Lack of info??

Your appointments will consist of similar to your 16w one except they’ll add in bump measurements after 28 weeks, they tend to talk about birth some time after that mark x

They won’t discuss birth options until third trimester (midwife appointment). Though you can bring it up yourself before then. They don’t give you a lot of info though, I would recommend doing an antenatal class. We did the NCT one in my first pregnancy but there will be different options in your area.

You tend to not talk about much until maybe 33 weeks but they usually start measuring bump at 24 weeks to check you’re growing how they’d like. This is how it worked with my pregnancy last year anyways I don’t think it would have changed much since 🙈

@Sibs yeahh! It's just crazy to me I think that they just feel/measure you and that's good enough to know if everything's going the way it should haha

If you want to do some of your own antenatal classes, highly recommend following @Thehonestmidwife on Instagram, she's amazing. Had a few free classes with her and purchased others. Made me feel much more at ease and took me through the steps of preparing for birth, birth and after birth.

@Daniela I know! I think it was at 34 weeks they told me her head was engaged and it really confused me how they could tell from feeling my belly they never checked internally till I went overdue 😂 I guess they knew what they were doing though it’s also scarier with your first as you don’t know what to expect 🙈

I hear you. I felt the same way with my first. In an ideal world they should definitely be holding your hand and letting you know/ overview of how/ when information will be discussed throughout your pregnancy. You dont know what you don’t know, which makes it difficult to ask what questions. My advice is ask on here (we’ve all got each other) and state to your midwife you really want some support with knowing what to expect over the course of pregnancy. It’s sad that we have to ask for this and it’s not a given. With my first I had to chase/ ask about antenatel classes, which I did early in my third trimester. In these classes they go into detail about labour, options, looking after baby etc. Ask your midwife how this is organised - because sadly they don’t tell you or they’ll tell you last minute like you’re expected to know!

😬 honestly they are pretty lacking in giving you info to make informed decisions re pain relief/induction etc! Birth chat is at 34w , but it’s best to get yourself clued up on your choices and not rely on them! 🤍

@Steph thank you so much 🥰 I will do all of the above! There's just so much I think they just assume that people know or are aware of but it's defo just not the case, you can only book antenatal classes with my trust at 34 weeks but you need to be like 30 weeks or something before your allowed to book in, so not even 100% chance il get a spot either. And I looked at private ones and wow I was shocked haha 😶🤑, thank you all of the advice!xx

@Laura yeah absolutely! I think now is the time I need to get my finger out and figure things out for myself haha

I wouldn't leave anything upto them! Do your own research. My midwife this time around is as useless as a brick wall and very forgetful! In fact I don't even have my next appointment. Just a consultant appointment in December and a scan. But nothing from now until then has been booked in and they are supposed to keep a closer eye on me because of my BP!

@Annie it's all just SO overwhelming so much is happening inside our bodies and nobody seems to care I feel like I'm going insane 😂, I just keep telling myself I'm being so dramatic about it but sometimes I'm like no we have the right surely to know what's happening with our babies x

Think it was around 34 weeks they said we’d do my birth plan with my daughter but I brought it up much earlier as I had questions. This time I’m seeing a consultant because I’m high risk and had a section with my daughter and going for another section. I get my date next month, only because I was pushy about needing to know early x

@Daniela just ask this group.or England group. They will be more helpful than some midwifes haha. But yes I know the feeling I was questioning everything with my first x