No midwife contact at 9+ weeks?

[MooseBreath]

I found out I was pregnant with DC2 5 weeks ago (and worked out that I was just over 4 weeks pregnant). Called the local midwife team the next day and left a message. I had a call back the next day saying that the lead midwife would be back the next day and she would call to schedule my booking in appointment.

It's been 5 weeks and the lead midwife hasn't called me back! I have chased up twice leaving messages, but I'm starting to get a bit angry. My local hospital doesn't book anything and it's all through midwives, so if mine doesn't get her arse moving, surely I'll not be able to get a scan at the correct time or I will have to go to a further hospital (am already a 30 minute drive from my local). I also haven't had any bloods done and my DH's family had had an incidence of a rare condition that should be screened for.

Am I being unreasonable to think this is unacceptable? What can I do?

This is just my experience, this is my second pregnancy and my first was many years ago so can't remember what happened then, but I initially phoned when I found out I was pregnant (in November), I would have been about 5 weeks counting back. I got a call back the next day with a booking appointment date this was over a month away (in late December) and at the same time the midwife booked my 12 week scan date - early January. This was estimated I'd be around 12 weeks, and I was bang on. The midwife said everything would be done (as in the scan) before the cut off date. She then advised me over the phone about taking folic acid which I was taking as I remembered this from my first pregnancy. Personally - I think you should have a date booked by 9 weeks so you know when it's happening. But maybe things are done in different areas, I'm not sure. I think try to give them a phone tomorrow, if you don't get through leave a message, and then give your GP a call for further advice incase they are able to chase anything up further on your behalf.

@CoconutQueen

Sorry but YABU to be calling to book with a midwife at 4 weeks. I'm not surprised they haven't got back to you yet - they don't need to yet!

No you are not "lacking care"; unless you are in severe pain or bleeding, at this stage in your pregnancy you do not need "care".

I don't think you're reading this right. She called when she found out, which is what the NHS website tells us to do (wouldn't call it unreasonable to follow official advice), and hasn't heard anything for 5 weeks, making her 9 weeks along now.

@CoconutQueen

Sorry but YABU to be calling to book with a midwife at 4 weeks. I'm not surprised they haven't got back to you yet - they don't need to yet!

No you are not "lacking care"; unless you are in severe pain or bleeding, at this stage in your pregnancy you do not need "care".

I have three children 8,6,4 and I’d had bloods and booking in appt by 10 weeks with all of them. The earliest appts for dating scans were still three weeks off so there were tight margins.

I rang the GP for referral each time I found out I was pregnant which is what you are in fact supposed to do.

Given that midwives operate on a beyond stretched basis it’s not unreasonable to be getting a bit concerned that there will be no capacity in the system for certain things to have happened by 13 / 14 weeks.

I had my booking in appointment at 9 weeks in November (not that it was much good - had to have the blood tests redone three times as they kept ballsing things up by mislabelling, sending to the wrong lab etc).

My osteopath is recently pregnant and has been told that due to a shortage of staff & a sudden massive increase in the number of pregnant women within our trust’s catchment area, she won’t be seen until 12w+ by a midwife. She’ll have her 12 week scan without having even had her booking in appointment

I’m south east and that’s what’s happened to me too. Had 22 week scan last Friday and still no midwife, and non booking x

Ugh - rush typing! 12 week scan, not 22 x