first timer what should i expect from this appointment?

[spudnik1]

Hello everyone,

I found out i'm preggers at the weekend, and today rang the docs up (whilst hiding in the cupboard at work trying to be quiet)

The lady on the phone has booked me in on the 11th feb to see the midwife and for a flu jab.

What is this appointment going to be like? what is she going to do is it going to be a 'yep your preggers here's a load of leaflets' or is it going to be blood tests etc?

This is the first time i've been through this and i am still in shock (even though we've been trying for a while)

Thanks

[HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs]

My first appointment was a Booking-In session, which was a group advice session about food to avoid etc, then we were each taken in to a private room and asked which hospital we wanted to deliver in, and height and weight taken.
At my first proper MW appointment they took a lot of blood, and discussed a full medical history. They booked a scan for me too.

[HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs]

Congratulation btw!!

[PotteringAlong]

Just to add; if you're not sure of your DH/DP's families medical history and they won't be with you now is the time to ask as they will want to know.

They will also ask questions about domestic violence - they ask everyone.

[HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs]

They will ask about your feelings towards being pregnant, birth control - were you using it or not, your mental health, whether you want to screen for Down Syndrome and anything else. It was pretty intense!

[Zahrah5]

It is just admin stuff mostly, your info, medical history, weight, height, BP, pee sample and blood sample.

As far as flu, it is up to you if you want it, you should do some research before you decide to take any vaccination, flu is sort of controversial and lots of pregnant or even not pregnant women and people in general dont take it. Pls do some research before you take anything during pregnancy.

[spudnik1]

Thankyou !

you've reassured me a bit, Hubby is coming along so he can give all his family history, i'll have to warn him about the domestic violence question
'they ask everyone love, no you do not look like a thug'

[Zahrah5]

i dont think they can ask you about domestic violence in his presence.

[Jackieharris]

That seems much more in depth than with my previous pregnancies.

Is it the norm to have the advice part in a group? I've never heard of that before.

I really don't want anything more than the urine and bp test.

[PotteringAlong]

I've never had it as part of a group either.

[NickyEds]

I never had the group but either. Mine took around 1.5 hours, they do weight, height, blood pressure, medical history, take bloods (to measure iron and STIs), partners medical history,details of previous pregnancies,test urine, where you'd like to give birth and ask if you'd like the Down's screening. The Down's screening is probably the thing you might like to discuss before you go. They fill it all in a booklet of hand held notes that you'll take to all future appointments and with you when you give birth.

Of course it's up to you but your partner doesn't really need to be there, the genetic diseases they ask about are pretty rare and you'd know if someone in the family had them. DP didn't come to either of mine as we didn't want to "waste" (charming!) a day off with ds and needed to stay with ds for this one.

[MissTwister]

I didn't get asked about domestic violence or how I felt about pregnancy/ birth control either! I had a quick doc appointment then a midwife one at 7 weeks. She went into depth on birth options which I thought a little odd at that early stage. .

[CharlArchie86]

Hello! I'm in the same boat spudnik1. First timer and I'm 5wks pregnant. I called my GPs office as soon as I found out - the earliest appointment they could give me is this Thursday (I'll be 5wks+2) Is this normal? Am I best to see my GP first to get the ball rolling? I explained to the receptionist that I'm pregnant but she didn't seem to care enough to give me an earlier appointment.

[HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs]

Charl how soon did you expect to be seen?

[PotteringAlong]

They won't give you an earlier appointment because of the pre-6 week miscarriage risk. In fact, most places won't see you before 8 weeks so I reckon 5 weeks is really early.

[NickyEds]

I was around 8 week booking in with both of mine and that's fine-5 weeks is very early. The receptionist won't care! It's only life-changing news to you!!! You may be surprised by how infrequently and briefly you actually see you mw if you have a straight forward pregnancy.

[CharlArchie86]

Thanks guys! I honestly had no idea what was normal / what I should expect in terms of timings. I assume at my GP appointment I'll get info of how to get an appt with the midwife and go from there.

[smogsville]

In central London hospitals they now seem to be asking about genital mutilation in addition to general domestic abuse. They were v apologetic about it, I must say I was a bit flummoxed, don't remember these questions from first preg in 2011, must be some new guidelines.