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Pregnancy

When should I carry my notes?

55 replies

McRoo · 13/02/2013 13:51

Hi everyone,

Just looking for a quick bit of advice here. I'm 28 weeks pregnant with my DC1, work in London but live in North Hertfordshire so it takes me at least an hour and a half to get home (assuming I'm not waiting for tubes or trains).

I always take my notes with me if I stay away from home for a night or go on a day trip far away, just in case, but should I start taking them to work as I'm so far away from home? And, when do you think I should start doing this?

Thanks!

OP posts:

Report

Dannilion · 13/02/2013 13:57

I've never taken my notes anywhere with me aside from to the MW or hospital and have no intention of doing so. Are we supposed to be carting this massive folder around with us? It's heavy

sundaesundae · 13/02/2013 13:58

i've just started at 34 weeks, but only if I remember my handbag :)

Ellypoo · 13/02/2013 13:59

I keep mine in the car, so I've got them ready at all times, but I'm sure that it's absolutely fine to keep them at home, unless you would prefer to carry them with you. As dannilion said, they can be heavy!

gardenpixie32 · 13/02/2013 14:00

I never did, only to midwife and hospital appointments.

ladymia · 13/02/2013 14:02

My MW told me yesterday that from 37 weeks you should carry your notes with you.

Oodsigma · 13/02/2013 14:02

dannilion how much is in yours? Mines only a few sides of A4 and I have tonnes of appts/high risk etc

sundaesundae · 13/02/2013 14:02

I travel quite far for work, often a couple of hundred miles a day, so think it is more important for me to carry them than someone who is always local.

rainand · 13/02/2013 14:18

I keep mine in my car.

PandaWatch · 13/02/2013 14:19

I leave mine at work as my office is just round the corner from the hospital, so I alwys go to and from work for my appointments and can pop in to get them on the way to hospital should the need arise!

However I ended up going to the a&e near my parents' with bleeding when I was 17 weeks and got told off by the obstetrician who saw me for not having my notes with me at all times so really should be carrying them now I suppose!

I did take them away on holiday with me when I was 24 weeks though!

Dannilion · 13/02/2013 14:23

Mines a big folder with approx 200 pages (on card...card!) outlining every possible scenario ever, and enabling every member of the healthcare world to write a 10 page documentary on meeting me if they so wish.

I'm considered 'low risk' too. It's interesting just how different particular trusts actually are.

McRoo · 13/02/2013 14:24

Yeah, PandaWatch I guess you've hit my point really. If anything should happen to me whilst I'm at work (and I'm planning on working until I'm 38 weeks) I wouldn't have my notes with me as I live at least an hour and a half away. So I wondered if anyone thought there was a point when I should be carrying them?

OP posts:

Countmyblessings · 13/02/2013 14:34

I am 36 and started carrying them with me since 31 weeks after going on hols!
Mines is quite light no binder so its not a problem for me, I guess it's for peace of mind and making sure if you need them you have them at hand!
It's def a " what if I'm at work and I'm rush to nearest hospital" they won't know anything about you!
Although with all technology you would of thought they could have all of this online by now! For back up!!!!
Good luck!

SoYo · 13/02/2013 14:35

You should have them with you at all times throughout pregnancy really. That's what we tell all of our patients. If, God forbid, something happened to you and you were brought into a hospital unconscious those notes are the only things the healthcare staff would have to know how pregnant you (and therefore whether the best thing would be to deliver you immediately), what position your placenta is in, blood group and any significant medical or antenatal history! Like all good healthcare people I'm crappy at practising what I preach but I keep mine in my handbag that I use most so have them most of the time.

Bejeena · 13/02/2013 14:42

I have been told to have them with me at all times. If the folder is too heavy scan the pages in and store on your phone. Better safe than sorry.

BraveLilBear · 13/02/2013 15:09

This is interesting as I'm 17 weeks and didn't really see the point of carrying them until a bit further on...

Part of the problem is that not everyone knows yet, and carrying around an A4 set of notes (even without Bounty pack) is not very discreet. Plus I'm concerned that they'll get so battered in my bag all folded up that they'll be illegible by my due date at that rate!

I may follow Bejeena's tip and take pics of key pages and get OH to do the same for the time being.

3rdtimelucky73 · 13/02/2013 15:31

I was told to take them with me if I went away from home - guessing this means out of county. Mine are an A4 notepad so not too onerous.

Ellypoo · 13/02/2013 15:31

I have put mine in a plastic wallet thing so more discreet and better protected than in the bounty wallet!

rainand · 13/02/2013 15:40

Its time they went paperless - that way we'd all have access to them on our smartphone/iPads/computers and on paper if need be!

Oodsigma · 13/02/2013 16:00

Mine are pretty battered!

curlyclaz13 · 13/02/2013 16:10

I was told to carry them at all times, they fit in my normal handbag in a car folder so they stay there.

TheSecretCervixDNCOP · 13/02/2013 16:14

DD has destroyed mine near enough, they live in a plastic pink wallet now to keep them all together! Only carry them when I have midwife to see really.

SweepTheHalls · 13/02/2013 18:04

How about photographing them so they are always on your phone? Or scanning and storing them in a drop box?

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redwellybluewelly · 13/02/2013 19:04

I decided I'd start carrying them in my bag from 24 weeks but started carrying them in the car from 20weeks.

I hate the bounty brand so they are in a folder with all the consultant letters etc.

I'll keep an emergency bag in the car as well from about 36weeks

Nicky1306 · 13/02/2013 19:25

You should carry them at all times......having them on your phone/drop box is all well and good but if you have to to into hospital unexpectedly the doctors can't update your notes from a screen shot/photo on your phone x

Dogsmom · 13/02/2013 19:29

I'm 36 weeks and have only been carrying them for about 10 days, mainly because I'm being monitored for pre-eclampsia and feel quite out of it and fully expect to pass out somewhere and wake up in hospital!

Mine aren't that big though, just a green A4 booklet that I fold in half and keep in a brown envelope.

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