First midwife appointment

[dirtyfries]

I'm 6+1 and have just had my first midwife appointment booked for when I'm 8 weeks. I say 'booked', it's a telephone appointment and they can't give me a specific day or time, just that it will be sometime 11th-15th January.

Has anyone experienced this lately? They've said they can't give a specific day or time because people don't answer their phones and the schedule gets all thrown out.

I work full time and I'm already getting anxious about how I'm going to wing this random phone call, it's not like I can pretend I have a doctors appointment or something when I don't even know when it will be!
How long do these calls generally last?

When mine was on the phone back in April, it was about half an hour long but didn't really have many questions. I think they tell you to allow up to an hour. I'm not sure why they can't give you just 1 day to expect the call if they don't wana give a time?? This seems strange, especially if they're finding people don't answer their phone, it's hardly going to help in that situation, surely?? I'd maybe just mention to work you're expecting a telephone appointment from your doctor's, but it's not urgent so you've been told it could be pushed out by a day or 2 in these current circumstances. Are you in the workplace, or working from home? Sorry I can't be of more help!!

Yeah I had my 8 week appointment via phone last week, took about half an hour but might take a little longer (this is my second and my DD is only 6 months old so midwife was still familiar with my medical history and knew not much would have changed). It is odd though that they've not given you a date or time :/ I guess it depends on where you're getting your midwifery care, every where has their own practices, especially at the moment.
Congratulations on your new little bundle of joy! ❤️

I had my booking appointment over the phone with a midwife in November, they could give me a time though. Quite surprised that they could only give you a range of days!

The appointment lasted about 45minutes as there were lots of questions about family history etc. to go through. I was quite surprised by how long it was. I’m a first time mum.

Thanks all, will see if I can work from home that week. Doesn't sound like it'll be the 15 minutes I could get away with in the office!

Mine was a couple of weeks ago, and went in to the hospital for it (pre tier 4!).
I was in the appt for over an hour in total, but that included taking bloods and giving a flu jab.
About 45 mins was q&a of medical history etc, so you probably can't get away with just popping out for a quick break at work!
As yours is over the phone, it would be worth asking them when you'll have your bloods etc taken, unless they've already told you?

My booking appointment was at the hospital and lasted about an hour and a half. They did take blood, urine sample and blood pressure as well as a full medical history - I’m quite complicated medically so maybe that’s why mine took ages.
Hope you manage to wing it somehow with work!

Fyi, as my booking appointment was over the phone my bloods were taken at the 12 week scan

Mine took about 90 minutes both times. This time we are moving surgery so I imagine it will take a similar length of time. Not sure if it will be over the phone or in person though.

I have mine booked for next week - they have said to allow 2 hours for the telephone appointment! They have given me a date and time though so I have been able to arrange with work. I then have another appointment in person 2 days later for bloods, etc but this will only be about 10 mins.

it's not like I can pretend I have a doctors appointment or something when I don't even know when it will be
Why can't you just say 90% of the truth? That you have a medical appointment that due to covid will be over the phone and they haven't been able to give you a specific time. That must be the case for other appointments, not just antenatal ones.

I mean they will probably guess what it is but they will probably guess you're pregnant before you tell them anyway.

Mine was on 24/12 on the phone. They gave me a time and called at that time and it was just over an hour.