North of Ireland ante natal care rant

[38andtrying]

So I am a FTM, i hadn't a clue about ante natal care and generally took all my info from online or mumsnet, the demographic of people are generally all GB based so I went from that on what i should expect as we are all NHS. How wrong I was!! I cannot help but feel jealous of the level of care people get in GB

In GB you get the a booking scan before your 12 week scan, a chance to meet your midwife and they get your details
NI booking app is done on same day as the Scan - not the biggest deal in the world

Your 12 week scan in GB you get NT checked
NT scan is not done in NI at all

Quad test is offered in NI to anyone who wants it, if it comes back high chance in GB you are offered an NIPT under the NHS for free
If test comes back high in NI you are offered an amniocentesis which carried a risk of miscarriage, if you want to go for the safer option of an NIPT you have to self fund

I am 16 weeks today and so these are the only differences I am aware of so far. I dread to think what happens next and what differences there may be.

It's sub par for sure.
Due to the lack of NT, and also Patau and Edwards Syndromes not being checked at the 20 week scan I got a very shock diagnosis of Patau Syndrome for my son at 31 weeks.
I'm still ttc again, but I'm definitely going to have the NIPT done in future, as well as an NT scan I've been told I can have.
I have had multiple miscarriages since and I have to say the EPU at the Royal is absolutely fantastic.
My advice is if you feel fobbed off and you have any concerns, don't hesitate to go see the sonographer at Window to the Womb as she is very good. She is a sonographer at Lagan Valley so she knows her stuff and it won't cost you too much for a reassurance scan.
I hope all goes very well in your pregnancy.

I am so sorry to hear about your baby, I didn't know they don't check for Patau or Edwards Syndromes either, that is absolutely shocking, it really is medieval, i understand it was because abortion wasn't offered but parents should be prepared and involved in their care and not just have potential problems ignored, ignorance isn't always bliss, it is more shocking when you don't know.

I hope you have been able to recover and good luck with your TTC

This is how it was when I had a baby in Wales 8 years ago. Had problems on the 20 week scan that could of probably been put to bed had I had an NT measurement taken. I was offered an amnio which I declined due to the stats at the time.

For me the actual midwife/consultant side was the same as it now is in England.

It's definitely shocking that they're still relying on the quad test - I believe it's massively skewed by the age of the mother.