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?

Sorry, what I meant in my first message isn't that you shouldn't need to see anyone at all until 3T - more that you won't need anything apart from the routine appts offered for first time pregnancies. We don't do weekly checkups. I actually left an American pregnancy forum on Reddit because it was so overly medicalised! Everyone seemed to be going to their doctor every week.

I am over 35 so I am high risk) but thank you so now I know what to expect at least...

The NHS does not treat you as a high risk pregnancy simply for being over 35! London hospitals are stuffed full of women over 35 so no one is going to look at your form and fast track you.

It all sounds normal. There are women actually presenting late who will be bumped up. You’ll get your appointments in time. Honestly you need to readjust your expectations as everything is going to be pretty low key for a good while.

If you're worried about getting your scan before 14 weeks (so you can have the combined screening) I would call when you reach 12 weeks to check if your appointment has been booked. I don't think you'll need to do this (you'll probably have your booking appointment around 10 weeks and you can ask the midwife to book your scan during the appointment so get your letter a week or so after that) but I was worried that I wouldn't get an appointment in time and rang up and they booked me in then and there and I was seen at 13+5. They didn't mind me ringing but I was about 12+3.

Being

Oops, pressed send too soon.

Being 35 doesn't make you high risk.

Early on there aren't many appointments but they start to ramp up as you get further along. If they do find anything during the 12 or 20 weeks scans then you'll have more appointment too.

No, not high risk in the UK til you're 40 so unless anything else is picked up along the way you won't be.

It does sound like they're being a bit slow but at least wait til the 10 days is up and then chase them. I don't know if you've seen this page but it spells it all out - www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/ you're fine for a few weeks for your booking appointment but I'd agree that you should chase if you've not had a scan booked by about 11 weeks. I know once I had my booking one everything else seemed to get booked in straight away.

Hi @oty17

I called my GP when I found out I was pregnant and they gave me the number for the Community Midwives. I then called them and was booked in for my Booking-In appointment at 8+5 weeks. Maybe it's different area-to-area but I have a terrible experience with self-referrals so was happy I was able to contact the community midwives directly.

I'm now 10+1 weeks and have by 12 week scan booked in as well as my 16 week midwife appointment :)