10 weeks and still no midwife appointments

[shuz1980]

Im 10 weeks pregnant and still haven't heard anything from a midwife. I informed my dr's surgery that i was pregnant 5 weeks ago. Ive rang the dr's back twice to let them know ive not heard from the midwife and both times ive just been told they will email her. Should i of at least had my booking in appointment by now?

First hospital is at 12 weeks, I wouldn't expect to hear from a midwife so early at all.

I was contacted by my midwife to make an appt a few days after filling in my form and have an appt booked for when I’ll be 10 weeks. I thought this was bad as I was able to see my doctor straight away with my first!

They also gave me my scan appt at the same time

Can you ring your community midwife team or your nearest hospital? You should have your booking appointment before 10 weeks

I had my booking appointment at around 10 weeks, my scan is at 12 weeks and I had both appointments confirmed quite early on… I self referred to midwives online the day after I tested positive so maybe see if you can self refer rather than waiting for your GP? I think you’re supposed to have blood tests at around 10 weeks so they will probably want to see you sooner rather than later. This is in the UK, assuming you are too, if not then might be different!

I didn't get called by the midwife until 10+5. I had heard nothing from the midwifery team prior to this. I had my first scan at 12 weeks so it was really quick after booking in to receive the appointment. Pre-covid I was booked in at 8 weeks so things are still definitely still slower in my area.

My first midwife (booking) appointment was at a few days before I was 16 weeks - I recall it as I was supposed to take some vit until 16wks but being so close she scrunched up the script for those.
I think it’s busy right now - in my area at least!

www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/maternity-booking

Can you not book it yourself? I know in Gloucestershire you fill the above form out and they have to contact you within 5 days, as the nhs is trying to stop doctors surgeries dealing with this sort of thing.

Have a look and see if you can see it for your area

Contact the community midwives directly, it's not really a GP job and they seem to be dragging their feet a bit.

Contact the midwife team directly. Check your local hospital website for a self referral page too.

Its only your booking appointment which is very boring and doesn't really give you any information, just a long list of questions from the midwife. So yes you do need to have it within the next few weeks but it's nothing to worry about or be excited about :) your scan in 2 weeks will be better!

Contact midwife team directly, make sure your taking folic acid and vitamin d (pregnacare or the like is good)
Although important, the booking appointment is long winded and a bit boring. Might be nicer to have that bit later on, mine was at 8 weeks and between that and my 12 weeks scan felt like a lifetime

I think each area is different. I saw midwife 7 wks plus. They do ask several questions, weight check? BMI. But the main think is the urine and blood test to check for issues. That's important. Try and fill the hospital self referral appointment for your local midwife. X

Another voice to chorus of ‘Are you not able to contact your midwife team directly?’
I think that’s the most straightforward option and in my area, the doctors actually don’t get involved at all with the midwife appointments or ‘patient list’ so fo speak.

Booking in appt should be around 8 weeks. I had my booking in appt late with my second, receptionist at Drs surgery couldn’t fathom that I was 8 weeks on Boxing Day and seemed to think I’d planned that and that my expectation was to be seen on the day. Apparently the next available appt was 3 weeks after! What I hadn’t appreciated was the midwife sends your referral for your 12 week scan following the booking appt, so my 12 weeks scan was too late to do the screening and I ended up paying £450 for a harmony blood test instead. If I’d known I would have been more insistent!

It could be that the midwife hasn’t received your referral and isn’t aware of you. They are also extremely busy due to back log of work caused by pandemic so they may contact you soon anyway. I would ask GP to give you their work phone number and make contact yourself 🙂.

I had this issue, my GP receptionist even said they couldn't get hold of the midwifery team and emails weren't being answered. Yesterday I decided enough was enough, I found a number online for them, no answer though so I left a voicemail. I also emailed PALS at the hospital I wish to give birth at. 20 minutes later I had a phone call to arrange my booking appointment.

@SlothMamaToBe

It could be that the midwife hasn’t received your referral and isn’t aware of you. They are also extremely busy due to back log of work caused by pandemic so they may contact you soon anyway. I would ask GP to give you their work phone number and make contact yourself 🙂.

Makes sense. My care has been so chaotic. No complaints with my first.

Details of the appointments you should get are here:

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/

Jump up and down til you get them. The NHS don't notoriously define guidelines unnecessarily, which means these are important!! And I am so tired of threads on here where women are being brushed under the carpet.

Also, regards PP and backlog, this confuses me. Midwives are only involved with a patient from 8 weeks until maybe 2 weeks after birth. I don't see how a backlog can generate... if they miss the boat then its gone. Babies don't sit around and wait until the midwife arrives.

Also, regards PP and backlog, this confuses me. Midwives are only involved with a patient from 8 weeks until maybe 2 weeks after birth. I don't see how a backlog can generate... if they miss the boat then its gone. Babies don't sit around and wait until the midwife arrives.

Well there's only so many appointments and so many midwives, so sometimes it is difficult to find enough appointment slots. Especially in busy months if there's staff shortages.

This sounds like an admin issue though. Like pp contact directly, and if no joy then PALS. Ideally first appointment should be between 8 and 10 weeks then dating scan should be between 11 and 13 weeks, but there is some leeway.

Good luck OP

Well there's only so many appointments and so many midwives, so sometimes it is difficult to find enough appointment slots. Especially in busy months if there's staff shortages.

Totally get that, that's a too many babies not enough midwives problem and is an underfunding issue, not the fault of the midwives. It is not, however, a COVID issue.

I know I'm being pedantic but I'm over it being used an excuse. Some of the treatment of women (and I'm sure men in other areas) that require healthcare throughout the pandemic is disgraceful.

Sounds like it would be worth finding details for the community midwifes and contacting them 2 see if they have ur details from Gp and if not to register directly.I didn’t hear anything and so at nearly 11 weeks I called (took me a lot of calls to get through tho) and they got me an appointment for a couple of days later as my registration seemd 2 have gone to wrong hospital ! Waiting to c what happens with scan now.
Hope you get sorted ok soon

I had my booking appointment around 9 weeks. Like others, I self-referred to the MW using the self-referral page on my local hospital’s website and got a letter with the appointment time a week or so later. I haven’t involved the GP at all.

I’m having a similar experience, self referred (after GP told me to and sent me the form and address to use) 5 weeks ago now and haven’t heard a peep. Think this is totally ridiculous. I mean their automatic response should at least point to some resourced and mention folic acid and it would be helpful to know how long it’ll take them to get in touch. I know NHS processes aren’t perfect so maybe I’m just expecting too much. Might try what some of you recommended above i.e. calling then (if I can find a number) and trying other ways to get referrer…

@RadicalSoul I rang my dr's and asked for my local midwife's number. She apologised and did my referral over the phone there and then and booked me in for bloods two days later. I was 10.4 weeks by that point and the same day was given my 12 week scan date and time. I think they are just really far behind and we just slipped through the net. Definitely ring dr's back and see if they can give you a direct number for your local midwife or call your local hospital maternity department and explain you still haven't been in touch with anyone.