How often should you see your midwife?

[LilyToTheB]

Hi,
I'm 18 weeks pregnant and have only seen my midwife once at the booking appointment. Had my 12 week scan and due for my 20 week one in a couple of weeks, but thought I'd see the midwife more often to check weight, how bump is progressing etc?

You will probably see her about 4 weeks after your 20 week scan, then 28 weeks 32 weeks, 36, 38, 39, 40.

You don't really need to see her unless you are worried about anything, if you are give them a ring and make an appointment. Also, you will have to ring her to make any appointment, they don't tend to automatically send appointments out to you.

Congrat's on the pregnancy

it'll step up the further on you get and you'll soon be sick of them poking and prodding!! I know its less when 2nd/3rd pgs but with 1st tiem am sure you'll start seeing them every few weeks after 20wk scan

is there something you're worried about specifically? you could always phone the community midwife, am sure they'll have a clinic they would be happy to see you
x

Thanks that makes me feel better. No, not worried about anything, just feel a bit on my own if you know what I mean. Only 2 weeks til next scan so can wait til then xx

Hi
I feel the same, its my first pregnancy. Had appointment for booking in then appointments for blood tests. When saw midwife at 15 weeks I was told that other than 20 wk scan would not need to see me til I was 25 weeks!
This just seemed an awful long time. Also other than scans they have never listened for heart beat and forgot to tell me to bring urine sample. I have bought a doppler for peace of mind.
friend of mine in the same town - different surgery was seen every 3 weeks or so!
Just feel like I'm getting a bum deal!
Helen

I had booking in appointment, 12 week scan, 16 week check with mw, 20 week scan, 22 wk check, 28 week check, 32 weeks check, 36 week check and am about to have 38 weeks check. Last check is at 40 weeks. It is less than I had with dd. I'm sure if you want to be seen more often there wouldn't be a problem.

the NICE guidelines which many midwives now follow state that only infrequent visits are necessary now

I saw mine at about 14 weeks I think, and won't see her again until 28 weeks

apparently if you don't have problems that show up in early pg, then the likelihood of them developing are quite low

of course if you have concerns or health problems then ring them

we saw ours at 6-8 weeks then 14 weeks then 20 and every 4 weeks until 30 weeks then every fortnight.

I meant to add that I think it varies greatly from PCT to PCT

Hi, I'm 19w and saw mine at 10w with the first scan and then next week - 10wks seems like a mighty long time but is normal apparently! Luckily I work in a hospital so get to play with the doppler - though usually dealing with adults means that I am useless listening for babies!!

I had my booking in appointment with my midwife, and then I had a dating scan that told me I was 10 weeks, but then the next scan was the 20 week one. I've been wondering whether I should've made a point of still getting the 12 week one as I though this is where they check for abnormalities and things? Would they have checked everything at a dating scan, does anyone know?

The dating scan is simple used for dates..the 20 week one is where they check for abnormailities

So what is the 12 week one for?

The 12 week one is for dating...so if you have had an ealier one you might not get your 12 week one! OR at least that is how it works in my PCT.

LilytotheB - did you not have bloods done at 16weeks?

Hiya, no didn't have blood taken at 16 weeks, not seen midwife for 2 months now. Just seems a long time. I haven't heard the baby's heart either, am hoping for that at the 20 week scan, 2 weeks to go and counting!

Thanks to all for your comments

lily I had the same thing.

I had booking appointment and that was it. I am 16+4 today.

Last friday when i turned 16 weeks I was thinking, it seems ages since I will hear of see my baby again from my 12 week scan (My 20 week scan is booked in for 26th March which actually makes me 22 weeks.)

Anyways I had a lok a my pregnancy notes and on there it said 16 week check etc and so on.

I thought I must be due one. I rang up my doctor and they said they dont normally have just midwife appointments, only just booking in?????. I was really confused so I rang up my hospital and asked to see a midwife so I can hear the baby and just have a generally check up etc. They had an appointment that day!!!.

Heard the babs HB and feel relieved! My advice would be just ring up the day care unit or amternity unit at your hospital and book yourself an appointment.

Hop this helps! X

With both my pregnancies (granted I'm in the US) I've been seen at

8 weeks w/ first trimester bloodwork
12 weeks w/ w scan
16 weeks w/ bloodwork
20 week w/ scan
24 weeks
28 weeks
32 weeks
36 weeks w/ scan
37 weeks
38 weeks
39 weeks

I've never made it to 40 weeks.

Lily - if you're in teh UK then you should be seen at around 16 weeks to have bloods taken to screen for Downs and Spina Bifida. (if you want). Ring your hospital up and ask to speak to a comm m/w or antenatal clinic. It needs doing sooner rather than later.

For both pregnancies about 6 weeks to get scan booked, then booking in at 10 weeks and so far it has been 14 weeks, 18 weeks, and due to see her next week, she likes to see her ladies every 4 weks regardless of which pregnancy.

LikerabbitsBX (nice name BTW ) - yours sounds exactly the same as my situation, I looked on my midwife notes and it said I should have an appointment at 16 weeks, but heard nothing.
I really should have phoned to find out, but am 19 weeks now and have 20 week scan next Monday so should find out then hopefully

Do you get to hear the baby's heartbeat at the 20 week scan?

Hopefully after my scan I should see them more often by the sound of it!
Thanks everyone.

I think the 16 week bloods are offered but not compulsory- it needs doing if she chooses- I didn't for this baby (my fourth)

And whilst it may be wortha sking, there is a very small window of opportunity for those tests so she may have missed them entirely- which if she does want them is totally unacceptable and she should complain.

Yes you will get to hear the heartbeat at teh scan, and you may well see quite a lot of details- DH could see the gender of this baby (am 34 weeks) before we even asked to be told!. And amny sonographers give you a 'tour' of the baby.

Hi Peachy,

I wsn't even offered the 16 week blood tests. The midwife took blood at my booking appointment, but I never got the results of that.

Can't wait to see the baby again at the scan, don't want to know the sex either, so am going to tell them this straight away.

That sounds very odd then- th 16 week ones are specific to test for downs/other genetic conditions (give an indicator as to whether further tests are worth considering rather than definites) etc, rather than for iron levels etc. With the first set of bloods I have a copy inside my notes- but tbh they just say 'lab lost results, re-test at later stage'.

Given the missed bloods etc, I would give the supervisor of MW a call. It may be that your unit has very unusual policies but you could well be showing signs of a MW who isn't offering appropriate care.

It does vary though- i though the bloods were universal, but in Somerset I ahd a lot more visits than I am getting here, even though I have a history of slow growing babies I have only seen MW times, although she is coming tomorrow to do a 34 week home birth visit.

I had a home visit at 10 weeks with MW who took bloods and went through previous history and current health etc.
My pregnancy planner booklet has two pages dedicated to informing you when you should be seen and by whom. The MW clearly circled the weeks i needed to see someone and wrote down if it was to be at surgery or hospital and to be either MW or consultant/Dr.

I think they taylor it to individual needs depending on how your pregnancy progresses.
example i now have a 36 weeks scan booked because of a low lying placenta.

On average i have been seen once a month i think.

babylove21, the pregnancy planner sounds like a really good idea, I'd love one of those. Then you know exactly what's going on, as opposed to feeling lost like me

Had my 20 week scan yesterday and all is ok, I'm so relieved!
Have phoned the midwife and made an appointment for tomorrow, I'll tell them my worries then!