The first antenatal appointment that you have in the UK
With the NHS
Is called a Booking Appointment
And is usually with your community midwife
Often the midwife you will see for all appointments
Through your pregnancy
My local midwife is actually away for a month
So I had to travel out of area for this appointment
And tell my whole sorry story
To a poor lady
Who was very lovely
But who I will most likely never see again
The Booking Appointment lasts about 90 minutes
If like me you have a complicated history
It can take even longer
It is best to leave plenty of time
It is also worth remembering that you will need to give a urine sample
So make sure you have something to drink so that you feel able to produce your sample!
Of course, this appointment is very individual
The things arranged
Booked
For you
Will be specific to you
Your history
And your pregnancy
This is the story of my booking appointment
For Baby Number Five
Eeek!
At this appointment you have to answer lots of questions
About your health
And your families health
It is best to have this appointment before you reach 10 weeks
There are bloods taken and tested
And it is best that some of them are done
Before this time
I was a lot more relaxed this pregnancy
I also wanted to be certain baby was okay before this meeting
So only after a scan at 9 weeks
Did I feel I wanted to book in
And my appointment ended up being at exactly 12 weeks
We started by conforming all of my personal details
And making sure all my contact details were up to date
We then went through my medical history
And current physical and medical state
We also talked about my mental health
Which I was very grateful for
We talked about PTSD and Anxiety
The midwife assured me that if my CBT sessions are not enough
I will be able to continue counselling through the maternity services
Which is good to know
After talking about me
We talked about my family
Going through their medical history and status in great detail
Then it was time to talk through my obstetric history
Through five rounds of IVF
Premature delivery of twins
The pregnancy and birth of Matilda Mae
Tilda dying at 9 months
My first miscarriage and ERPC
The pregnancy and birth of Bea
My second miscarriage
And this current sprinkle of stardust
You know that your history is a long and complicated one
When the midwife is teary and lost for words
You know your story is a sad one
When the midwife wants to reassure you that this time all will be well
But we both know that she cannot promise that will be true
Things are not shared out fairly in this world
And though I have had more heartbreak than many
It does not mean that there is not more heartache to come
The midwife was lovely
She allowed me to talk
And she listened
Even though I will not be her patient
She was lovely
She told me that a referral had already been made for me
To a CONI Health Visitor
And that they would be in touch at 16 weeks
Care of the Next infant is a scheme led by The Lullaby Trust
It was not available in our area when Bea was born
I am so relieved that it is now
As I am hoping that the CONI Health Visitor will help me
Stop Bea sleeping in my arms every night
And help me to parent our new baby
In a less anxious, over protective way
It will be good to have them to talk to
Because they know
Raising a rainbow is no an easy task
Even when baby is not our first rainbow
So after talking through all of my details
Strategies are put in place for this pregnancy
Based on what the midwife has learned
At the moment
These are the main points of care
For this pregnancy
Which will hopefully lead
To a healthy baby in our home
In my arms
Next May
Care Plan (set at Booking Appointment)
From 12 weeks take low dose aspirin once a day
This has been prescribed because I am 40 years old. Also because all my family suffer with high blood pressure (except me) and my mother had Toxemia (pre-eclampsia) when pregnant with me. I was a bit worried about the prescription as my blood pressure is naturally very low but I have been assured that it is fine.
Next routine midwife appointment with my own midwife at 16 weeks
Meet the CONI Health Visitor at 16 weeks
Nuchal screening with NHS, scan and bloods
Referral to Obstetric Consultant Team
There are many reasons that I will be under Consultant Care for this pregnancy. The first is that I am 40 years old. The second is because the twins were born so very early. The third is because of Tilda’s death so just as with Bea they are providing every possible level of care which I am so very grateful for.
General Anaesthetic Review
This is because I reacted badly to anaesthetic after my ERPC. My blood pressure was very, very low so they struggled to bring me round and then would not send me home as my blood pressure remained very low. This appointment will just put a plan in place in case I need to have anaesthetic during birth.
Growth Scans
From 24 weeks gestation I will have ultrasounds every three weeks to measure the growth of the baby. This is because of my age and also because I had suspected IUGR with Bea.
After all the information
Taken
Given
It was time for urine samples
They were sent away to the lab
So have not yet had any results
Blood was also taken
Testing for
Blood group and rhesus factor
Antibodies
Rubella
Syphilis
Hepatitis B
HIV
Full blood count
Iron levels
As with the sample
Bloods are sent away
And results will be discussed at the 16 week midwife meet
The 90 minute appointment
Is very intense and exhausting
For me
I think for many
It is a lovely chat
About pregnancy
And thinking about birth choices
And breastfeeding
And ways you may choose to raise your baby
Here are some links to general information posts
About the Antenatal Booking Appointment
https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/antenatal-care/booking-appointment
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/a551015/your-booking-appointment
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/antenatal-midwife-care-pregnant.aspx#first