When to self refer to maternity

[Winnipeggy]

So I'm 5ish weeks, and very much feel like I'm walking on eggshells right now. Last time I was pregnant I miscarried literally the day I told my parents so every day feels like a year atm. I'm a bit scared to do the self referral until I've had a scan at 8 weeks and know it's real, but is that too late? I know it's silly but I just don't want to tempt fate.

Does anyone remember when they did it and when it was fine?

I did it as soon as I found out at 5 weeks. They are so busy. I wanted to make sure I was in the system in the hope that my midwife appointments and scans were at the right week x

I did it as soon as I could but I think it’s fine to wait if that will make you feel more comfortable as they’ll try to fit you in for appointments when you should have them. It can depend where you live as some places have more pressure on them than others regarding appointments. Best of luck x

It's better to do it asap as you have to wait anyway before your appointments etc. good luck!

I left it as late as possible that I could still book my 12 week scan, though ended up with the NIPT results before so cancelled the scan. I was under a clinic so in a system but not the midwife system, if that makes sense.

I self-referred straight away due to 2 prior MCs

That’s far too late, my first pregnancy I called at 4 weeks and didn’t get a scan till 13 weeks. Last pregnancy I called at 4/5 weeks and didn’t get a booking appointment till nearly 10 weeks.
booking the midwife won’t have any influence on outcomes but if you leave it you risk not getting booked in and risk missing the 12-14 week windows after which some tests can’t be carried out.

Sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I self referred at 4 weeks, the day I found out. I’m glad I did as my booking appointment isn’t until I’m 11+5 with my scan being two days later. I’m in a city which I suppose why my booking appointment is so far away!

I self referred at about 3 weeks. Had booking appointment at 6 weeks and scan at 12 weeks exactly

Our hospital specifically says to self refer before 7 weeks so they can get you booked in for all the appointments in good time. Worth having a look on the website of the hospital where you would give birth and see if it says anything similar. Hope this is a sticky bean for you!

@Winnipeggy completely understand. I'm 6 weeks and haven't booked in yet. I'm waiting til my 7 weeks scan as to be honest I have concerns about my pregnancy and like you I don't want to tempt fate.

Do it asap. Maternity units are very busy nowadays and you don't want to miss out on appts or scans with the time limits for screening because you waited.
If the worst should happen you can cancel, but I know you know that doing self referral doesn't make a miscarriage any more or less likely. Unfortunately if it's going to happen, it'll happen, and that will not be because of anything you did or didn't do, either physically or by superstition about tempting fate.
Congratulations!

As soon as you find out! They are hugely backlogged, in my trust it was a month wait for booking appointments and you couldn't be referred for scan until afterwards. If I hadn't contacted them until 8/9 weeks, I'd have been 12 weeks before getting booked in and would then have to wait for scan referral and wouldn't have been able to have the combined screening test.

I'm 39 weeks now and they're on their knees at the hospital. I was referred for an urgent growth scan around 35 weeks and the next available scan appointment to book was after my due date! I had to be put on the cancellation call list (I got a call with 40 mins notice of an appointment that opened up and had to make a mad dash from work!). I heard from others they've even been putting on weekend clinics to try deal with the backlog.