Waiting for nhs advice

Oh sweetheart it’ll all be okay whatever happens. But please trust me and others will say the same please take your pregnancy vitamins folic acid vitamin d etc please xx

@Katie see I’m wanting to but if I go into the pharmacy I’m not sure what to get or if I’d be allergic or have problems taking it. X

Definitely get on the folic acid. You can speak with the GP about any concerns you have. Folic acid is very important in the early stages and they're aren't risks from taking it.

Folic acid is really important. They don’t even need to be prescribed. Please take them. I’ve been waiting 2 weeks for midwife’s to ring me and there’s no end in sight. Please please take vitamins xx

NHS website advises taking folic acid even when you’re trying, but if you’re concerned ask the chemist for recommendations. Every part of the country has different systems so you might get a letter in the post or an email about an online system. Booking appointment usually happens around week 8, so maybe if you don’t hear back in a week give them another call to follow up. Other than this there really isn’t much to do at this stage which feels strange! Get plenty of rest, eat well, drink lots of water and start looking up what to avoid. You can sign up for the weekly NHS emails they are helpful! Congratulations!x

You need folic acid and vitamin D asap. You can get these either individually or in a pregnancy multivitamin. You can get these just off the shelf in places like supermarkets or boots/ Superdrug etc You probably won’t hear from the midwives until you’re around 8-10 weeks and then the appointment will likely be sent to you and will just be to take any medical history. Your scan won’t be until around 12 weeks. Any scans you want before then would need to be booked privately At this early stage any support you need would be provided by the GP or early pregnancy unit (Im an NHS midwife)

It could be a while still until you hear anything, I don’t think I heard anything until I was around 8 or 9 weeks and my booking appointment which they ideally do at 10 weeks was later than that. Please don’t wait for that to start taking folic acid, because it’s in the early weeks of pregnancy that it’s important. You can stop taking it at 12 weeks. Honestly, I’ve never heard of anyone being allergic to it - I don’t even think that’s possible because it’s an essential nutrient that you’ll be getting in your diet anyway, it’s just that you won’t get it in high enough amounts from food alone.

Definitely take the folic acid. 1st midwife appointment can be anywhere between 6 and 12 weeks, one I had at 7 and the other 10. Then your first scan, unless there's reason to otherwise, won't be until 12 weeks. It may not be until a week or so before that you hear of appointment dates so don't stress that you haven't heard! You could speak to the pharmacist if you're concerned about taking anything but they pregnancy vitamins are safe.

I think you normally hear back at around 8-9 weeks for your booking appointment so don’t worry that you haven’t heard from them yet. Also you can take your folic acid while ttc so I’d say start taking them now xx

Folic acid is advised by every midwife and doctor before and during pregnancy xx

Also pull probably not hear anything until 9/10 weeks then get booked in with an appointment xx

I feel your pain, I found out at 4 weeks and didn’t have a clue what to do. I called my GP and they just send me a form to fill in and then I had to wait. I had my booking appointment at 8 weeks and found it really unhelpful so I wouldn’t wait for that to get all your answers (they are so busy and have a lot of questions to ask you in the appointment) Definitely start taking folic acid and vitamin D. If you go to your local pharmacy and tell them you are pregnant they can advise you on exactly what you need and what is safe for your baby.

@Claire thank you my pharmacy is a 10min walk so I’ll probably go later today. Very helpful advice. X

@Amy no problem at all. I’ve been taking folic acid since 6 months before I got pregnant. They’ll ask you at the booking appointment whether you’re taking it and don’t be surprised if they ask why you waited. They can be a bit judgemental as if you should just automatically know everything despite never being pregnant before 🙄 x

@Claire yea that’s why I was a bit unsure. I’ve just received my email so I’ve to wait until the 26th to then go for midwife appointment. They said to start taking folic acid in the email so I’ll be going for it today :)

@Claire it can be so much harder when people make judgemental comments. So far I’ve not had it myself but not looking forward to any x

I am in exactly the same boat as you. I am still waiting and I wasn’t sure what to do. The comments on this post are super helpful, answered some of my questions too. I know it feels lonely and quite scary, keep your head up. We’re in this together. 🩷

@Zoe awe how amazing! I’m sure they’ll get back soon. I’ve just had an email and says to start taking folic so hopefully in a few weeks my first midwife appointment will go okay. Would love to chat more if we’re about the same stage x

They definitely will - I got a text about 30 minutes ago and my appointment is for Sunday. They won’t take much longer for you! I would love to continue talking to you.. It would be incredible to be able to support each-other. I’ve only just joined this app. Do I just add you? 😂

Hey I'm 6 weeks and they've only contacted me last week to say they're going to ring again soon to arrange a face to face appointment... Which i'm still waiting on. So it sounds pretty similar to your situation. Definitely understand feeling lonely at this stage- I thought I'd have an appointment pretty instantly and it felt surprising that I wasn't going to get one at all until the 12 week mark... Hang in there xxx

@Sash I’m 6weeks today i think. Yea I don’t get a midwife appointment till 8weeks. Them my first ultrasound is 22nd of November so Id be 12 weeks and 2days. Feels a long wait but should move fast. X