First Appointment Times?!!?

[BakingABean123]

Hello,

Apologies if this topic is covered. I am brand new to all of this and after 2 years of trying I finally got a positive result on Friday!

I've rung my GP this morning as the NHS website said that's what I need to do. They said I don't do anything through them and it's through the midwife. So I rang the number they have and it just told me to leave a message and the midwife will be in touch in 8-10 weeks?!

This sounds a bit of a long time. It's my first pregnancy and I'm really worried about things going wrong, especially after how long it's taken to get the bean baking in there.

Is this timeline normal or is there anyone else I should ring? I'm based in Stoke on Trent.

Thank you!

They should have said the midwife will be in contact between 8-10 weeks.
Meaning when you are between 8 and 10 weeks pregnant.

They don't do appointments any earlier as the risk of miscarriage is so high

@SnooperTrooper12345

They should have said the midwife will be in contact between 8-10 weeks. Meaning when you are between 8 and 10 weeks pregnant.

They don't do appointments any earlier as the risk of miscarriage is so high

Well if I wasn't worried before, I am now

Completely normal. I didn't have a booking in appointment until 10 weeks - that's bloods, urine and a load of paperwork. It's really nerve wracking (my first DS was after two miscarriages) however seeing the midwife won't prevent anything bad happening at this stage. Take your folic acid each day and try not to worry (worry won't hurt the baby either before someone tries to convince you of that!)

@Mummyof2Terrors

Completely normal. I didn't have a booking in appointment until 10 weeks - that's bloods, urine and a load of paperwork. It's really nerve wracking (my first DS was after two miscarriages) however seeing the midwife won't prevent anything bad happening at this stage. Take your folic acid each day and try not to worry (worry won't hurt the baby either before someone tries to convince you of that!)

Thank you! I can't really ask anyone in real life yet as want to make sure everything is good before I tell anyone. Reassuring that this is the norma time though :)

I've got my folic acid and multivitamins, thank you! And also trying to chill haha.

As PP just said, seeing a midwife won't stop anything bad from happening.
All they do is will do booking bloods and a urine sample and get your family history ect for record.
The only thing that will reassure you nothing is wrong will be your scan at 12 weeks.

@SnooperTrooper12345

As PP just said, seeing a midwife won't stop anything bad from happening. All they do is will do booking bloods and a urine sample and get your family history ect for record. The only thing that will reassure you nothing is wrong will be your scan at 12 weeks.

Yeah, I was thinking more to just check blood pressure etc. But if this is normal that's reassuring so I can worry about this aspect less now :) thank you!

You usually have your booking appointment at 8-10 weeks and a scan at 12 weeks.

I did get confirmation of when my booking appointment and scan would be a few weeks in advance though.

I know it seems like a long time, but this early in pregnancy there’s not much to discuss or monitor.

I just spoke to my local midwife unit this morning and she made appointments for booking in (in March, I'll be just over 8wks) and the first scan (April, 12wks) over the phone, and I should receive the confirmation letters in the next couple of weeks. I'm in Scotland so it may be different, but I'd have thought you'd need advance notice of the appointments, to book time off work if nothing else!

Does your local NHS website have any more info? I'd probably call back and leave a message asking for an earlier call just to set your mind at rest about the process.

When I found out I was pregnant I had to self refer to the midwife online and then they rang me and booked in my booking appointment when I was 7 and a half weeks. My 12 week scan was booked at my booking appointment.

It is so hard to control the anxiety but it does get easier. Fingers crossed for you :)

Thank you all for the reassurance on this! Really helpful and definitely one less thing to worry about now!

Now back to worrying about what herbal teas I can/cannot drink... Hehe.

I called GP when I got my BFP. The receptionist put me in the list for the midwife, couple days later midwife calls me and my first phone appt now booked for when I'm 8 weeks. I'm currently 5 weeks

You'll have a booking in appointment ~8 weeks, when the midwife tests urine and blood and asks questions to assess if you're a high risk pregnancy, and if you are you get extra monitoring. You'll also get a few more visits if you're a first time mum, but generally expect ~4 weeks between anything.
~8 weeks - booking in, chat, bloods, urine
~12 weeks, scan to see everything's okay and date baby
~16 weeks for urine/blood results, more urine test, and listen in to baby's heartbeat
et cetera

I had contact within 10 working days of filling in the referral. This was just to ascertain how far along I am and when my first appointment would be (8 weeks).