Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

First contact with midwife at 10 weeks, is this normal?

26 replies

Mrslight · 21/07/2022 19:20

Hello,

I am 6 weeks pregnant now, I called my GP once I found out I am pregnant, the GP gave me a number of midwife, I called the midwife and was told somebody will call me in a week to book the firat appointment. I received SMS informing me of appointment booked, I will be 10 week at the day of the appointment.

I am surprised that midwife didn't have any sort of a short talk to let me know that I need to take folic acid, food to avoid etc. I know about things like folic acid, what to avoid etc, but what if I didn't? This makes me wonder if this is normal (I live in England) or if I was somehow missed in some communication that usually happens prior to first appointment?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Okeydoky · 21/07/2022 19:23

Totally normal in my area.

Pinkflipflop85 · 21/07/2022 19:26

Totally normal.

WingingItEveryDay7 · 21/07/2022 19:26

I didn't see my midwife until after I'd had my first scan..... This was last year! Was different 4 years ago when I had my first child. Unfortunately there are not enough of them and so many women to fit in so appointments are not happening like they should ☹️

YorkshireTeaCup · 21/07/2022 19:28

The NHS website has all the information you are talking about: www.nhs.uk/start4life/pregnancy/ In my experience, all the midwives would do is point you there anyway. You also might want to adjust your expectations down in terms of how these appointments are going to be...

Milliesmmy92 · 21/07/2022 19:28

Completely normal in my area. My first midwife appointment wasn't until I was 15 weeks and then she made me feel like shit that she wasn't aware DD's dad was type 1 diabetic so I should have had tests earlier- all this was told to the GP at the time when I was around 5 weeks!

DottyLittleRainbow · 21/07/2022 19:37

NICE recommends the first appt at 8-10 weeks and all of the information giving on diet, lifestyle, supplements and blood/urine screening take place at this appt. So yes this is normal.

NHS choices has a very informative pregnancy and birth planner.

Maggit · 21/07/2022 19:38

It's shit isn't it. I'm finding it impossible to even register with a midwife- the GP gave me a number to call, which was incorrect, and then another, which was out of service. I found three other numbers on google, two of which weren't what I was looking for, and the other was a generic answering machine. I've left 3 messages, but no-one has phoned me back. Phoned GP surgery to tell them all this, and they say there's nothing they can do.
I'm 10 weeks into a high risk pregnancy, and no-one is even letting me register with a midwife. It is so, so different to my last pregnancy (13 years ago).

Bumbers · 21/07/2022 19:40

I'm a high risk pregnancy and didn't get my booking in appointment until 12 weeks (and that took quite a lot of chasing!)

satelliteheart · 21/07/2022 19:41

@Maggit have you tried the website for your local hospital? In our area we go to the hospital website and fill out an online form to register with the midwife and they then call to book the first appointment

Op, first appointment between 8-10 weeks is totally normal. To be honest you are expected to take some personal responsibility for your own pregnancy. All the info on folic acid, foods to avoid etc are on the nhs website and women are expected to research this themselves to an extent

Original poster

Mrslight · 21/07/2022 19:44

Thank you all for your responses, good to know that this is how it goes!

@YorkshireTeaCup and yeah, thank you for the heads up re expectations, I think you are right and I probably have much higher expectation from the first appointment thanwhat it will be like.

Wow @Milliesmmy92 I'd be quite frustrated too!

OP posts:

20viona · 21/07/2022 19:44

Completely normal

ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 21/07/2022 19:46

Normal
They couldn’t be less interested and the actual appointment is a huge anticlimax too.
Bloods, history… that was it.

Original poster

Mrslight · 21/07/2022 19:46

@Maggit like @satelliteheart said I found a form to fill in on the hospital website to register with the midwife. I didn't use it as I managed to get through via phone, but hope that there is such form at your hospital.

OP posts:

Maggit · 21/07/2022 20:06

Thanks for the info about the form- I've just checked my hospital's website and you can't register online unfortunately (I'm in Wales, I don't know if that makes a difference.) I just told a friend about this and she said that the only way she could get any response at all was to turn up to A&E at 12 weeks, said she was having pains and then they gave her a scan and referred her to the community midwife! That seems insane to me, but I guess if you're being completely ignored otherwise...

BloodAndFire · 21/07/2022 20:10

Maggit · 21/07/2022 19:38

I had my first child in 2010 and I didn't see a midwife until around 10/11 weeks. So it doesn't sound very different to me.

mummyh2016 · 21/07/2022 20:13

@Maggit can you email PALS at the hospital you want to give birth at?

milkysmum · 21/07/2022 20:33

Very normal, and it will be a very brief booking in appointment, like another poster says- a bit of an anti climax really.

Jaaxe · 21/07/2022 20:34

Normal 8-10 weeks is first appt usually. They used to say to inform your Gp but Gps don’t even want to know these days unless there’s a problem…it’s self refer to midwife now x

Destinyisall25 · 21/07/2022 20:42

Mine was at 10 weeks just a few weeks ago. I thought it was very good and thorough. Lasted an hour, asked me lots of questions including about if I was taking folic acid. They also listened to my anxieties, told me there was no rush when I wasn't feeling well after the blood test and to take my time. They wrote me a list of useful websites I might want to look at, gave me leaflets, told me what to expect at my scan and booked me in there and then for my next appointment. I was impressed.

Lilbunnyfufu · 21/07/2022 20:46

Between 8-10 weeks is normal for the first midwife appointment.

Original poster

Mrslight · 21/07/2022 20:47

@Destinyisall25 oh that's great to hear! I am full of anxieties, I hope to be listened too :)
Is the next appointment you were booked a dating scan? Were you booked at 12 weeks or earlier/later?

OP posts:

sarahc336 · 21/07/2022 20:49

Yes between 8-10 weeks is totally normal x

Destinyisall25 · 21/07/2022 21:15

@Mrslight I had to wait for my scan appointment which arrived via letter a week later. I'll be 12+5 at the time of the scan. But they booked me in for the 16week midwife appointment there and then.
Also, when I explained I was anxious they said I could self refer to the hospital mental health team which I did. I had a 45 minute telephone assessment with a psychologist the other day and now I'm being referred for weekly 1:1 CBT sessions. I was surprised how quick and easy it was. Although I think it depends on your NHS trust, there is probably a lot of variability in how they work.

AlwaysAnonymous · 21/07/2022 21:18

It was the same for me too however my midwife called me around the 7/8 week mark to confirm the appointment and to check I was taking folic acid/vitamin D.

drV · 24/07/2022 09:24

High risk pregnancy here, turning 10w tomorrow. I have had my GP and Early pregnancy unit informed as early as 4 weeks(when I got to know about the pregnancy) , but haven't heard from a midwife till now despite chasing for 3 times now ! I have literally stopped expecting a call anytime soon.. it's frustrating but it is what it is !

Flip

1 2