When will I get my letter from maternity services

[louisallwright]

Hi

Currently 4 going on 5 weeks. All advice said to let my GP know so when I contacted them (via their website, they never answer the phone) I had a very awkward conversation where they interpreted I wanted a termination. Poor lady felt awful when I told her no, this little one is planned and I wanted to know what next.

She told me to register online and the problem is I think I did..... I have bad ADHD and have had to come off all medication for the pregnancy. That mixed with already feeling tired makes me wonder if I actually did. I don't want to be a pain and register twice so if I could get an estimation on how long between registration and hearing from the maternity service that would be amazing

Not until your booking in appointment at around 8 weeks usually

Sorry, really tricky for anyone to answer as all Trusts will have different policies and procedures for maternity care.

For example, in my city, you are specifically told not to get a GP appt but to phone your surgery and get a booking in appt with the community midwife who I see at the GP surgery.

What do you mean that your surgery never answer the phone? Is it just a long queue? It's still very early days for you, I'd wait a few weeks. If you've not heard anything by 7/8 weeks try contacting your surgery again to ask them to check your referral has gone through?

I'm in outer London and the maternity service looks to be in the local hospital.... The GP wasn't helpful (think it was the receptionist) so may just book an appt to see them and figure it all out.

I'm so worried about doing something wrong (a trait of the ADHD) that I'm overthinking that I don't want to be a nightmare so will highly likely keep my mouth shut about things. I just want to do the right thing but they don't make it simple....

I heard back only 3 days after registering for maternity services online with an email invite to my booking in appointment. 3 days after that I received letter as well with appointment for scan and booking in appointment.

I would personally just register again if you’re not sure you did it the first time.

My doctors surgery had a section on their website with instructions. I had to self refer to my local hospital first, when I believed I was 6 weeks.
They have now sent me a scan date.
I then had to contact my doctors surgery to arrange a booking in appointment, which is next week.

I would contact them again and just ask for confirmation - maybe just say you think you have missed something when you called before and get them to tell you the process again 🤞🏻

You don’t hear a peep until booking in at 10 weeks in my area.

However, surely you need some sort of appointment about stopping your meds?

I think it would be best to have a conversation with your GP about coming off medication.

If you’re not sure that you registered, I would register again.

I had to register on some website thing and didn't get a confirmation email or anything. I called the EPU and they told me they had received my details and I'd get a phone call from my designated midwife.
I think I didn't hear anything for three weeks ago I was 8-9 weeks when I did get the call.

I bet you did register and these things just seem to be taking time

I self-referred by filling in an online form at 5 weeks, and heard nothing until 8 weeks.

OP, if you're worried I reckon the best thing to do is call the hospital you think you registered with. You can call the main switchboard and ask to be put through to maternity services, or ask for a number for the community midwives team. And then just say - you think you self-referred online but wanted to check it went through OK. You can mention your ADHD if you like, but you don't have to.

I would wait at least a week from signing up to calling, to make sure they have time to get you in the system.

If it hasn't worked you have plenty of time as most booking in appointments are around 8 weeks.

I self referred at 6 weeks and didn't hear anything until 10 weeks (I'm in a city centre so may be less busy if you are more rural!)
I started to wonder if I had actually referred myself properly but it seems some Trusts are just super-busy Xx

If you aren't sure you did the online registration, just do it again. They'll match the details up to your NHS number etc do you shouldn't get two lots of appointments (in theory!). I'm outer London too, you self referral here too - no need to see a GP.
I registered at 5 weeks (hx of recurrent miscarriage so if this one doesn't stick I feel like it existed in some way. Silly I know).
I got my letter at about 7 weeks, but my first appointment (booking in) will be at 10x3d and scan at 12w5d (although I've already had an early scan to check it's not ectopic etc due to hx).

I agree with the others and think you should make a GP appointment to review your meds- they'll most likely be able to see if you're in the maternity system at the same time so two birds, one stone! I don't think the midwife will be able to do much to help with the med side of things so you may as well get on with that while you're waiting for your booking appointment as it does tend to feel like aaages while you're waiting for it.

@louisallwright

I'm in outer London and the maternity service looks to be in the local hospital.... The GP wasn't helpful (think it was the receptionist) so may just book an appt to see them and figure it all out.

I'm so worried about doing something wrong (a trait of the ADHD) that I'm overthinking that I don't want to be a nightmare so will highly likely keep my mouth shut about things. I just want to do the right thing but they don't make it simple....

Please do not book a GP appointment to 'figure it all out'. This is not what they are for.

No, but they are there to support a patient with ADHD to make decisions relating to how they are managing (for want of a better word) that condition and their new condition of being pregnant. I'm sure OP just meant it as a turn of phrase and as she will need to speak to her GP anyway I'm sure there will be some figuring out being done...

OP do check who you're talking to at the start of each conversation and while you're waiting for your booking appointment have a good look at the NHS site for anything you might need as it gives clear, focussed info that should set your mind at rest on the basics. You might find you've got digital maternity notes rather than paper (depends on your area) so it might help you organise your thoughts and keep records of conversations and questions if you get a notebook specifically for the job? Not being patronising, just thinking back to support work I've done with females with ADHD (not pregnant ones, mind) and that has helped in a lot of situations.

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/

[quote 8dpwoah]No, but they are there to support a patient with ADHD to make decisions relating to how they are managing (for want of a better word) that condition and their new condition of being pregnant. I'm sure OP just meant it as a turn of phrase and as she will need to speak to her GP anyway I'm sure there will be some figuring out being done...

OP do check who you're talking to at the start of each conversation and while you're waiting for your booking appointment have a good look at the NHS site for anything you might need as it gives clear, focussed info that should set your mind at rest on the basics. You might find you've got digital maternity notes rather than paper (depends on your area) so it might help you organise your thoughts and keep records of conversations and questions if you get a notebook specifically for the job? Not being patronising, just thinking back to support work I've done with females with ADHD (not pregnant ones, mind) and that has helped in a lot of situations.

www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/[/quote]
Sorry, of course. I assumed OP meant to just make an appt to check 'have I registered?' I didn't see the part about medication. Apologies, OP. (From an exhausted GP's wife who at 10pm is still waiting for him to come home as he is so overworked!)

@FrancesFlute our GP practice has been amazing throughout this whole shitshow, please let him know not everybody out there thinks their GP are shit/hiding/whatever else gets said about them. I know it doesn't make any difference to the workload or the headlines (I was working in school so had all the false 'lazy teachers' stuff, it's horrible, even though I'm not a teacher I really felt it) but it's still worth saying I think.

Sorry to dive off your topic a bit there OP! And not saying you think any of that either- just 'people' in general.

Thank you for the advice.

I did register online again with maternity services as I really wasn't sure but put in my notes apologising if the is was a duplicate. I also screenshot the confirmation and printed it to be sure.

My area is probably busy but I doubt myself all the time so wanted to be sure and an very thankful

I'm speaking to my GP next week (on the phone) about my ADHD because I'm needing to not be "proud" and not ask for help because the baby means more than my ego!

Just an FYI my GP are great and being in the funeral industry during the pandemic (fucking horrific) and sister being a teacher I show my appreciation wherever, so if I seem like I was giving negative that wasn't my intention so please don't think that of me (RSD thanks to my ADHD so thinks everyone hates me)

That's great, OP! Think that will put your mind at rest and I hope you hear from them soon and congratulations