Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

How long did it take for you to get your booking in appointment?

21 replies

zaraa123 · 07/03/2021 15:30

Hey all

Currently 6+2 weeks with my first. All going okay so far besides some spotting & napping at every opportunity!

I self-referred to the local midwifery service at 3+6 weeks (had a BFP at 9dpo) and haven’t heard anything back yet, no date for an appointment or anything.

I’m sorry if this is a silly question but it’s my first pregnancy and I’m not entirely sure how it all works, but should I have expected to at least heard something by now? I know they don’t tend to book in until at least 9 weeks so there’s still time but was wondering when others had got a date for their appointment.

I have a private scan booked for Saturday so I’m not in a rush, it would just be nice to have a midwife to call when/if I have any issues rather than going to the GP which takes over a week where I am.

Thanks!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

CupcakesK · 07/03/2021 15:42

I was given the date for my appointment when I self-referred (at week 5) - the appointment was at week 11 and unfortunately the scan was at week 14. It might be different in your area but I don't see why they wouldn't have given you a date for the appointment yet so I'd call and speak to someone in case it's been lost

Chelyanne · 07/03/2021 15:47

I would chase it up just to make sure you've not been missed.

I got my letters through about a week after self referral. Referral was done at 6wk booking bloods done at 8+4wk & phone app for history at 9+3wk by lmp. Dating scan was at 12+3 but dates were put forward to 13wk by baby size. Appointments are arranged pretty quickly in my area, I got my consultant app through the day after my scan letter (will be 16+6wk). Already got my anti-D booked and a midwife app for the back end if pregnancy.

It does vary wildly by trust though and many have the early appointments much later atm.

My community midwife team don't deal directly with early pregnancy bleeding, you have to go through the GP for referral to epau before 16wk. Last time I needed a referral they couldn't see me at epau for 4 days which was 2 days too late and I mc at home.

SnooperTrooper12345 · 07/03/2021 16:13

I self referred at 6 weeks and didn't hear back until 9 weeks for my appointment at 10 weeks. They always wait until closer to the time because the chance of miscarriage is so high

WaggishDancer · 07/03/2021 16:16

It will probably depend on how far in advance your midwife’s calendar is available for routine appointments to be made. I’ve usually been told to call back when I am around eight weeks to book in then. I assume it’s also because of the likelihood of a miscarriage resulting in a wasted appointment that can’t always be filled or means someone with a greater needs has to wait longer to be seen.

crobo87 · 07/03/2021 16:19

I self referred at 4 weeks. Didn't hear until 7 weeks and had my appointment when I was 9 weeks xx

physicskate · 07/03/2021 16:26

I called at about 5 weeks. They'd said they'd phone back when I was about 8 weeks... no date not time. This was back in August/ September?? And that's what they did, they just rang out of the blue!

It was great... not!

PippityChippity · 07/03/2021 16:32

I self referred at 6 weeks, chased at 8 weeks as I’d heard nothing and was told to expect a call between 8 and 10 weeks.

PotteringAlong · 07/03/2021 16:35

@physicskate but it was great, surely? They told you they would ring in a certain timeframe and they did. It wasn’t out of the blue, it’s exactly when they said it would happen?

mooloop · 07/03/2021 16:43

I self referred online at 5 weeks, had a call 2 days later to book my appointment in for approx 8w. Then about a week later I got my 12 week scan appointment letter through the post.

CrazyOldBagLady · 07/03/2021 16:45

I chased them up when I hadn't heard anything after 2 weeks and they confirmed they had recieved my message. I can't remember what excuse they have for ignoring me up to that point. Some covid thing. I was another week I think before someone contacted me to arrange a phone appointment.

Moominmiss · 07/03/2021 17:05

I self referred at around 7 weeks (didn’t want to any earlier due to previous losses), I was able to literally book an appointment there and then on the phone for 9+4.

eensyweensySpider · 07/03/2021 17:11

In my area, they say you should be given a booking in appointment at week 8. I phoned at week 6 but didn't hear anything back, I had to chase them and turned out someone put the wrong date down so they didn't book me in until what would have been week 11!!

If I remember correctly, there were some bloods that needed to be taken, that's why the week 8 deadline...definitely chase them!!

physicskate · 07/03/2021 17:14

@PotteringAlong - no it wasn't great having to be on the end of my phone while working a job where I have to be in a lot of (work from home) meetings and so am unable to answer my phone most of the time!!

It's all well and good them saying work have to give me time, but how can they when they (and I) have never idea when that is.

Would you like it if they said we'll call you at some point? Or would you prefer a date and at least rough time?

RedMarauder · 07/03/2021 17:18

I self referred at 7 weeks and all my appointments came through at 10 and 11 weeks for 12 weeks.

Original poster

zaraa123 · 07/03/2021 17:33

thanks all! i’ll chase them up in a week. my trust went through a switch to all electronic notes and a new referral a few days after i self referred so there’s a high chance it got lost! it’s so hard not to be impatient right?

OP posts:

Original poster

zaraa123 · 07/03/2021 17:33

**in THE week. not in a week!

OP posts:

PotteringAlong · 07/03/2021 17:34

@physicskate they just called me at some point in all 3 pregnancies. Left a message if I was teaching and I called them back. It wasn’t an issue.

MallardtheKing · 07/03/2021 17:49

I would give them a quick call, in my area they introduced an online self referral system last year which I used in January this year and it said to call if you've not heard back in a week. I didn't hear from them so called in to be told, oh yes, the online form doesn't work!!

InTheCovidGarden · 07/03/2021 19:07

My trust is now self referral since covid. Made the referral at 4+5 and received an email to say expect a phonecall from the midwife between 8 - 10 weeks. Midwife called at 10+5 for booking in appointment. Scan appointment received a few days later for 12 weeks exactly.

physicskate · 07/03/2021 19:33

@PotteringAlong I was under the impression that phone booking in appointments were only a 'thing' because of Covid, as it's considered poor practice. IE they can't take measurements for weight, bp, do urine samples, bloods etc...

How weird that you've had to have them for three pregnancies! Seems very poor from a care point of view!!

I wouldn't have been able to call back for an hour long booking in appointment.

PotteringAlong · 10/03/2021 17:30

@physicskate no, I’ve misunderstood. Sorry. I thought you meant about them ringing to arrange your appointment - so they told me they would ring at between 8-10 weeks and they did and they I just rang them back.

Because the op was talking about how long did it take to get her booking in appointment when you said they would give you a rough timescale to ring you back I assumed that was to make the appointment to get your booking in appointment, not the appointment itself. No, as you said it wasn’t a thing and all 3 of my booking in appointments were at home. Sorry again

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread