When did you have booking in appointment?

[lovemybabyboy]

I just saw the midwife yesterday for first appointment and I am 8 weeks, I am not having my booking in appointment untill I am 13weeks! and she said my scan will probably be the week after that so not till I am 14 weeks!!
That seems VERY late to me! She said its because of christmas and new year, trying to fit everyone in!

[nannyl]

I had mine at 5 weeks

im 11+ 4 now and have seen my midwife twice and had my nuchal scan.
Im pretty sure they told me they can only do nuchal scan between 11+1 and 14weeks

this is my 2nd pregancy

will see midwife for the 3rd time at 16 weeks

[gardenpixies32]

I had mine at 6 weeks.

[lovemybabyboy]

Wow! well I suppose its my own fault for leaving it so long to make an appointment!! I only phoned last week but was thinking they would do my booking in appointment yesterday but she just took a few details and gave me an appointment for booking in. I was sure my booking in appointment was at 8 wks with DS2.

[vintageviolets]

Im 20 weeks, have seen midwife once & had my 12 week scan.
Next scan is on Tuesday.
Think thats pretty usual.

[ZuleikaD]

You do usually have to specify that you need a booking-in appointment as it's a long one (there are reams of paperwork they have to do now - I had my last two years ago and was shocked by how many more forms there are now). If you want a nuchal scan (latest date for that is 13+6 and you need to allow a couple of days each way for conception dates) then you might need to go private for that.

[MisselthwaiteManor]

I had my booking in at 9 weeks, I have a scan booked for 27th Dec at 13 weeks so Christmas isn't really mucking things up for me. I only referred myself to a midwife at 7 weeks! I guess it depends how busy they are in your area.

[rrreow]

With my first pregnancy I had my booking in appointment after my 12 week scan. Booking in is just boring paperwork to be honest and it isn't related to the scan (so you can have them in the 'wrong' order like I did). This time around I had booking in at 11w and scan at 12+3.

Is there any way you can self-refer to your hospital for a scan? I'm not sure how it works for different places, but at my hospital (UCLH in London) you can definitely self-refer, you don't need to wait for your midwife/GP to do it for you. As another poster said, if you want the nuchal translucency part of the scan it needs to be done before 13+6, so best to get an appointment around 12w to be safe.

[forgetmenots]

I was referred before I was 6wks pregnant and I only had my booking appt yesterday (13+1) - I was so tired waiting I paid for an early scan, only got the appointment letter ten days ago! It's a total lottery. Mine was so late because of a change in the appointments system where I live.

[BraveLilBear]

I'm in the same boat - I self-referred at 5+3 to midwives a week ago and was told I'd get a first appointment through the post within 1-2 weeks, then probably have a scan 'around 12 weeks'.

My concern is that, surely they can't rely on the post to be delivered quickly, so appt will be at least a couple of weeks after it arrives, which will probably mean after Christmas, which will then impact on scan dates.

I don't think I'd mind so much, but with self referral, that means you don't see anyone at all until booking-in unless it's an emergency. It's tough for first time mums, especially those who have already experience of mc.

[forgetmenots]

To be honest brave it isn't much better in some cases when you're referred from gp - I had a perfectly nice locus doctor but all she did was ask me the date of my last period, tell me an estimated due date, and hand me a copy of the referral. I was in and out in a minute! You might not have missed out :)

I was similarly stressed though because it took nearly six weeks for my appointment letter to arrive. I ended up going for a private scan, because I had no symptoms and no other professional advice - may be an option if you don't hear anything?

[HorraceTheChristmasOtter]

9 weeks, scan at 14. I was rather worried about it, but it was lovely seeing my DS looking so big and like a real little baby not an alien thing iyswim.

[RoomForALittleOne]

With this pregnancy at 8 weeks (you book the appointment yourself with the receptionist so no waiting around for the midwife to contact you). With DD1 at 8 weeks, DD2 at 12+ weeks after a lot of pestering and with DS at 10 weeks. Seems to vary a bit by area and by midwife. With DD2, I had to speak to the midwife's supervisor before she would even return my call.

[Persuasion]

Booked in today at 10+2. Had what was supposedly my booking appointment 2 weeks ago but receptionist booked me a 15min one instead of an hour so I had to go back today. Scan is at 13 weeks (Christmas eve). I don't have another midwife appointment now until 16 weeks.

I did try to move the scan, because it means missing almost a whole day off work between the timings, inevitable delays and commute, but was told there was no way as they are loosing the bank holiday days and leave over Christmas it's a struggle to fit everyone in.

[RileyTheLittleMonster]

My first is tomorrow I'll be 5+2.. but my go said people normally have them at 8 weeks but i have a lot of extra appointments to book first. Do you not have date for your scan? Normally get a letter through within a week after your first appointment for when your scan is where I am from?

[RileyTheLittleMonster]

My gp*

[BraveLilBear]

It's such a missed bag, isn't it! I thought self-referral would be great, but not sure how effective it is. At least the receptionist asked some questions like folic acid? do you smoke? lmp? etc. Was nice though when she said 'congratulations!' at the end!

[flyingsprocket]

I'm in sussex where it's self referral. I filled out the online form two weeks ago & have heard nothing. I called the hospital today & was told that I should hear something by the time I'm 8 weeks. I'm 6+1 & it's my first time. It all seems so unreal having got the exciting BFP, I've hardly any symptoms but haven't seen a medical professional yet.

The first scan seems soooo far away! Considering doing an early private scan as a Christmas present to myself. How did women cope in days of yore!!

[flyingsprocket]

Tee hee, just after I posted that last post the midwife called. I have now got a date for the booking appointment & she's coming to me

So happy now!

[BraveLilBear]

Mine has now come thru, too. 3pm on Christmas Eve! Hopefully I'll be able to maintain her attention long enough. Good news is that I don't have to lie about why I need the afternoon off work as my office will be closed for Christmas. (Lucky me). And DP is also off work so can use the car.

I'll be 9 + 1 then.

[ScubaSarah]

Im in Somerset and its self referral too. I left a message on Wednesday but will follow up today, I'm about 7 weeks I think and I want an early scan. Do you do that through MW or do I just phone the hospital? Starting
to realise I know NOTHING

[UltimateDetermination]

I had my first midwife appt at 9 weeks and now have my booking in appt through - when I'll be 15 weeks!! I'm a potential high risk pregnancy and am so shocked at the lack of medical attention so far! (No tests/scans/checks so far) I need a cubs test which has to be done between 11-14 weeks....I'm currently 10.3 weeks and guess what? No appt through yet. If I've still not got a date in a weeks time I'm going to get a private cubs, it'll be my Xmas preside from DH! Not much faith in my MW or the 'system' I'm afraid

[nannyl]

Scuba, do you have any medical reason to want an early scan?

If so perhaps call which ever dr advised that you should have one.

Midwives will arrange the scans that are normal on the NHS, or at least mine does.

[BraveLilBear]

Ultimate that sonds frustrating - if you are high risk I'd ring up and ask directly for an earlier scan and tell them why. You can have scans before booking-in appts.

Scuba unless you have a medical reason for an early scan (like lots of previous mcs) or are having complications ie bleeding, it's very unlikely you'll be able to get an early scan on the NHS.

If you would like one, you can arrange a private one yourslef, but you have to pay - in my area it's £80. I'm thinking of getting one due to previous mc.

[ScubaSarah]

Thanks Brave do you book it with hospital or MW ? I know I'll have to pay but I just want to know its ok so I can relax (slightly) over Xmas.

[nannyl]

if you have to pay you might be better off asking one of the places that do 4D scans, where everyone pays

as far as i know we cant all just go to a hospital and pay to use the NHS services and staff....
we either have a medical need for them, and are referred, OR they use their equipments for others who have a medical need for them?

how pg are you scuba?

as for everything "being ok" that is much more apparent on the 20 weeks scan, the early scans basically see a heart beat.... i had mine this week.... i could see 1 baby with a head, 2 arms and 2 legs and a heart beating