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Original poster

When should I start carrying my maternity notes wherever I go?

30 replies

PurlyQueen · 06/01/2008 17:42

I only take them out of the house when I have a doctor's or hospital appointment, but has the time come for me to start carrying them around with me wherever I go in case I go into labour?

I'm 28 weeks pregnant.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Buckets · 06/01/2008 17:44

LOL, yep, it could happen. (I can't wait to get mine, will have pride of place in special pocket in my handbag!)

WinnieThePooh · 06/01/2008 17:46

I Kept mine in my bag from the day I go them.

NatalieJane · 06/01/2008 17:47

Don't think I took mine anywhere with me except to midwives and hospital - is that bad? lol

BellaBear · 06/01/2008 17:48

I had a bit of a problem at 23 weeks and I was glad I had them with me at work as I had to go to hospital.

LuckySalem · 06/01/2008 17:48

I kept mine in my car from the day I got given them! lol

juuule · 06/01/2008 17:49

Same as Nataliejane. In fact, I forgot to take them with me the morning I went in for induction. Dh had to go home for them.

MrsBadger · 06/01/2008 17:50

now immediately

I had a bleed at 21wks and had to send dh haring home for them while I sat in the assessment ward

madmouse · 06/01/2008 19:11

At 37 weeks I am still not carrying them. NHS fault by making them into an enormous A4 sized book!

Buckets · 06/01/2008 19:16

Ah Madmouse, you're a first time mum n'est-ce pas? I'm guessing you sport a dinky little Lulu Guinness style handbag? Kiss it goodbye and say hello to the enormous changing bag .
After potty training you graduate to the free Bookstart cotton shopping bag from the health visitor, it's the new Birkin bag donchaknow!

McDreamy · 06/01/2008 19:18

Never carried mine with me. I would have been able to tell anyone who needed to know what was in them anyway so I didn't see the point!

NorthernLurker · 06/01/2008 19:21

tbh I would carry them with you now - I did so religously with first two babies then got very casual with the third - fine until about i was at a similar stage to you and didn't feel the baby move one day. I work in a hospital so popped down to the ward for a chat with the midwives and the first thing they said was 'where's your notes' - so embarassing to say they were at home anyway all was well and baby started fidgeting shortly thereafter - but I carried them with me after that!

orangehead · 06/01/2008 19:25

If I was just going out locally I didnt take them with me unless I went further a field

oldwomanwholivedinashoe · 06/01/2008 19:27

I didn't take them with me anywhere except docs and midwifes appoints but I always knew where they were and at 30wks kept them with my packed hospital bag. If you know where they are you can get someone else to get them.

NatalieJane · 06/01/2008 19:28

I did lie, we went to visit my mum (200 miles away) when I was about 36 weeks, and I did take them with me then. But other than that, they stayed in the drawer in the hall.

Agree with Madmouse, they are too big to carry round, especially in your dinky little Lulu Guinness style handbag

goingfor3 · 06/01/2008 19:31

When are you given your nates, with my first dd's I got them at 16 weeks but I haven't ben given them yet.

whomovedmychocolate · 06/01/2008 19:34

I was advised to get a sodding wheelie bag last pregnancy by my osteopath so I didn't have to lug them around - mine ran to three blue folders and were actually quite heavy.

Now they are....umm well actually I ought to find them out because I have to go see the midwife tomorrow

beansprout · 06/01/2008 19:34

Have never carried mine around but did see someone told off for not having them once.

Bluestocking · 06/01/2008 19:42

Never took mine anywhere. I didn't realise you were supposed to until I went to stay with a multiparous friend of mine in another city, who asked if she could see them!!

spugs · 06/01/2008 20:36

i sometimes take mine out with me but it depends on what bag i have if im going on holiday though i would take them

Wilkie · 06/01/2008 20:38

Kept mine in my car - I needed them when I went to hosp with contraction at 35 weeks straight from work!

whomovedmychocolate · 06/01/2008 21:08

Wilkie - I kept my birth bag in the car from 28 weeks and since I was in and out of hospital like MRSA it was a jolly good plan

PortAndLemonaid · 06/01/2008 21:26

First time round I carried them everywhere from the day I got them.

This time round I'm 28 weeks and had to have a bit of a root around for them this morning as I have a midwife appointment in a few days. I'll probably start carrying them now, though.

whomovedmychocolate · 06/01/2008 21:31

To be fair, if you get a nice big file, they are pretty good to whack the consultants with when they say they want to induce you. You can stun them and get a good half a mile before they come after you if you are quick

kama · 06/01/2008 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Coby · 06/01/2008 21:54

I keep mine in the car so just outside the front door if I need them but not far away if I'm out and about. Got into the habit of doing this towards end of first pg (at about 30 weeks) but blimen glad I did as last night I was admitted to labour ward for an emergency at 21 weeks - no time to think sbout notes (was in a bit of a panic) but luckily had them with me in the car as routine (hospital 1hrs drive away so couldn't get DH to pop back for them easily). Oh yes, and we nearly ran out of petrol getting to the hospital (petrol stations all closed at midnight) so another tip is keep your tank relatively full if you need to. Of course, I am assuming you have a car

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