I've said it before...

... and I'm SURE I'll say it again, but the NHS is a pile of pooh.

I'm a first time expectant mummy, there are things happening to me that are quite alien and some of them are quite scary.

Like on Friday night, when I had some bright red bleeding.

Now, all the books and online resources say that 'spotting' is normal. But how much blood constitutes spotting?

I had to wait until this morning to phone the Early Pregnancy Unit to ask for some advice. They very nicely told me that because I was now past 12 weeks, I would have to consult with the ante-natal department, and they put me through to them.

I told the receptionist what had happened on Friday and she, quite snappily, said I had to be referred by my GP. I tried again, telling her that I just wanted some advice.

She eventually put me through to the duty midwife, who was bloody awful.

"What's the point of phoning us now? You should have phoned us on Friday when it happened."

I told her that I didn't have the number to phone her on Friday and she replied:

"Well, you'll just have to wait and see what happens now then, won't you."

What a horrible woman! I know that they hear these questions over and over, but it's the first time I've asked them! Part of her job should surely be to reassure pregnant ladies.

When I asked her if the amount of blood I lost could be counted as spotting, she just said, "I don't know, any amount of blood can be called 'spotting'."

Thank you.

Thank you for nothing.