Royal womens

[bobbins]

I am 12 weeks pregnant and was referred to Royal Womens for birth. I recieved a letter to say I was accepted, then i recieved an appointment for 18-22 week scan, but no other correspondence. Is this normal? When do most people have first appt at a public hospital?

[Chicky Pea]

Hi there! :wave:

I'm going to the Royal Womens too, but doing Shared Care, so most of my appointments are with my GP. Only having about 3-4 appointments at the hospy.

For the life of me I can't remember when my first appointment was, but I remember in that first appointment they gave me a sheet that listed in what weeks all my appointments were, and they booked in most of them on that day. Then I recieved letters in the mail confirming them all, even my 41 week appointment while I was still only about 20 weeks! ha ha... talk about prompt! :laughing:

Like i said, I'm doing shared care though, so it may be a little different. If in doubt, just call the hospital to confirm...

Good luck! :thumbsup:

[CocktailBubba]

I there, I had my DS there in 07 and I didn't do shared care. From memory my first hospital appointment was around 18-20 weeks also for that ultrasound.

I'm going to monash this time around and they've told me they don't provide any care in the first trimester so all the scans and blood tests in the first trimester need to be referred by your GP.

[bobbins]

Thanks 31and ready... I would be prepared to do shared care but without having seen anyone yet at a first appointment, that discussion hasn't happened. I think its a bit strange as if i want to do nuchal fold test/scan for down's etc.. this is the time to do it, but there is no one to advise. I called them and they said it was normal if I wasn't having a high risk birth to not see anyone till 18 weeks?

[Chicky Pea]

Thanks 31and ready... I would be prepared to do shared care but without having seen anyone yet at a first appointment, that discussion hasn't happened. I think its a bit strange as if i want to do nuchal fold test/scan for down's etc.. this is the time to do it, but there is no one to advise. I called them and they said it was normal if I wasn't having a high risk birth to not see anyone till 18 weeks?

Hmmm... that is weird, and annoying! :confused: Usually you have the blood test at 10 weeks, and the scan at 12 weeks. Hopefully it isn't too late...? Did you mention having your NF scan when you spoke to them...? If you want it done, demand it! But it's weird they wouldn't have followed that up...?

[One of THOSE mums!]

I had my son at the Womens and from memory I didnt have my first appointment till 22 weeks.

You dont really need to go before that anyway. Your doctor should have organised all your initial blood tests, and your first ultrasound. If there were any issues you would have been refered to the hospital for closer monitoring.

I think you only go in to the hospital every 4 weeks after your first appointment with them, then 2 weeks before your due date, and if you are overdue, then 1 week after due date.

There is nothing stopping you from going to your doctor to ask any questions you have along the way.

I found the Womens to be fantastic. They were warma dn friendly, and were a wealth of time and knowledge. They are extremely sought after too so you are lucky to have been accepted.

[KSC118]

Hi,
I had my DS at the royal womens in dec last year, and will be having this bubs there again in dec this year (yes I know I'm crazy).
Last time I recieved a letter saying that I had been accepted at around 12 weeks. That letter also said that there were no appointments for next 3 weeks. Then 3 or 4 weeks later was sent another letter with a booking in appointment which was at about 18 weeks. However they did say to me this time that the wouldn't normally see a normal pregnancy until about 20-22weeks.
They generally do not do scans at the hospital before 26 weeks unless it's a high risk pregnancy or multiples. You need to get all other scans and tests referred by your local GP and they are generally done at a private radiology centre.

Hope that helps.

[Lily of the Nile]

I've been refered to the Womens although I'm on a waiting list (I'm only 7 weeks) so hopefully they send me another letter soon with my appointments. I do know it is about the 20 weeks mark for a first appointment. But I'm doing shared care with my gp and she's organising all my scans, bloods and doing my monthly appointments or anything else I need and it's bulk billed (not the scans). They also have a midwifery care clinic set up in about 3 suburbs, so your gp or if you call the hospital they should tell you what to do, it isn't normal not to see anyone at all and you should be seeing someone every month for follow ups, just call them and find out what care options they have.

[kiki07]

The NT scan and blood tests have to be ordered through the GP or a private obstetrician. They are not usually done through public hospitals.

If you want this testing done, you will have to see your GP quickly because there are time limits on when the blood test and scan are performed.