First midwife appointment- is there any way to get an earlier one?

[MrsTtoBe24]

Hi all. Sorry for so many posts.

I booked my first midwife appointment which falls on exactly my 10 weeks mark. This feels quite late to be getting pregnancy advice etc. Is there a way I can do it in the UK other than with my GP, for example a local centre? Any help much appreciated!

This is very typical IME, they usually only see you for the booking appointment at 10 weeks -ish. If you need advice, the NHS website is very useful

I don't think so but look at the NHS advice page, its all covered there

My first midwife appointment isn't until I'm 11 + 2 weeks. If you have any worries relating to your pregnancy you could always phone the EPU at your local hospital.
The first midwife appointment isn't really anything tbh, with my other two pregnancies they didn't even check if I was pregnant!

@MrsTtoBe24 it's totally normal to have your first appointment at 10 weeks, don't worry. The NHS website has everything you need to know for the first trimester - as frustrating as it is there is very little that can be done in those first 12 weeks, don't drink, don't smoke, limit caffeine, stay hydrated and eat as well as you can (depending on level of nausea etc). If you have any concerns e.g. bleeding or cramping, your local EPU should be able to help.

Best of luck with your pregnancy.

You can go privately.

Usually, to be brutal, midwives don’t have them much easier because of the number of early miscarriages that women have as it would be a waste of their time.

Don't forget your folic acid!

The booking in appt is mainly a paperwork exercise based on my experience. There were no tests or physical checks it was all just answering questionnaires about medical history and suchlike.

It's normal for it to be around the 10 week mark and they then initiate the booking for the 12 week ultrasound.

Totally normal timescale. Read the NHS website pregnancy pages. Take folic acid, avoid alcohol and smoking, follow the advice on there about what foods to avoid/limit. Other than that you can carry on as normal!

My booking in appointment ended up being after my first scan! The earliest they could do was 15 weeks and my scan was 13 weeks! And I called them at 5 weeks to make the appointment!

Sounds pretty normal to me, but it is strange that it's the norm.

Check on the NHS website for the criteria for higher dose folic acid and if you don’t need that, just take the normal dose and vitamin D. Then 10 weeks will be fine.

10 weeks is normal in my trust. It’s due to early miscarriages so women aren’t out through booking to then lose their pregnancy. We can do your 12 week scan up to 14 weeks if you want screening tests, so don’t panic.

10 weeks is about average. I had all mine between 9 and 15 weeks.

10 weeks is absolutely fine. NICE guidance is that women should receive a booking appointment by 10+6 ideally. You're within that, so that's fine.

And vitamin D!

10w is the standard first appointment here too.

What advice etc do you need? Reduce caffeine intake, quit smoking and drinking, eat healthily. Don't start new vigorous exercise programs, gentle exercise is ok to start if you weren't doing any prior (swimming, pilates e.g.) or any exercise that you were already doing is ok to continue. See NHS for current foods to avoid.

Basically be healthy.