First midwife appointment in England, what to expect? X

[Sarahjsxx]

Hello,
Just found out I'm pregnant, I have my first midwife appointment a week on Tuesday (when I'll be about 8 weeks), this is my third baby but it's been quite a few years and the last one was during Covid, so just wondered what to expect now for the schedule of appointments? Do they do blood tests in the first appointment? X

@Sarahjsxx Yeah I had bloods taken at mine. Then it was the just usual filling notes out, asking family history, previous births etc

Yep, bloods, CO2 breath test at mine, loads of questions and copying answers from my form into the database.

My booking appt with DC2 took over two hours. That was partly because there was a student midwife there who was double checking everything, no problem, but it was long.

Bp, urine, bloods, carbon monoxide reading, height, weight, medical, mental, obstetric, surgical, family health and social history. Assessments re risk of blood clots Info on screening tests and health advice too plus any referrals, plan of care, contact numbers etc, booking for first scan. Applying for prescription exemption certificate. Appointment usually takes 1-2 hours, avoid bringing children, allow extra time in case clinic running late, think about which hospital want to have baby or homebirth and whether you want the screening for chromosomal conditions and family health history before appointment. Time is very restricted and an awful lot to cover so by all means discuss/ask questions about anything genuinely worrying you but don’t expect opportunities for long discussions

Follow up midwife appointments at 16,25,28,31,34,36,38,40,41 weeks, scans at 12 and 20 weeks. Birth plan discussion 34-36 weeks in some areas. Repeat routine bloods at 28 weeks. If consultant led care, appointments with consultant (or their registrar) too plus possibly extra scans. Appointment for glucose tolerance test around 25-28 weeks if any risk factors for diabetes (criteria vary between hospital trusts)

Same as what @Kats43 said. Do bring water/drink and a snack as I got really sick from not eating by the end of it! It is quite a long appointment

With it being your third pregnancy you probably won't get the appointments Kats43 said - I had 8 (booking), 12 (scan), 16, 20 (scan) then nothing until 28 and I'm not sure how many after that. You don't have as many with subsequent pregnancies after your first. Congratulations!

It's a very boring, they'll take basic details and put you in the system and you'll get an ultrasound appt in a few weeks, all being well. I wasn't even weighed and told off.

Very good point, also helps being well hydrated when they’re trying to take bloods

Depends on the area I think, my area does the same appointments for both now but when had baby a few years ago they did used to skip the 25 and 31 week appointments for subsequent pregnancies

Thank you so much for all the info! X