Carbon monoxide testing midwife appointment

[Fraidwo1]

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone else was routinely tested for carbon monoxide in their midwife appointments?

I was tested every time I saw the midwife, despite being a non-smoker. I was accused of smoking once because my CM readings reached level 3. I have spoken to a few other mums in baby groups and some never got tested at all.

I thought nothing of it at the time (although I was offended when the midwife insisted either me or my partner had been smoking), but now I wonder why was I tested while other mum’s weren’t? I thought they did it as a safety precaution but now I’m wondering if it’s another way of just trying to catch people out for smoking. We’re considering having another baby, and I still don’t smoke so I might just refuse the test given how I was treated in the previous pregnancy? Apparently pollution can cause levels of 3 on the test too.

I had the test at my first appointment and then again at 36 weeks, the midwife said the later test was a new policy.

Exactly this. To be honest it being about smoking never occurred to me

It's a new thing in my trust, mainly to make it more routine for us midwives as there's so much to remember that at the times it needed to be done, some people weren't remembering. For us anything under 6 is normal. Sorry you got accused of smoking though, that should never happen. Non-smokers can blow high for a number of reasons, such as walking past second hand smoke, exhaust pipes, leaky boiler at home or sometimes our machines just need calibrating. They won't have singled you out over everyone else though

By that I mean if we do it on everyone every time, it's routine. Whereas doing it at only one or two appointments may mean it's missed. That's the impression I get anyway!

I've been tested at every appointment so far. 35 weeks now and my last appointment I scored a 3 - had always scored 1's so was pretty mortified. They said anything below 4 is ok. I think it was because I'd gone to my appointment from work which is on a main road.

Don't be mortified at a 3! Completely fine

Yeah every appointment for me, a non smoker.

I was tested at my booking in appointment this week.

Wasnt tested at all with my little boy, midwife said they didn’t test throughout covid.

Midwife here! In our Trust we are being advised to 'make every contact count' and CO test every woman at every appointment, even non smokers. I nearly misdiagnosed a mother with possible pre-eclampsia before I remembered I should CO monitor. Turns out her headache was because she was being poisoned by carbon monoxide and her boiler was faulty!

I wouldn't take it personally, we are supposed to monitor at each appointment but we're only human and sometimes I would forget and have to go back out to the woman's house (with her consent) a bit later to test as if forgotten to in the clinic!

I was tested twice but the second time was only because the reading the first time was high and I was worried so asked to do it again.

Tests at every appointment, DP and I both non smokers

I'm almost 30 weeks and never been tested 🤔