Watch out for those pregnancy brains around scan times!!!

[Chellepot]

you would think everything would just be on the computer

In the UK appointment places vary. Some will see their usual midwife at their local doctors surgery but then scans, bloods etc may take place at a hospital (not always the same one). If the midwife noted something which may be of concern and logged it on her computer file for you at the doctors surgery the hospital consultants would not see this information as the computers are not linked and may miss a peice of vital informaton. By having paper notes each different consultant can be brought up to speed quickly on the situation, get a feel for the pregnancy and react accordingly - especially in an emergency situation where time is of the essence. Imagine if you had to wait for a computer to load up and then click through a load of screens just to find out one peice of info, or worse the computer crashes!
Not only that, but pregnant women should carry their notes with them at all times and particularly in the second and third tri. If you were visiting a relative/friend away from your usual area of care and spontaneously went into labour you have your info there which helps the hospital that isnt familiar with you to provide appropriate care

Call me pesemistic but in my experience IT doesn't quite cut it lol. Give me a good old paper booklet anyday!

 

[Chellepot]

I think the notes system must be different in different parts of the UK - I got my notes pack when I went to the doctor in week 5 (for confirmation!) then the Bounty pack from my midwife when I first met her in week 8. But the notes are clearly 'Gloucestershire Health Authority' so I assume might well be different in different areas.

Yes I think it does vary what you get given when based on where you are. I was given my bounty pack at my booking in which had my notes already contained (the midwife had opened it and put them in) however the notes were for a hospital I didn't want to go to. I asked if I had to give birth at this hospital (because I am military and it has military staffing at this hospital) and she said no, she had just assumed I would want to go there given its military connection. There were two different sets of notes, one for each of the local hospitals and she just swapped the notes over for me. The new ones were quite a lot different from the ones for the other hospital. I asked the midwife why this was and she explained although each hospital is 6-7 miles away but they come under different counties which is why they are so different.