Midwife appointment

[Badassbreastfeeder85]

What happens if you don't attend your booking appointment or any of the subsequent ones?

Hey op,

Please don’t cancel your appointment!

In my previous pregnancies I had my booking appointment between 8-10 weeks. I have a 14 month old and I self referred at just under 5 weeks. Got my booking appointment at 10 weeks 3 days and my scan at 11 weeks 6 days.

I found out very late in the day I was pregnant this time around! I self referred and got sent 2 appointments. I estimated I was around 9 weeks and got my booking appointment through fairly quickly . Booking appointment was 28th June , scan was booked for 8th August . I explained at my booking appointment I felt my scan was far too late , midwife immediately got this changed for me and I was scanned the following week. They like to ensure everyone is scanned before 14 weeks 1 day which is cut off for screening. Turns out by the time I had my scan I was 14 weeks 3 days ( further along than I thought myself ) so couldn’t have the combined screening. I was worried about as I’m 38 - 39 in November ( since had 2nd trimester screening and low risk, scans look perfect).

From what I’ve read about and as previous posters have said , cancelling any antenatal care usually seen as a red flag and can trigger social services involvement. I’m not sure to what extent though eg if you receive a call / letter / visit . This only may be the case if there are additional factors involved. You could explain your reasons for cancelling to avoid this .

Just to add - my 14 month old has attended every single appointment with me as have no other choice- no childcare . It’s not been an issue .

Hi OP, I'm not too sure how it works but statistically women who miss their antenatal appointments are more likely to die during pregnancy/post-childbirth than women who attend every single one.

Obviously there are other factors which can play a part but I would assume if you didn't go it would raise an alarm. Public services in this country are at capacity though so depending on local authority I'm not sure if much would be done about it.

I would definitely try to attend or reschedule, or pick another hospital if you're in a large city.

You are focusing on the scan here but what do you intend to do for the rest of your antenatal care? The booking appointment is for that too, not just scans.

I absolutely promise you (as a midwife) that your booking appointment being at 10 weeks will absolutely not have any correlation on how late your scan will be.

We can get someone in for a scan the next day if necessary (ie - somebody referring for pregnancy at 13 weeks and needing a scan).

Op you’re being ridiculous just go to the booking appointment, it doesn’t matter you don’t smoke, they will do your full blood count etc. the scan will likely be booked in the meantime. Honestly having had a traumatic miscarriage and now being pregnant again I cannot even fathom how you don’t want to do everything possible to get care for you and your baby. And not being able to take your toddler to the scan is normal, for the sake of the sonographer concentrating and for others (and you) who could get bad news.

Scan will be done by 12 weeks

10 weeks doesn't sound that late to me. When did you think it would be?
Mine was at 9.5. I had my "12 week" dating scan appointment confirmed before I had my booking appointment.

If you can't make the time then ask for a different slot - I'm not sure why you wouldn't do that. If you're really struggling for childcare during the appointment tell them.

OP, I have had a few extra scans during this pregnancy as baby is big and every time the midwives have been able to get me a slot in the next few days. They will know you need your 12 week scan to happen at that time and you will be found a slot that works. Everybody wants you to be able to do tests etc as necessary!

And what do u suggest I do with her? Leave her in the car? At home?

And you know that how? Do you work in my NHS trust?

8 weeks as Is recommended and I had in my last 2 pregnancies

Not sure if you saw my post but I have been taking my 14 month old to every appointment/ scan so far . I have no other choice and it’s not been an issue at all.

It'll be standard for booking appts to have attached scans in time for the downs etc screening

I self referred at 5 weeks, booking was at 10 weeks, scan at 12+3.

I'm sure if you explain you really don't have anyone to leave your little one with then they will be able to make allowances for this

I didn't find out I was pregnant until about 8 weeks anyway! Did the self-referral, got an appointment the following week (so approx 9 weeks) and was given a 12 week scan appointment through the post in between the correct window (12-14 weeks to have the various tests). They have to offer you an appointment in your window, regardless of when you have your booking appointment. By all means, have private scans - I did as I didn't want to wait until 12 weeks and wanted to know how far along I was but still got the NHS ones - they're the ones who follow you from week 10 - to the end - unless you're going privately for the whole thing! But it's perfectly normal to not see anyone until 10 weeks - it doesn't mean you won't get seen before the 14 week mark!

The email specified not to bring children,I've emailed to say I don't have childcare so won't be attending, im healthy and had 2 low risk straight forward pregnancies so I'm not worried

Midwife here - we would very easily do a booking at 10 weeks and have a scan by 12. The screening team are very on the ball and send out scans asap. If you are going to disengage with midwives then please let them know. We have so many hours wasted by people simply not turning up. Plus if people continue don't show up and don't communicate their wishes to us, it's our trust policy to refer to social services. Not saying that to scare you but just to be honest.

Do you have £20k spare for a completely private maternity experience with all the appointments and the birth? If not, best to go to the appointments surely?!

If you can’t make the booking appointment, ring and ask for an alternative. They might move it forwards rather than back, but you won’t know until you ask. Do that on a call to the midwife team and it’s also a good time to express your concerns around a date for the 12-week scan. They can explain the process. As everyone else has said, they will book that for between 11 and 13 weeks regardless though.

If childcare is an issue, can’t you get a babysitter for a few hours? Or find a crèche? Or even your child’s dad to help?

Find a different hospital that don’t mind children attending appointments

I had my baby at north mid and loads of people always had children with them for apps

I once took my 3 year old cus i had nobody else to have her

I apologised and the midwife said oh we never ban children here as all it does is stop people coming or getting the right care they need so it’s not helpful !

Well that’s completely your choice . I must say though your posts do come across like you are not attending because you are annoyed your booking appointment is what you perceive as late - which simply isn’t the case and perfectly normal to be 10 weeks . Yes we know your first 2 previous booking appointments were 8 weeks . It’s clear you have made up your mind so any advice anyone gives you is pointless . I wish you a continued healthy pregnancy. Best wishes .

You do realise every pregnancy is different, right? Just because the others were low risk doesn't mean this one will be. Having had bloods with your last pregnancy so you don't need them again now is frankly ridiculous. Anything could have changed in that time period.
What is your plan for the rest of your antenatal care? It really seems like you're making a massive issue out of absolutely nothing tbh.

Isn't about 10 weeks normal for a booking in appointment? Or am I way behind the times?

Yes perfectly normal . Always has been . Op is upset as she was previously seen at 8 weeks in her past 2 pregnancies and she believes that this will mean her scan may be too late for the first trimester screening .

Hi OP, I work for a NHS maternity unit.

10 weeks is a bit late for a booking appointment but the national guidance says it can take place between 7-10 weeks. The 12 week scan can take place between 11-14 weeks.

If you can, get in touch with the admin team and see if any other dates are available. There tend to be quite a few cancellations.

I can see you've already had a baby but things change and what is offered to you this time around will be slightly less. First time mums have around 4 extra appointments, so as a second time mum it is quite important to go to the ones you do have. They will also be interested in your birth/recovery of the first one, and support you in making decisions regarding your birth plan with reflection to your previous experiences.

Good luck x

In my area the scan is raised at the booking appt

As I've said I wouldn't just not show ive emailed to say I won't attend, my question is what will happen now which not many people are answering, will I have a social services referral? Am I allowed to mot have midwife appointments?