When will I see a midwife?

[Nia18]

I'm 7+5 with my 3rd pregnancy.
I was wondering when everyone managed to speak to or see a midwife during Covid?

I'm a very high risk pregnancy. I have Spina Bifida, BMI 32 and severe preeclampsia resulting in premature birth in my last pregnancy.

I of course understand that things are difficult at the moment and Im sure theyre working hard to see everyone, but Im incredibly anxious about this pregnancy because of my last birth being so traumatic.
Id really just like some advice and reassurance from them.

I spoke to one on the phone for booking in at 10 weeks but apart from my scans I haven't seen a midwife yet and not met my names one - I'm 21 weeks and won't see her til 28 weeks. I'm low risk though.

My first midwife appointment was at 8w+3, she said she typically books them in for 8-10 weeks. Have you contacted the GPs to ask your local process? I had to call the midwife to arrange booking in and did face to face for height/weight/bloods but did the bulk of the appointment over the phone later that day

*named one

It might be worth speaking to your GP or ringing the midwives and getting the ball rolling as it sounds like you might need high dose folic acid (spina bifida) and a conversation about whether aspirin would be useful due to the previous pre eclampsia and if so when to start it? All the best with your pregnancy x

I'm booked for an hour long face to face appointment at my GP surgery (with the midwife) at 8 weeks. Think it's highly dependent on where you live. Best to call your GP surgery and ask x

I saw one at 8 weeks and then not again until 28 weeks.

Phone appointment at 8 weeks
Then usual scan at 12 weeks
I'm also high risk and having twins.
I didn't see "a" midwife in person until 16 weeks (which ended up being 18 weeks as they were all on holiday at the same time 🤷‍♀️)
Won't see her again until 28 weeks
Never met "my" midwife.
I have monthly contact with a consultant at a twins clinic though so I would guess you will have something similar but that doesn't kick in until 20 weeks

I had a video call at 8 weeks at the end of August, and the way it's looking for me is that I'm seeing 'someone' on a weekly basis unintentionally for the next few weeks, started with a scan and a rebooked one and then all the others just happen to be each week. I'm not particularly high risk, early thirties but a first timer.

I saw mine at 9 weeks around the start of the pandemic, she came to my house and gave me my green notes took bloods etc.

I did phone the doctors to let them know and they said I was booked in for an appointment but she ended up just coming round!

@bcccc

You're lucky you still get the green notes - my area has moved to the "app" now and they are supposed to publish the info after each appointment so you can see the results......they never bloody do!

@ivfbeenbusy That online crap sounds so annoying. I must be lucky as I've been seen by my midwife right from the start. It could just be my hospital or area. It's annoying how during lockdown I feel like pregnant women need more support than ever but they get less. 😑

Can you contact the midwives directly or if not your GP surgery for advice? They need to prioritise you due to you being at risk. Be proactive and don’t be afraid to contact them just in case you have slipped through the net.

I had my over the phone booking in appt at around 7 weeks and then a face to face appt for blood taking, BP, weight and height checks at around 9 weeks. My scan is booked for 13 weeks.

Good luck with your pregnancy, I hope everything goes well for you.

Yes, this is partly whats making me anxious. I was given a higher dose of folic acid on my last 2 pregnancies, but I cant remember the dosage. I am taking a pregnancy vitamin, but from what I've been told time is of the essence with folic acid.

I double checked i was definitely in the midwife book last week when I hadn't heard anything.
I think I'll ring again this week and ask if they could possibly flag my name up as not being an average pregnancy.

Thank you all.
Seems like a mixed bag depending on the area as to when we are contacted.

I did double check that my pregnancy had been registered and I was in the 'midwife book'. It seems like I should give them another ring and see if they can put some notes next to my name explaining my complications.

I'm falling into the Google trap for information on subsequent pregnancies after preeclampsia, which is not helping with the anxiety at all.

Fingers crossed. Im sure I'll feel a bit more relaxed once I get hold of someone.

I understand your concerns OP, I am very high risk too and have a traumatic history of late loss. You need to make sure the hospital know about your risk factors and that you will be consultant led and referred to any relevant clinics or departments. I don't think you will see a midwife any earlier as they wouldn't be the people to particularly help you. They should help you co ordinate other appointments though.

I'm 13 weeks and haven't seen a midwife yet but have had scan etc and also seen a couple of doctors who see certain high risk cases.

They do the basic bloods/urine etc that was previously done at the booking appointment at the nuchal scan now. You need to have your booking appointment over the phone with the midwife and make sure they get you referred to right people, and check whether your bloods/urine need doing earlier.

You need to be on 5mg folic acid if Bmi is over thirty. Not sure if a higher dose is needed for any other reason with you....I would contact your GP for an urgent prescription on this, they should be able to confirm dose too.

5mg folic acid given your history of spins bifida. Ring GP Monday for a prescription

I had my booking appointment on Thursday At 8 weeks - she came to my house (wearing full PPE). It all seemed to be running normally, I will see her face to face for all my appointments it seems. I’m in West Sussex, it seems to vary xx

For spinabifda yes 5mg folic. My midwife categorically said no need for high dose folic unless very obese I. E 35+. I've got a bmi of 31, probs 30 now though thanks to morning sickness!

In both my pregnancies I didn't see or speak to a midwife until 12 weeks. I think it really depends on the area you live. 🤞 not as busy as Birmingham!

I have a sibling with spina bifida, I was surprised there were no questions about that when I registered with the hospital/midwife and didn’t have a midwife appointment to week 10. I called my GP and she was so helpful and answered lots of my questions and prescribed folic acid. I would definitely recommend calling your GP and running everything past them. They didn’t make any excuses related to COVID I think they just rely on you to flag up the issue

When I did have my first midwife appointment I mentioned the family history again and had a call the next day from another department (I forget which) to follow up and talk me through risks etc. So I would be confident COVID wouldn’t slow anything if you need care/support

I had a telephone appt at 7+4, then met in person for weight, bloods, blood pressure & urine at 8 weeks. My GP contacted me a week later to discuss abnormalities in my bloods. They're following their usual schedule but some of it is by phone.

I had a phone booking in appointment at 6+1 and am scheduled to go for bloods at 8 weeks. Seems like I got lucky by a few of your experiences on here, I'm in Hertfordshire for reference

Where I am in London there is an 8 week phone appt with midwife then a 16 week phone appointment. Booking bloods etc are done by support worker at 12 week scan. Not even sure when any face to face midwife stuff starts. It's all covid, it wasn't like this before.

I see my first face to face at 28 weeks!