No 12 week scan appointment date yet - 13 weeks

[Yasmina22]

I’m currently 13 weeks pregnant and have still not received a date for my 12 week scan and combined screening.
I have phoned the hospital several times over the past 3 weeks to be told they’re aware of me and will get in touch. Due to the phone lines being closed at the weekend and it being a bank holiday, I’m really starting to worry they won’t fit me in before the 14 week deadline.
I’m wondering if anyone has experienced something similar, got scanned very late or missed the screening window completely and what did you do?
I’m aware there is another screen they can do post 14 weeks but it’s not as accurate? Has anyone had this one done that could give me some more information and basically put my mind at rest if I don’t get seen this upcoming week.
Also is this something I should notify my midwife about? My midwife works part time and I really don’t want to bother her at the weekend or too much in general, especially if there’s nothing she can do.
Any advice would be much appreciated!!

@cultkid I won’t lie and say it hasn’t crossed my mind to do that but as desperate as I am to see our baby, I don’t think it would get me the screening tests.
I’m under the Women’s hospital in Liverpool and my midwife said it’s different departments for if you have bleeding or pain compared to the 12, 20 and growth scans. Plus the epau doesn’t scan weekends.
To be fair to my midwife she’s been very good. I had an over the phone booking appointment at 7 weeks, then she saw me at 8 weeks to take my blood for the blood grouping and blood disorders all that stuff. It’s also when she put in the initial request for the combined test that the hospital said they didn’t receive (which I’m not sure I believe as I can see on my hospital account the date matched the date my midwife said she’d done it) and since then it’s been a struggle to get any information out of the department dealing with appointments. All I keep getting told is the sonographer is aware of me and will get in touch!

@Yasmina22 Just to say, your 20 week scan is seen as very important (more so than 12w or "dating" scan) I was told they will not allow you to go over 20+6 without having one in any circumstance.

Tell you what

I would have a private scan now at 12 weeks to get the neuchal fold measurement and then I would make a decision on the blood screening privately separately

Do you have bennenden? I wonder if they can help

I think this is utterly outrageous and I would take a hard nosed approach

Write to the matron and deliver by hand ask for her to write to you confirming she is in agreement with the care being delivered (I doubt she will) and she is personally happy to sign off on you having no screening and she will be There to support you if there are issues

She won't do this but people do need to be held accountable and ultimately the matron or labour and delivery and maternity is the one who is responsible.

Finally I know it's irrelevant and I try to tell myself I'm also pregnant again and constantly panicking

Scans and tests do not change outcomes.

I appreciate this is hard to stomach. But try to take comfort I try to I am highly anxious: so if you are willing and will parent a baby regardless then the tests do not offer you any more chances to change the out come of your pregnancy

I know it's shit

I am happy to write a letter for you I am a feisty mother but I don't know if you want that

Dm if you do

G x

@cultkid I don’t have private healthcare but I spent yesterday looking up places that do the NT and NIPT tests, so I can book in this week if the hospital continue to mess me about (and I will be putting in a complaint with PALS and my midwife).

No you’re absolutely right. We would carry on with the pregnancy regardless so these scans can’t change the outcome. I think being someone who likes to be in control as much as possible and the outcome being so out of my control, I want at least the bare minimum that was offered to me, to feel on top of any situation as much as possibly, you know?

Thank you for all your advice, it really has helped with the whole situation and I will be sticking up for not only myself but more importantly our baby and get this sorted!

It's horrendous I am really sorry,

If you want me to help with anything you know where I am.
We learnt the hardest way that you need to be your own advocate

Last week I told a receptionist off a proper telling off. I asked her if she was clinical, a paramedic or nurse for example: no. I then told her to apologise and never ever make a clinical
Decision for me ever again as she is not qualified. She apologised profusely and I put her in the box.

Historically I would have been mugged off over and over again by some idiot who rules over you for no reason with a total lack of experience

This is not a pop at any administration staff it's just a note about the levels of beurocracy and the total injustice of the nhs who have effectively created a single market for private health as there is zero competition to provide good care at fair prices

Bennenden is worth looking into with the heap this country is in, its £8 I think a month regardless of your health and income pleAse think about that for your baby as it's a way to use private services for all diagnostic treatment and some treatments too including lots of things women could need as they get older

Lots of love. I understand the control thing. It's me in a nutshell. It's just to help with my fear. Been so badly let down before that I trust nobody know with my health.

You can do this!! You are already a brilliant mother fighting for this cause xxx

Hi OP

I was in your position and unfortunately with work I couldnt wait for a phonecall a day before as I work in a school so it was unfair on cover etc. I was brushed off a lot but eventually called up and stuck to my guns and said I really need to be given a date and it is causing me anxiety to not know and work are being pushy. I basically kept saying, I will call back in a couple of hours to question an update. Eventually I must have been too annoying so they did tell me a date and I was seen 13+5.

However, they book your 20 week there at reception so no stress with that one! I think they just have so many pregnancies at the moment that they are inundated but they have an obligation to and will see you by 14!

Best of luck

@cultkid thank you very much for the offer and I will do.
I tried phoning the EPAU today just to at least feel like I’ve tried something today and as expected they said no antenatal staff are in to deal with my situation until Tuesday! I got her to check the system again anyway and she said I am on there and a request has been put through so it will get dealt with. I said to her I was told that last week but there’s nothing she could do. I know it’s not her fault but you’re right about the whole set up and part of me is thinking they’re almost hoping I don’t kick up a fuss and then it’s too late to fit me in and I won’t let that happen.
As someone else said on here, I’m going to tell them I’ll keep phoning every few hours until I get an appointment. In the meantime I’ve found a suitable place that offers the NT scan and the NIPT so that provides some comfort and look into getting private healthcare because for that price it’s more than reasonable. xx

[quote myreddressmydaughtersbear]@Yasmina22 Just to say, your 20 week scan is seen as very important (more so than 12w or "dating" scan) I was told they will not allow you to go over 20+6 without having one in any circumstance.[/quote]
This isn’t true. I had my 20 week scan at 21 weeks although rescan needed to be done before 23 weeks.

I think each trust is different.

@Juicytoot287 thanks for replying! It’s good to hear what people have done in these situations.
I’m definitely going to do the same. I was going to say I’ll ring back later that day if I haven’t heard but I’m going to say every few hours until I get a date. That’s the thing, the anxiety is getting to me to the point I’m now dreaming something bad happens and I know it’s purely psychological because the situation is at the front of my mind but it’s not pleasant and it’s unnecessary.
I’m lucky enough I don’t work too far from the hospital but I do work in cancer research and once you start a time sensitive experiment it’s very difficult to find a place to stop, if I’m suddenly fitted in the next day. Plus my partner is a teacher and like you, he won’t have that flexibility to just up and leave. Saying that I think our hospital is very strict with who can come with you at the moment due to covid, even if it’s the baby’s father but that’s a hurdle I’ll cross another day!

@Yasmina22 Oh bless you! Stress the work and anxiety part of it. For me I was the same, I booked an appointment for the next day at a priavte scan which was £40. It wasn't medical per se, but I just wanted to hear a heart beat you know? Just know she was still beating away in there. That gave me piece of mind until I got my date
You just want a date to know it is set in rather than the stress of worrying and calling up. Saying Oh we will get you in, isn't very reassuring when you have been called for week 😂.

However, as I said, my hospital have been amazing since then, very attentive and I see them whenever I have an issue and they check so quickly. I am now 31+3 so hopefully a sign of how good they will be throughout

@Juicytoot287 yes I totally understand. My focus in earlier weeks was the idea of getting to see our baby at this scan and that would put my mind at rest a lot. Then the deadline for these tests completely overshadowed that excitement of just being able to see the baby and know he/she is growing away in there. It may sound daft but I find myself frequently looking down at my tummy and saying out loud, I hope you’re alright in there baby?! 😂
This is what I’m hoping, that everything will go much smoother after this appointment. Either way as soon as it’s over, I’m going to ask them to get me booked in for the 20 week scan.
Oooo not too long now and you get to see your little girl! How exciting. Good luck and I’m sure the final few months will go smoothly.

Hey, I used to work on a booking/appointments line dealing with antenatal referrals. You should definitely not be missing you're screening dates. If any patient rang me saying they were 13 weeks I would note down their details for any cancellations (miscarriages/ people move away/ private scans meaning dates have changed) and escalate to a manager who would usually get staff to do overtime to meet capacity and use gynae scan rooms.
You're hospital should be doing everything they can to get you in! Good luck getting an appointment!

@HotMummaSummer hey, thank you for your reply.
I completely understand how short staffed they are but it has been stressful (especially this long weekend) not having an answer, even though I’ve been phoning for weeks and I’m not really sure why they’re hesitant in giving me a date when they have told me I’m on the list and aware of my date deadline.
I’m phoning first thing in the morning and I can only imagine they must give me an appointment at this point with only a few days left, so fingers crossed I get one!
I know hospitals are different but I don’t suppose you know if the sonographers work weekends too? It would just ease my mind knowing there’s still another weekend left and not just 3 days to fit me in.

The 12 week scans and clinic appts only happen Mon to Fri in our hospital and I know the bank holiday often did cause an issue with capacity.
Hopefully they'll be able to give you an appointment date at least tomorrow! Ring first thing and also insist that if they can't give you can appointment then and there you will need to be called back in a matter of hours with either an appointment or a update as to who this has been escalated to and what progress has been made.
As others have said, I would also strongly consider making a complaint to PALS. Both for your sake and the sake of others!

I went for a private scan at what I thought was 10 weeks and they found was 13+3. The ultrasound person was the same one who worked at the hospital and she told me to ring my midwife that afternoon and say I’d been scanned and it was urgent.

My midwife did a lot of ringing around and I got a scan (in the twin clinic) the next day.

Good luck!

@dollface they don't to my knowledge xx

They might to the Combined tests

Call them because it's diagnostics and the nhs can't see you in that time frame that you need it done xx

This happened to me. I was hanging on and hanging on. Ended up bleeding at 12w so was seen at that point then managed to get in the system for a proper scan at 13w. Still had to ring multiple times and was told to go through gp, then community midwife, then hospital and was going round in circles. Hope you get sorted, OP. Keep trying and don't worry at all about bothering someone.

Just to update everyone. I phoned first thing and they sorted out an appointment date then and there in under a minute!
I’d said how much anxiety this situation had caused me, waiting weeks with no response and I’ll still put in a complaint for future people but glad there’s been progress.
It’s on Thursday (13 weeks plus 4 days by my LMP) so fingers crossed I’m still within the dates to get the combined test.
Thank you everyone for your advice. It’s really helped over this long weekend when there was nothing I could do but wait.

@Yasmina22 Glad to hear they gave you an appointment finally! Hope everything goes well on Thursday (:

Hey I just wanted to say, I had my scan today. It was amazing seeing the baby, absolutely wonderful, but as feared the baby is measuring 14 weeks and 2 days so couldn’t have the screening.
I’m extremely frustrated as I feel this could have been avoided and I now have to wait another 2 weeks for the less accurate test. I’ve already decided I’m also going to pay to have the NIPT for peace of mind.
Essentially I want to say for anyone else that is in this situation and reads this thread, really push early on for an appointment date and if that means phoning every day to get one, please do!

Oh bloody hell @yasmina22 what a pain (to put it politely). Enjoy looking at your photos and knowing that all looks good today and then tomorrow get on the warpath to PALS about how you've been let down by them (if you want to). I found it helpful in that venting my frustration might help somebody else avoid the same happening to them.

Maternity care is in such a mess. And it's now down to the people we see for our appointments, I think we all know how hard they are working within a system that to me seems completely unfit for purpose.

It's NOT down, that should say

@Yasmina22
Glad you got to see your baby today!
I'm sorry you weren't able to get the screening, I was worried you might end up ahead like me. So frustrated for you, especially since this was so avoidable if they'd just booked you in promptly.
I would definitely make a complaint if I were you, it's absolutely their fault that you were unable to have the screening & you were proactive in contacting them.
It obviously happens that people are slightly ahead of where expected so I can't understand why they don't book you for 12 weeks to give the leeway rather than leaving it to the last moment & booking at 13 weeks so it becomes impossible to screen.