherwise I wouldn't be seeing anyone til 28 weeks.

This is insane... I'm 36 weeks and I've had every single appointment face to face with my midwife, even the ones only available for FTMs