16 week appointment - what's the point?

[DottieDam]

I had mine today it was a phone call that lasted 4 minutes.

She asked me if I had any questions and if I'd had my vaccines. Then that was that.

I guess I just expected something more and I didn't realise it would be led by my questions?!

Think it varies from trust to trust but where I am, the 16 week appointment is the first listen into baby's heartbeat, blood results and screening results from the 12 week scan

That’s strange. My 16 week was in person (though appreciate all trusts are doing it differently) but still: blood pressure check, urine check, well-being , a good 15 mins chat about how I’m feeling. Then laid down and she listened to the heartbeat on a hand held device thing and we got it hear it

Have all yours been over the phone op?

Have all yours been over the phone op?

No this was my first over the phone. My other appointment at 10 weeks was in person and I had bloods taken then. If you had an in-person at 16weeks did you do phone for 8-10weeks?

I have had extra bloods taken since my 10 weeks because I was unwell but this was always planned to be phone.

No one has ever gone through screening or blood results with me but as they are on Badger Notes I looked myself and saw they were fine (but they don't know that, although maybe that would have been my questions?)

I always knew it would be on the phone so no heartbeat (wouldn't that be nice not waiting 8 weeks between scans to know baby OK!!!) But I just assumed it would be a bit longer!

I’ve had in person for all my appointments so far, sorry to hear yours have been a bit hit and miss

All in person appointments - it was the same with my first son in peak pandemic, never changed to a telephone call x

I think the 16-week app is the most 'disposable' one. It's quite common not to get it all with second pregnancies. A lot of places don't listen to heartbeat until the 24-week appointment so you probably haven't missed out on that.

If you don’t hear about blood results etc then they’ll be fine. They only contact you if there’s an issue. At my trust we don’t get listening to heartbeat until after second scan. A lot of appointments are pretty basic and just checking up with you.

This sounds disappointing. All of my appointments have been face to face, with the same midwife. 16 weeks was a discussion about screening results, listening to the heartbeat, and a blood pressure and urine test.

Mine was over the phone with a different midwife team, and 25 week one cancelled altogether. I think it's a staff shortage thing but it really worries me that no one has seen me in so long and this is my first.

I had my 16 week appointment which was the first face to face appointment with the midwife. I saw a HCA about 8 weeks for bloods and had the 12 week scan but booking appt was on the phone. I heard the heartbeat at 16 weeks, gave a urine sample and went through a few questions.

God I despair.

That sounds disappointing to me. My area does a HCA at my 8 week app face too face then at 16 app ( which ive not had yet ) I'm 14 wks but she called and said she does a face to face app urine, heartbeat and from my understanding of screening bloods you are contacted before hand if there is anything wrong

I wouldn't be happy with a phone call considering I think it's quite common that midwife's app are face to face x

Wow, it really is so variable between trusts!!

I think as a FTM I just had different expectations. On the one hand society wants us wrapped in bubblewrap and on the other the midwives barely wanna see us

I had my 16 week appointment yesterday and mine was also a bit of a waste of time. Like you they just wanted to know about vaccines.

I had bloods taken at my booking appointment which were all normal and we didn’t need extra tests at 12 weeks so there was really nothing to talk about.

@DottieDam

Have all yours been over the phone op?

No this was my first over the phone. My other appointment at 10 weeks was in person and I had bloods taken then. If you had an in-person at 16weeks did you do phone for 8-10weeks?

I have had extra bloods taken since my 10 weeks because I was unwell but this was always planned to be phone.

No one has ever gone through screening or blood results with me but as they are on Badger Notes I looked myself and saw they were fine (but they don't know that, although maybe that would have been my questions?)

I always knew it would be on the phone so no heartbeat (wouldn't that be nice not waiting 8 weeks between scans to know baby OK!!!) But I just assumed it would be a bit longer!

They would have told you had there been any issues with your bloods.

I know what you mean about the phone, but honestly, my fave to face 16 weeks was exactly the same! Over b quickly.

Later ones will be in person, check bp, urine and eventually start taking a fundal measurement (size of bump).

Just to warm you, many midwives will no longer listen to heartbeat as guidelines contraindicate this now due to the fact it offers false reassurance to mothers when they should be monitoring movements. I recently discovered this in my second pregnancy!

Mine was also a telephone call.

I've found that it varies hugely from health board to health board. Everyone I know speaks quite highly of their community midwife, can't say I've had the same experience.

My 16 week appointment was in person. She tested my urine, took my blood pressure and told me about monitoring the baby's movements at 20+ weeks. Oh and asked about whether DH is supportive.

She didn't listen for the baby's heartbeat (doesn't tell them anything apparently 🤷🏼‍♀️), and didn't go over any of the test results from the 12 week scan until I prompted her (basically had a shrug and a "they're fine.")

I didn’t even have a 16 week appointment! I was told we would have an appointment if there were any problems/ things to discuss, otherwise they skip it.

I had a UTI diagnosed (found out 2 weeks later by post), and a high risk combined screening result. So not sure what exactly warrants an appointment if that didn’t!

I had my 16week yesterday - like others it was in person, we talked through my blood results, did a urine dip test and blood pressure check and just chatted about a few others things (and given even more leaflets!) It's a pity you just had a phone call as I think it's nice to see the midwife more often and build up a bit of a relationship there.