Missed antenatal apointment.

[staryeyed]

Im 34 weeks my last appointment was with the midwife was at 28 weeks. They told me that I should book my next appointment (32 weeks) at my doctors for ease. Well I didn't try and call until 2 weeks ago thinking I could get an appointment that week but apparently there is a 4 weeks waiting list for antenatal apts. I asked if I could see the doctor but apparently not. So I have been phoning the midwives appointment line with no success for the the last week or so. So my next apt is just over a week away (36 weeks) should I get checked before then. The baby is moving a lot I feel mostly fine apart from a bit of a cold and spd.

If your woried is there not a drop in centre of local MWs where you live? I couldnt get an appointment last week when i was 38+4 and was told to use a drop in centre, they listened in to the babys heart and did all the normal checks my MW usually does. x

I don't think there is. Im not sure.

do you mind if i ask what area you live in i might be able to find something for you ? x

This is the reason I went prive for my ante-natal care. Absolutely ridiculous system.

I live in finchley north london

Dont really know where to look as i dont live anywhere near london but this link might be useful in looking for a childrens centre where they usually have drop in facillities x

Your GPs should be able to slot you in - as an emergency appointment if nothing else. I'd call again and ask to speak to a GP about this.

The receptionist said doctors don't do antenatal only nurses and she is fully booked.

I have contact details for the day unit at Barnet that you can call to be seen at if thats any help? But I am being seen next Tues at 37 + 6 and havent been since 33 as couldnt get appointment at my midwife!

I had this prob, I just booked in 4 a check with my GP who did everything the MW wud have done, so best bet is just make a dr app 2 put ur mind at rest.

Hi Newmumtobe do you mean at Barnet hospital?- I go to Whittington for antenatal would that matter?

staryeyed - With my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies I missed LOADS of antenatal appointments as I was so busy working and totally overlooked them. I did feel fine on the whole and wasn't worried so didn't try and book in to make up for missed appointments. This time round, I didn't get seen until about 26 weeks for some reason, I think I just got lost in the (very efficient) system! Again, everything seemed fine so I was not too worried. But as you sound as if you would like to be seen, although you sound like you are doing well, call your GP again. They can always slot in emergency appointments at my surgery and keep slots for antenatal appointments so I am sure that they can do the same for you. Especially if you sound a bit more anxious when you call again. In any case, if you missed your 32 week check, aren't you due a check now at 34 weeks? I know I am (I am also 34 weeks and have an appointment with my midwife scheduled this week).

Staryeyed, why not phone the midwife directly and explain the problem?

If not book a doctors appointment and don't tell the receptionist what it's for.

Staryeyed, it is important to keep ante-natal appointments even if you feel relatively well. For example you may have an undiagnosed UTI at this stage that could eventually cause premature labour - you have no way of knowing. Similarly you may have the beginnings of a BP problem. At 28 weeks you also need bloods doing, if I recall correctly, and your Rhesus status rechecked and possibly a dose of anti-D if you are Rh-.

I would go to see the GP on the pretext of the SPD (hence bypassing the bureaucracy) and mention you are finding it impossible to get timely mw appointments, and it will take him/her all of five minutes to get you up to date with the basic checks (remember to take a sample with you to speed things up). You may find they let you go to the surgery for future checks if you express concern at the way things have worked out for you.

I did have my 28 week appointment all my bloods were done etc. Its the 32 weeks one Ive missed. Im just concerned that although my next appointment is a week away I will be 36 weeks which is quite late. and it will have been 8 weeks since my last check which is crap at this late stage.

Moshimoshi there is no 34 weeks check just 36 weeks.

I will phone on Monday for an appointment with the doctors without telling them its antenatal.

Last time I had shared care with my old GP surgery and I was seeing the doctor every 2 weeks at this stage. They seem to have really spaced the appointments out.

Sorry, I didn't realise you had made the 28 week one. It sounds like going into the GP is quite a cunning plan then.

I would ring the maternity department at the hospital that you are booked into. Ask for the community midwives office and let the clerk there know. Or you can leave a message for your midwife at the surgery to contact you (or ring the surgery 5 mins before her clinic begins and ask to speak to her). If there are no slots available in the GP's clinic, they will arrange for your community midwife to do a home antenatal check. It is important that you do not miss any checks. There is a huge range of problems that you can have in pregnancy that mums often are not aware of. You could see the GP - but you have to remember that GP's very rarely do antenatal checks - so might not be very sure about certain bloods etc and the plan for antenatal checks.

why is a nurse not a midwife doing antenatal appts at your gps? they do not have the qualifications for this.