Worried about social services.

[funnyrubberducky]

Hi all!

I'm 37 weeks pregnant and will be a first time mom.

During the pandemic, there's been a lot of appointment confusion with midwives and antenatal appointments and I'm worried that because I've had to cancel 3 in a row repeat glucose tests (due to the snow) that I will have a safe guarding team put in place for the baby.

My friend is a midwife and told me that women who do not attend their appointments more than 2+ times get a referral.

I have not refused any testing though our my pregnancy for anything but I feel like I'm being so bullied by the midwives regarding attending for a glucose test! I had one at 28 weeks and all was fine! Then I was told baby was measuring slightly big and they wanted me to retake the test. Bad snow hit and now I can't get there safely.

Anybody have experience with this?

TIA xx

I’ve never heard of that. Technically you don’t have to attend any appointments, obviously it’s better that you do. It doesn’t make sense that they’d refer you just for missing appointments unless they had other concerns

I've never heard of this either, although I can see why it might be done, just to check that you're not going through drink or drugs or DV.

If in the very unlikely event that you do get a referral to SS you have a very rational explanation as to why the appointments were missed. As long as you rebook your appointments, you should be fine. Try not to worry.

Our local trust does refer after 3 missed appointments, but can’t imagine much will be progressed if it’s just a glucose test and you’ve attended all your others with no issue. Especially as snow isn’t exactly a made up excuse! Worst case scenario, you’ll get a phone call from them just to gain your perspective then it’ll be closed

Thank you guys! Just been told that I didn't need a glucose test anyway and they've booked me in for an induction. :) Guess I was right to question their choice anyway

Hi op I think it's more worrying if you did not present for your first 3 and or a late Booker. It sounds like you have attended but just that last ones haven't suited. I would not worry at all.

Retired SW here. SS will not be interested. If you had a previous history of neglecting to go for appointments and subsequent care issues afterwards they might be but not from what you have said.

It might happen if you missed 3 plus appointments with no explanation and they couldn't get hold of you and were worried about baby's safety. But appointments moved or cancelled or 1 off 'slipped my mind' - absolutely not.

Remember it's your body.

You can decide not to follow their advice. I almost always do follow it but it's still my choice.

Midwife here and not ever heard of that unless already known to social services