Booking appointment at 13 weeks?

[Frazzled89]

Hi, I'm 11 weeks pregnant and don't have my booking appointment with the midwife until I will be 13 weeks and 2 days. It was supposed to be the week before, which I still thought was quite late, but they cancelled it and made it a week later.
I'm worried I won't get my scan until I am past 14 or 15 weeks. It's been a really tough first trimester and I'm fed up of waiting. I'm still suffering from being sick and terrible fatigue. In my other pregnancies, my booking appointment was always 8-10 weeks. I rang the GP surgery and the receptionist said its nothing to do with them but couldn't give me the number of the actual midwives so I have no idea who to ring.

Can any midwife on here or anybody else tell me if this is normal, or should I try and contact somebody?

Anybody?

I am woefully out of date but 12/13 weeks was normal when I had my DC and women had to organise the nuchal scan themselves through the local hospital trusts.

If you were my dd, I'd advise you to contact the office of the trust's director of Women and Children's Services. They will be able to provide details of your midwifery team and how to contact them.

That sounds really late for the 8-week appointment ( I belive you don't talk about the scan) thought they usually do urine tests, blood tests, and other checks around that time.

Do you have any health conditions or were there any issues with your previous pregnancies?
We're planning for our third baby, and I'll definitely be pushing them to give me an appointment at 8 weeks. I have anaemia, and I need a prescription that my GP never gives me unless I'm pregnant.

I think you should call and request an earlier appointment. If you're pushy enough, they will usually find the time.

I would say that is too late, if you are wanting the combined screening on nhs this is done between 11-14 weeks, after 14 weeks you will only be offered the quadruple blood screening tests, which I believe (I may be wrong) only screens for Down syndrome and not Edward’s or Patau’s.

usually all scans take place between 11-14 weeks and I’m sure this timescale also helps with more accurate dating.

try and find a number for your midwife’s or community midwives, where I am it’s only ever an answer machine after 9:00am but if you can find a number someone should get back to you.

You have to have the tests at the scan by 14 weeks if you want it so you’re booking appointment is too late.

Also I meant to add if you have any family history of thyroid issues I’d request it earlier, you’ll have a blood test for that too and levels which can be normal outside of pregnancy can be concerning while pregnant- I had this and was put on thyroxine, if levels are very high it is more concerning for baby in the earlier weeks of pregnancy during brain development so definitely better to have this checked (if you do have any family history of it), earlier than later

Hi. Thanks for your replies. I didn't have to book my own scan with the others, that was done at the booking appointment because that's when they ask you about the screening. Oh dear, so the cut off is 14 weeks, that is worrying. I referred myself through the NHS website which is a new thing apparently, at 5 weeks pregnant, so it's not like I left it late.

my scan was arranged after I’d had my booking appointment.

I’m sure all trusts are different but once I’d had that and suppose was all official in the system my appointment came through by letter and on the badger notes app for my scan.

The question you need to be asking is, how are they going to get your dating scan scheduled before the 14 week cut off?
I would:

Try to find the phone number for the community midwives who will be doing your booking appointment. You could ask other women in your area who are pregnant, or have been in the last few years?
If you can't find that number, Google "obstetric ultrasound [hospital name]" and see if there's a phone number for appointment booking etc. Ask them what you should do as you can't phone the community midwives.
If there is no number for obstetric ultrasound either, Google [hospital name] early pregnancy unit. Phone them to ask for the number you need.

Thanks for all your replies mumsnetters! I took your advice and finally managed to find a number. The midwife was very helpful and said I should absolutely not be waiting until then, so they found me a slot today! It was an error on their part. So I have now been booked in and I'm just waiting for my scan date. I'm angry at myself for not doing something earlier.
Thanks again x