First midwife appointment on the phone

[ridl14]

I've just found out I was pregnant last Sunday (🎉), still really early days but I'm hoping for everything to go well. FTM.

My GP has offered me a first midwife appointment on the phone - does anyone know how long it might last? I've asked and they responded to the rest of my questions but not this one. I'm also curious what they'll cover in the call.

I need to let work know I have a medical appointment and roughly how long it will last as I will need to arrange cover.

Lastly, I don't have to tell my work I'm pregnant yet right? I'm only 4 weeks this week and was hoping not to have to say anything until at least after my first scan and being able to tell family.

Mine was about 20 mins. They take down all your history and health info. It’s a good in depth call :)

My first midwife appointment was face to face and lasted about 45 minutes. You don’t have to tell work until you are 25 weeks pregnant (although you’re likely to show way before that!)

Depends on the nature of your work , you may need to tell management as soon as you know for risk assessments and give you limited duties

Mine called for a chat shortly after booking, but proper booking appointment wasn't until 8 weeks, and there took bloods, urine, blood pressure etc etc. I think mine was about 45 minutes.

You don't need to formally tell work until you're 15 weeks before EWC for mat leave. However, I told work at about 10 weeks as I was exhausted and needed them to know I needed to back off a little, and also because there were things in my diary later in the year that needed to be reallocated sooner rather than later to prevent chaos.

However, if your work involves lifting/chemicals/lots of travel/working with dodgy people you should tell them asap as they may need to adjust your duties when they risk assess you. Also, if you feel like absolute dog meat I would consider telling them - your full first trimester symptoms probably haven't fully kicked in yet but give it a month and you may feel you need to tell them under duress (or you may be lucky and not have to...). Another consideration is that time off work for antenatal appointments is paid and separate for annual leave. Every day of leave you take now will take from time when either you may need it nearer the birth, or from time with baby, depending on your work's policy - so the later you tell them, the more annual leave etc you may need to use on appointments. I was lucky in that I was able to book my first midwife appointment early in the morning before my core hours started so I didn't need to take a morning off, but depending on distance that may not be possible for you.

My midwife phoned and just collected all my medical history and life circumstances. She then made me an appointment to go get my bloods done. The call was around half an hour.
I didn’t tell my work as it was quite early so just waited for the midwife to get in touch and then asked for an appointment for another time which she easily arranged.