16 week ante natal appointment?

[Freespirit98]

Hi lovely people.

Just a bit of advice really, went for my 16 week appointment today, but I'm nearly 19 weeks! As they 'couldnt fit me in' Midwife is only at the doctors once a week every Fortnight.

She didn't do my blood pressure, test urine, didn't do anything really I got a blood form for 25 weeks appt and that's it. It says you listen to baby with Doppler on the appt sheet, she said she might not be able to find her heartbeat so she's not going to, even though I've got an at home one and I can find her heartbeat!

I went back in after as I walked out concerned, she was calling the next woman in, I said shouldn't I have had my blood pressure done and urine test done then? She said no my OBS look fine, I haven't had any observations! Not had blood pressure or urine test done since 10 week appt 2 months ago!

What do you all think, just after people's experiences, should I be phoning the doctors back? Xx

TIA lovely people

Xxxx

I’d personally call the midwifery team and asking what should have happened at your appointment. My urine was tested at every appointment in my last healthy pregnancy. My 16 week appointment is next week and I’ve been told they’ll listen in to baby. But maybe this is unusual. Every trust is different.

I just had my 16 week appointment and my midwife did my blood pressure, urine test and listened to baby’s heartbeat. I know some don’t listen for a heart beat but you should have had blood pressure and urine test. I would contact your GP and ask them to do it.

16 week one was very brief, but she did urine dips, blood pressure, and breath test. No weight, no Doppler.

with my first she used the doppler at 16 weeks so not sure if something has changed.

Same I did a urine test, blood pressure taken and listened for the heartbeat. As said above I have heard some places won’t use the doppler at 16 weeks. Definitely check!

Thank you everyone for advice!! I am not too fussed about the Doppler, but the blood pressure I could do at home myself and get a machine, but think why should I when it's routine? And the urine test I am concerned think it should definitely be done. I'll phone GP if not I'll ring midwife at hospital xx

Thank you

My 16 week appointment was over the phone so I don’t think any tests are necessary at this stage. Didn’t have any face to face appointments between booking and 28 weeks as it’s my second pregnancy

This link tells you what to expect at each appointment

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

@LoopDiL00p thanks, I was having a look at that before, the same page is in my file - She did none of those things! & My appt was 3 weeks overdue, Think I need to give hospital midwife a ring x

@Freespirit98
Yes, definitely worth you getting in touch with them. My appointments for both pregnancies followed that guide pretty much spot on.

@LoopDiL00p I rang the hospital midwife they said to ring back as there was only 1 community midwife in, useless, I've got my whooping cough vaccine with the nurse in my Doctors on Wednesday, so I may just ask her to check urine & blood pressure! Seems pointless trying to contact these midwives 🙄x

In my area the “16 week” appointment is a telephone appointment to make sure your feeling ok and have no co verbs so obviously no obs or urine etc. just had my 22 week appointment and they done all the usually including listened to the heart. This seemed fine to me.

My 16 week appointment was very "basic" but they did listen for heartbeat.

You shouldn't really have an at home Doppler though - unless you know how to use it you're probably hearing the blood pumping through the placenta rather than a heartbeat so can give an unreliable confidence that everything is ok.

That's really bad! They check all that at every single on of our appointments here.

Also, apparently now the Doppler is at 'maternal request' from 16 weeks. I wouldn't be happy she didn't even try to listen in tbh. Also, you shouldn't be using a home doppler of you're not trained to use it.

If*

Does anyone know if theres any guidance on midwife using a Doppler at 16 weeks?

With my first the midwife said they don't normally do the Doppler check on heartbeat as it can be hard to find which can then be distressing. But she did.

Last baby during the pandemic and 16 weeks was a phone call

@belami I ended up on the maternity triage not long after with pains & sickness and they used the doppler on me then! So not sure, think that midwife at my 16 week just didn't do anything she was meant to.

@123woop there is a big difference between the placenta/cord sounds, your own heartbeat and babys heartbeat so it is hard to get it wrong from what I was told from midwife when I was checked with the doppler eventually I ended up in hospital with vomiting/stomach pain 🫠

@PinkButtercups on the day of your reply I ended up in hospital with vomiting sickness was horrible, and they did check with the doppler then! the hospital were really shocked I wasn't checked over urine & BP at the doctors midwife!

With the dopplers there is a big difference between the placenta/cord sounds, your own heartbeat and babys heartbeat so it is hard to get it wrong from what I was told x

@lifehappens12 they told me they would check then I ended up with this midwife that did no checks! Ended up having them at my 25 week appt and again when I ended up in hosp, can't imagine what it was like for you in the pandemic with appts etc! X

I've been really lucky at my midwife appts and they've been thorough and done urine, BP and doppler since 16 week appt. I've just had my 25 week appt and she measured my bump too.

How strange for you, I understood they tested urine at every appt.

I had my 16 week appointment last Friday at 16+6, midwife was discussing my blood test results from 7 weeks before and I was low on iron (which makes sense as I've been soo tired). But she never took a new test which after I left I thought was weird. Maybe my levels wend down a lot? Maybe it's not low anymore. Do you find this strange?

My 16 week appointment will be on the phone and then I will have an appointment at 24 weeks which is usually only for first babies but our trust does it for everyone. As lots of trusts don’t do an in person 16 weeks appointment I’m thinking those checks aren’t completely necessary at 16 weeks maybe.

A lot of trusts only do a phone call at 16 weeks to discuss previous bloods and ask how you are, so urine tests, blood pressure definitely aren’t necessary. My trust don’t use Doppler until 24 week appointment. They say they’re not accurate enough to use before then. All health care professionals advise against home Dopplers as they can make you think things are ok when they’re not

@mmummyxx2 yes I definitely think she should of checked again and if they have gone down you should of been informed! X