NHS appointments

[oty17]

Hi all,

I am a bit worried about how NHS operates in terms of pregnancy care. This is my first pregnancy and I don't have any pregnant friends here in the UK, so have nobody to discuss this with.
I self-referred myself to Wittington Hospital when I was 6 weeks 6 days and got an email that I should wait for 10 days for a midwife call. Now when I am 8 weeks, I got another Welcome letter and it says I should wait another 10 days for a midwife call. They say I should have the first appointment between 6 and 9 weeks but I am already after 8 weeks.
I would like to have NIPT and ultrasound done to check for abnormalities but am worried if I wait for NHS I might miss a window. Should I try and book private appointments? What was your experience with NHS?

Hi,

I didn't have my first midwife "booking in" appointment until 10 weeks and from what I've seen that's pretty standard.

Still had my dating scan at 12 weeks so was all fine with timings etc.

have you spoke with your GP maybe you can speak to the receptionist

have you had your NIPT/combined test on time?

That all sounds quite normal. You could always have a private early scan while waiting though, that's what I did.

I spoke to reception at GP and they just said you should got to Wittington hospital, we don;t deal with pregnancy

I had all my tests on time. This was 4 years ago though.

The nhs don't do nipt as standard. You would need to go private for that.

NIPT isn’t down as standard by NHS usually have to go private

typically you have your booking in at 10ish weeks and 1st can plus combined screening at 12-14 weeks.

most drs / go surgeries don’t deal with pregnancy/ midwives (in my area) it’s all down out of yen childrens centre where the

Booking appointments are usually between 8 and 10 weeks then scan between 11 and 13 weeks. Cut off for combined test is 14 weeks.
NIPT isn't offered unless you have a high risk on the combined test so you would need to go private for that.
The 12 week scan is just for dating and NT measurement, they don't do the anomaly scan until 20 weeks.
If you're wanting more than that then you will have to go private. I've spent nearly £600 on private scans and the NIPT so far because the nhs just does the basics unless there is an issue.

I had 1st nhs scan at 12+5 but 2 of my colleagues had to chase theirs up as they hadn't had appointments through by 11 weeks but they still got them on time.

Thank you, I read in NHS guidelines that NIPT is being offered or combined.... did you do combined screening? I thought that combined should include NIPT and ultrasound together?

Thank you, this is very helpful... not how NHS describes it exactly, but now at least I know what to expect. I will then book my NIPT privately as well as scan, so I don't wait for NHS.

Does the letter include the phone number of the midwifery team? If not, could you try and google the phone number for your local birthing unit/midwife team?

I called them directly and told them I hadn’t been given a booking in appointment when I was already over 8 weeks. They booked me in straight away for a few days time. I had my bloods taken for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis at the booking in appointment. The midwife booked my 12 week scan at the booking in appt.

Checking for Down’s, Patau’s and Edward’s was done at the 12 week scan, and I got the results a week or so later.

Normally contact is from 2 places. Community midwife doea the booking in appointment and then the monthly chrcks etc, and hospital sort the 12 and 20 week scan

Once i had my booking in appointment date, i then had my 12 week scan appointment in before i saw the midwife.

Nothing to do with GP

I self referred to the local women's hospital when I got a BFP at 4 weeks. My booking in appointment isn't until next week when l will be 10 weeks 4 days. Seemed like an eternity so I booked a couple of private reassurance scans.

NHS only offers NIPT in high risk cases. I got mine done privately at 10 weeks as I thought I’d be high risk age wise and didn’t want to end up having to get the test done at around 15 weeks after combined testing as I felt it was too late if there were decisions to be made.
it was nice going into the 12 week scan knowing all was well and that it was a girl!
if you’re low risk you might want to wait though. They’ll do the NIPT if your other tests come back high

I called them yesterday and the receptionist was a bit blunt: she said did you wait all 10 days since self-referral, I said it was 7 days since then. She said you need to wait 10 days so they just processed your referral and you get a welcome letter. The welcome letter says it is another 10 days so not sure it makes sense to call them .... Maybe It is covid pressure, but it seems in this hospital they are busy.

You've got plenty of time, I wouldn't worry! First appointment (the booking appointment) isn't until 8-10 weeks. If you're going to chase anyone, chase the maternity unit you self referred to, you won't see a GP for any of your routine antenatal appts or scans.

You likely won't get much notice of your appointments and scans - I think I had about a week notice of my booking appointment - and scan will be booked in after that for 12-14 we

You will definitely be offered the combined test on the NHS. This is a blood test and also the nuchal measurements from the scan will show likelihood of Downs syndrome etc. At my trust they take the bloods for this after the dating scan at 12 weeks (in the same appointment slot)

When people say re paying for NIPT they are usually meaning blood tests you can pay for (like the Harmony test you might have heard of). If your NHS combined screening indicates a higher risk of one of the conditions it is testing for, you would be offered the NIPT anyway as it has a higher degree of accuracy.

I couldn't have the combined screening because my baby likes to lay in awkward unhelpful positions during scans so they couldn't do the NT measurement.
They offered the quad test but it only screens for downs and I wasn't reassured by the result so I went for a NIPT at 16+6 which included a growth scan.

Thanks! I think I am also high risk as I am older 35yo, so I rather spend money and get reassurance...

I think some hospitals might be running trials of offering nipt as standard, or at least in more cases. I can't remember where I read that or if it's current, but it might be worth checking what screening is offered at booking before spending the money.

Honestly, you don't need to pay for this. If you're 12 week screening comes out as higher chance then you'll be offered more tests.

If you have any issues like pain or bleeding you can self refer to early pregnancy for a scan.

Tbh though, the reason they don't do a lot before 12 weeks is, sadly not every pregnancy gets to that stage.

From what I've seen from friends who were pregnant in places with private healthcare most of the scan etc are just money making for the doctors. There's no reason for them.

Yes, but I think since NIPT is more accurate I will go for it anyway, as combined might be misleading. But it is very helpful to discuss as I am in a bit of isolation - so good to have this forum!

You can book your NIPT test privately for when you are 10 weeks or morel. I decided to get it because my age related risk is already quite high and it’s much more accurate than the NHS tests. Was happy to have paid for it despite getting a low risk from the NHS too. You get a bonus scan too so you don’t have to wait for the NHS one.

I'm nearly 36 weeks up and my appts have only just really ramped up. It might seem concerning but really, if all is going well, you shouldn't need to see anyone until third trimester.
I had:
8 weeks - booking in appt with midwife
12 weeks - dating scan plus screening for DS, etc
16 weeks - midwife appt for general check up
20 weeks - anomaly scan
25 weeks - GP appt for whooping cough vaccination and general check over
Then check ups with midwife at 28 and 31 weeks, birth plan at 34, and then another check at 36 next week.

Look at www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/

Also - the UK counts high risk as from the age of 35, so unless you've got other health issues I don't think you need to be very concerned. But always best to talk to your midwife, once you get one, if you are worried.