40 week midwife appointment late? 41 weeks

[Hotcrossbunsinbed]

I saw my midwife at 38 weeks on the dot usually a Tuesday. All was fine but she couldn’t book my next one until 40+4 due to being fully booked. She also changed my due date which had been 29th August all along and the next appointment I make as being when I am 40+6 She has said I can have a sweep at that point. My concern was when I asked about NICE guidelines and induction at 41 weeks she said it’s so busy this doesn’t happen. I am worried that if I don’t see her until 40+6 there is zero chance of getting in for a 41 week induction. Feeling pretty neglected and worried about the last part of my pregnancy. I really don’t want to go too far overdue and would take an induction. Should I call and demand a 40 week appointment? As a FTM I thought I would be offered 40 weeks and 41 weeks. Have been monitoring movements and all fine. Have been leaking fluid on and off for a week but that was also dismissed without being asked to go in as it wasn’t continuous. Advice would be good!

You should be seen at 40 weeks. Demand it.

Also, you don't have to see your own midwife. Tell them you will see any that is available that day.

If you are leaning fluid you should go into hospital and get checked that it’s not your waters going. They can do an exam and test the fluid. If your waters have been leaking for a week with no labour they will probably recommend induction though of course you can decline. Good luck with the birth

When are you due? August or March? If August....maybe don't stress now....lol.

Most babies come in their own good time so need for induction. I can imagine a MW trying to reassure you because of the additional risks of induction. (If the labour ward is busy they can't start an induction for no medical reason...which is probably what the MW meant.)

As for the fluid leaking. That could be more of a slight concern. Are you wearing a liner? Is it definitely fluid and not urine? How much is leaking? Is it clear or coloured? A small amount leaking at this point could be signs of labour. But if you are worried call your midwife or labour ward to discuss....use the liner in case they want to see how much.

Please try to relax and let your body do what it needs to. Good luck.

Due in March Doh! You can see how tired I am waiting for this baby! Yes so I think I will call my community midwife and ask to see someone next week at 40 weeks. Then monitor the fluid situation today and go into triage if that is still happening. It’s been absolutely baffling as sometimes there can be a fair bit in my pants to soak through then I’ll pop a pad on any nothing! Have also tried the loo roll trick to see. Some days I have checked and it is urine as it gets a bit tricky at this stage but then some days definitely not! I think it being inconsistent there hasn’t been enough to go in and show them as it dries. Hope that makes sense! I’ll keep chugging along due this coming week. Thanks for your help xx

40+6 is still technically 40 weeks although obviously it's practically 41. She will still be able to book your induction in at that point, depending on your trust it's normally 41+3. You can book an induction the day before, mine was with DD as my waters went with no contractions so was booked in to be started the following day.
What do you mean though when you said she changed your due date? A midwife can't change your due date it's set from your 12 week scan.
Could you ask her to call you if she gets any cancellations for the day she's fully booked? She will likely have them, either people already giving birth or Covid etc.

I was in similar situation, and I wanted an induction at exactly 41 weeks. I contacted my hospital and they booked it for me. Maybe try that?

What do you mean, she changed your due date?

Just either ring the hospital to let them know about your leaking fluid and they will probably bring you in to assess or otherwise if you can speak to her again about the leaking fluid?
As for the 40 week check/ sweep, just talk to her or whoever is on the end of the contact number you’ve been given and say express (politely) how anxious you are to have this check and sweep earlier in the week. She’s no doubt doing what she should according to the evidence based guidelines whilst juggling a high caseload and they’re not going to leave your induction past their guidelines but if she knows your particularly anxious or keen to have the check and sweep earlier she’ll no doubt try and fit you in somewhere sooner if she can. As for the leaking fluid then she’d prefer you sought more reassurance than worry about it.

P.s. and as for changing your due date, she wouldn’t have knowingly done that, as others have said is set on the dating scan. Perhaps she just made an admin error, workloads are very high and a lot has to be fitted into the very short space of time allocated for each appointment, just mention it to her. Would say to any woman if you feel the HCP has got something wrong or any aspect of the care is making you anxious just discuss it with them (politely) 99.9% of HCP genuinely don’t want their patients to be unhappy with their care and would much rather they discuss the issue rather than sit there worrying about it or even worse have an adverse outcome because they didn’t raise the issue

Pps in view of you wanting induction at 41 weeks etc too I would speak again to the midwife asap regarding this, ask for an appointment with the consultant if possible if she can’t arrange or if your there for assessment for the ? leaking fluid then just make it clear (politely) that you really wish to have an induction by 41 weeks

Ok thanks everyone that’s really helpful advice. Wasn’t sure what I should do but that sounds like a good plan. I’ve left a message just to see if there are any cancellations next week at my community midwife so that I can get in for 40 weeks and have a sweep. Have been polite of course! I am monitoring fluid situation and don’t think there is enough to warrant bothering the triage team atm. However if I can’t get a 40 week appointment next week I’ll ring the hospital and have a chat with them and make it clear I would really like a 41 week induction. I am just conscious they are so busy and covid has ramped up again bit nervous it’ll be too busy with emergencies and mine is low risk apart from some spells of reduced movement which is all fine right now. I think the due date is just difference between period & scan dates. When they have booked me in before they have always done it on the exact date (I.e) when my period date says I am due 34/36/38 weeks so I was thinking that’s my due date. Not much difference but at the end it feels is as keen to get things started and would love to try a sweep or anything to get things moving at my due date! He is already above average in size so would be nice to get things going before he turns into a mega baby! X

If you do become worried that you might be leaking fluid then do definitely ring up and speak to the triage team/advice line. They’ll discuss it with you on the phone and tell you whether you need to come in, what other signs to look out for etc. The community midwives are just as rushed off their feet as the hospital team (they are all part of exactly the same overall team) so never wait till their appointment rather than ringing the triage contact number about a worrying issue like leaking fluid or reduced movements. Primarily so there is no delay in receiving the key advice and care needed but also their appointments are only really long enough to do the routine checks, although of course they’ll deal with or arrange referral for anything that comes up, but it won’t have done anyone any favours.

Following the 11-13 week dating scan it should always be that date as written on your scan report which is used as your due date (EDD) and your weeks + days pregnant calculated on that. Your period (LMP) dates are considered pretty much redundant after your dating scan. Perhaps this old date was accidentally not changed on one of the systems and has led to the slight error.

Most women have their appointments at a certain minimum frequency and according to when the clinics are so if your due date falls on a Saturday and the clinic falls on a Tuesday then you would probably be seen at … 36+3 38+3 40+3 (with sweep) and again at 41+3 (with sweep) then induced in the hospital at 41+5 (depending on your hospital post dates induction policy) They would usually be seeing you 2 weekly from 34 weeks of pregnancy till 40 weeks and then the following week.
If you feel fully informed of the pros and cons of induction (or even just want a further discussion) then yes definitely ring up your midwife or the hospital asap and discuss the fact that you really want to be induced by 41 weeks but your next appointment
isn’t until 40+6 and they should arrange for a discussion with someone regarding this and they might possibility be able to arrange for sweeps from 40+0. Most babies will arrive within 10 days of their due date naturally and they can hopefully give you some reassurance regarding having a big baby but if you still want to go ahead with an induction by 41 weeks you should have the opportunity for a consultant/registrar obstetrician decision on this. Many women these days seem to get induced for one reason or another before they go 12 days over anyway. Best of luck with everything and really don’t sit there worrying, busy as they are they’d much prefer you were happy with your plan of care. Let us know how it all goes x