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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

First appointment - over the phone?

18 replies

sarahlou773 · 25/08/2020 13:29

Hi all, i recently found out i was pregnant and booked my first appointment. (it will be 10 weeks at the appointment date) From what i have read i was expecting to do some tests ect, confirm I'm actually pregnant and discuss test options. (we were also hoping that they listen to the baby's heart so that if it was strong we could start to tell people)
I've just had a phone call saying that it is going to be over the phone due to covid and my tests will be done separately later, has anyone else had this?

I know its just hormones but I'm absolutely devastated as i thought it would confirm everything.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

GreyishDays · 25/08/2020 13:31

They don’t usually do a pregnancy test to confirm so you aren’t missing out on that.

GreyishDays · 25/08/2020 13:32

And they don’t try to listen to the heart until much much later.

Are you in the UK? What I’ve said applies to the UK.

orangejuicer · 25/08/2020 13:34

My booking in appointment (assume you're having the same) did not involve any tests and was mostly asking questions. It sounds routine to me.

LatteLover12 · 25/08/2020 13:34

Nope, it's way to early to listen to baby's heartbeat. Most mws won't try until 16+ weeks.

The first appointment is more about taking a family history (of you and your partner) and checking when your due date is.

They'll want to take blood at some point but the chances are they'll do that at your dating scan at the hospital. This can be anywhere between 12 and 14 weeks and they'll discuss screening with you then.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

MrsN2121 · 25/08/2020 13:34

I had my booking in appointment face to face before lockdown and they don't listen to baby's heart beat so that wouldn't have happened anyway. They just ask lots of questions about family history /illness of you and partner. Blood tests were done separately too so you aren't missing out on anything there.

Original poster

sarahlou773 · 25/08/2020 13:35

ahhh ok! thank you all :D

OP posts:

annlee3817 · 25/08/2020 13:36

At mine, the first appointment was just to go through family history for medical conditions, any medical issues you may have or mental health issues and given some booklets about pregnancy. They then booked me in for my 12 week scan, after the scan I had bloods done, and didn't have the heartbeat listened too until my 16 week appointment and that was only due to se problems I'd had in pregnancy, usually it wouldn't have been until the 24 week appointment in my area

emptycup · 25/08/2020 13:38

My last DC was wayyy before COVID in 2018 and my first appointment was over the phone, all she did was ask medical history etc. I went to clinic a couple of weeks later for blood tests.

FilthyforFirth · 25/08/2020 13:46

They wont attempt to listen to hearbeat until at least your 16 week appt but be warned not all trusts do this!

Sls668 · 25/08/2020 14:10

With COVID, my booking in was over the phone - it is just a lot of questions. Then I went to the GP for bloods but I know a lot of people just have had them at the 12 week scan.
I haven’t had a face to face appointment until I was 28 weeks and that’s the first time I heard the heartbeat! I’m 30 weeks now

ShalomToYouJackie · 25/08/2020 14:38

Hi OP, found out I'm pregnant a few days ago and have a booking appointment over the phone at 8 weeks, blood tests at my GP after that and then first scan at 12 weeks.

After a awful miscarriage last year I think I'll have a private scan done at around 7-8 weeks just to give me peace of mind

Elouera · 25/08/2020 14:43

You could always have a private scan which would confirm things are ok, tell you the heartbeat etc.

peachypetite · 25/08/2020 14:45

Normal in these corona times sadly.

GunsAndShips · 25/08/2020 14:51

Where I am, they only listen to the heart from 24 weeks and this is only part of a picture for indicating a healthy pregnancy.

As others have said, your first appointment is administrative and they won't confirm pregnancy for you. The home pregnancy test has done that for you already. Most often, people don't tell family until 12 weeks when you've had your first scan and seen a developing healthy pregnancy. The alternative is to book a private scan for after 7 weeks.

Congratulations. The wait for proper care to start feels really long doesn't it? There's just not much to do in the early weeks though. Mumsnet is great for questions though.

Original poster

sarahlou773 · 25/08/2020 15:27

Thank you all, yeah it’s the wait that is killing me and the not knowing. I think I just need to calm down and what will he will be. I think I’ll speak to the midwife and decide from there whether to get an early scan 😊

OP posts:

EBM20 · 25/08/2020 20:32

I had my 'booking in appointment' over the phone as it was a few weeks into lockdown, also had my 16 week appointment over the phone. The 'booking in phonecall' was mostly questions on history of family health, I was never even given an appointment date, got a phonecall out of the blue one day, glad my partner was at home at the time as I was not prepared and there was a lot of umming and hang on a minute let me ask my partner as they wanted to know the ins and outs of both sides of family history of health! So I'd advise to try have your partner sat down with you for the appointment and maybe ask if they will allow you to put it on loud speaker so your both involved.

I have only seen my community midwife team once at my 25 week appointment. I saw the hospital midwives at my 12 and 20 week scan to take bloods and blood pressure. The first time I heard my babys heartbeat with a midwife was at my 25 week appointment. We got to hear it at a private scan at 16+5, it was lovely to hear it for the first time together and I cried! I would 100% recommend getting a private scan in between your 12 week and 20 week scan. I have another private scan booked next week, I will be 28 weeks.

Thack · 25/08/2020 20:40

Hi @sarahlou773 I'm 9 weeks, had my booking appointment by phone about three weeks ago and they had me visit in person last week to take blood and urine samples and to record my height, weight and blood pressure.

There's a March babies thread on here of you'd like to join (apologies if you have posted, I'm awful with names, although there are quite a few on there!). I've found it useful to hear what others are experiencing and it's nice to have somewhere to chat (after DH, no one knows yet!)

scotgal99 · 26/08/2020 07:54

Same as most ladies on this thread.
Booking appointment over the phone, bloods etc taken at 12 week scan. Didn’t hear the heartbeat until community Midwife appointment at 16 weeks.
I’d been for 2 x private scans prior to my 16 week appointment & their policy is not to let you hear the heartbeat until you’re 16 weeks too.

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