Has anyone else been refused antenatal care?

[loopylou2]

Hi everyone,

This is my first pregnancy and due to not showing up on blood and urine tests for a while, my pregnancy was only confirmed by my gp about 2 weeks ago. I am now approx 13-14 weeks pregnant.

on the 19th I was referred to my local hospital for antenatal care, and didn't hear anything - so I just called them this morning. They said I had been refused because they are full for April births. And that I should go back to my gp to be referred somewhere else.

So this means that I don't know where I am giving birth, I have never even met a midwife let alone been assigned one and I have so many questions. Aren't I supposed to have had a scan by now?

I just desperately want to make sure that the baby all right in there, and have my mind put to rest about all these questions I have. I am also really worried that if one bhospital is full then what if they are all full? Does it ever happen that a woman is left with no NHS option for birth?

I have just looked at the cost of private antenatal and maternity and there's no way I can afford it.

Has anybody else been in this situation and gone on to have a normal healthy pregnancy and a regular birth?

I know it's a lot of questyions, I'd really appreciate if somebody could get back to me though! xx

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

Gosh Loopy I have never heard of this before!! Its horrendous treatment your receiving, as for scans it seems different in each area, where I live only 1 scan is offered at 20 weeks, other places its 12 weeks and then 20 weeks.

Hope someone else can come along and help you and give you advice you need, Good luck!!

xx

[StripeyKnickersSpottySocks]

I've heard of it happening before. The hospital I work doesn't do this but another local hospital does. When they shut their doors we get a big influx of women from the area towards the other hospital. There is no way that you would be left with no NHS care.

Where's your next nearest hospital with a mat unit? Chances are it will be there. Get on to your GP today and ask them to urgently refer you as you need to get in the system asap.

[loopylou2]

Thank you for your care and reassurance creameggs and StripeyKnickers, my gp is funny too and I have to go in to request another referral- they don't do anything by phone- so I am going in tomorrow. I think they are going to refer me to Tooting Hospital in South West London, thats the next nearest. I really hope it goes ok and will let you know.

[EldonAve]

you really need to get a dating scan asap as you may have already missed the window for the nuchal scan

[ChunkyChick]

You can get a private nuchal scan at the Fetal Medicine Centre in Harley Street. They're excellent.

[iateallthecreameggsyummy]

I didnt have a nuchal scan but opted for the triple test as did not realise or know anything about nuchal fold scan!

Terrible that we have to find things out ourselves isnt it!

(just mean surely we should be told this information!)

[Alina77]

I got booked at 13 weeks only and was so irritated that my midwife literally missed my first trimester and I missed my window for the nuchel scan. In the end, I didn't want the disability scan as I wouldn't have risked a miscarriage with amniocentesis, anyway. But I got really worked up about it anyway (pregnancy hormones!)
Getting a dating scan would be really important, but unless you force your way through the nhs system, nobody will look after you - please dont rely on your GP to sort you out! So just be forceful and dont feel bad about having to do that. Good luck!