No more postnatal check for a mother with a GP? With nurse instead?

[Mumchatting]

Hi I gave birth 6 weeks ago and while I was booking my 6 weeks postnatal check I was told that the appointment was booked with a nurse instead of GP. I was told they don't do it with GP anymore.
I had my son 3 years ago I remember having the check with GP.

I don't see much point of seeing a nurse. I had emergency cesarean, I was consultant led during pregnancy due to thyroid. I am considering not attending the appointment with the nurse and to book normal appointment with GP instead. Has anyone else also had the postnatal check with nurse and what was discussed and what the nurse was able to check?
I am just wondering whether that appointment is a complete waste of time?
Thanks

[reallyreallyreallytired]

Do you have anything you are worried about?

[PossumInAPearTree]

I'm sure a nurse is just as capable as a GP in doing whatever checks are required.

[PossumInAPearTree]

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/postnatal-check.aspx

Details what covers and to be honest it does sound a waste of a GPs time. I see it says some places don't offer it anymore.

[expatinscotland]

If the nurse sees you need the GP she'll fetch her.

[OhDearToby]

It wouldn't have bothered me. If I had any concerns about my health I would book in with the gp anyway, 6 week check or not.

A nurse is just as capable of looking at the c section scar, taking BP, chatting about birth control, arranging blood tests etc.

[Ginmakesitallok]

What do you think the dr can do that the nurse won't? ? Don't think I saw gp after either of my dds.

[Ginmakesitallok]

What do you think the dr can do that the nurse won't? ? Don't think I saw gp after either of my dds.

[GrassWillBeGreener]

Sounds like you need to have an appointment with someone to update your thyroid management; so you may need a GP appointment for that - but maybe it will have to be a separate one. Might be worth discussing with the practice which they'd prefer to do. (perhaps just say, I need a GP appt as well then, can you check with the GP then let me know if I should attend the nurse appt as well or if one will suffice ...)

[meditrina]

I'd go for the check with the nurse, armed with a list of questions. If you are concerned that any if these go beyond her expertise, she may be able to call a doctor in, if not you can make a follow GP appointment about those issues (not the whole check) or, depending on what the issues are the nurse may be able to refer you straight to the consultant.

[Batfurger]

You know nurses have qualifications too, right? You sound massively entitled- are you in the UK? I guess you could always go private, that way you can get whatever you want.

[Backt0Black]

a bit of a derisory post towards nurses....

[passportissues123]

I'd rather see a concerned nurse than a disinterested GP. Mine ushered me out of the door even though I had questions about bleeding which she was putting down to remnants of lochia when I knew my episiotomy had reopened. She didn't even look....

Another friend had similar experience at the practice when (a different) Dr didn't check her concerns about bleeding/sensation/symptoms - she had an undiagnosed hematoma which ruptured causing a split in the wall between her vagina and anus.

I h ave to say though that the conclusion is probably neither GP nor nurse have the specialist knowledge if there is a significant problem and you'll be referred on anyway.

[NerrSnerr]

Do you have any particular concerns you think the nurse won't be able to manage? If it's a thyroid check I imagine that would be a different appointment to the 6 week check anyway. I don't see why the emergency section would make a difference a nurse can still check the wound if necessary (it wasn't after mine).

[Mumchatting]

No offence towards nurse, I appreciate their hard work and yes they do have qualifications too. I will be seeing a GP mainly due to thyroid. I just don't want to go to two appointments so not to waste mine and the nurse's time. Thank you to everyone who replied.

[Want2bSupermum]

I understand your concerns. There is a difference in training between a nurse and a doctor. I had my DC in American and was seen by an obn at my 6 week check up and the appointment is 45mins. They covered a lot each time. It was their way to assess if I really was ok. The PND check, split muscles, scar/vaginal exam, breast exam, referrals if necessary etc.

I am normally absolutely fine to see a nurse but for something like a post partum check up I am surprised you are not seeing a GP who has specialist training in obstetrics.

[Batfurger]

want2be American health care ethics is entirely different to UK; you got all of that because the obn would be getting paid for it- low risk intervention along with all of the blood tests and scans they do as "routine" overmedicalisation of the pregnancy process. In the UK, it's cheaper to see a nurse than a Dr, fairly simple economics.
I'm sure you know all of that though.

[PossumInAPearTree]

Ha ha. I work in obstetric field. Let me tell you what training the average GP has. They spend a grand total of three months in obs and gynae. They spend more time in gynae than obs. Approx once a week (where I work) they will be doing obs as the labour ward sho. They assist in theatre by holding the retractor during a lscs. They cannulate anyone a midwife can't manage to, take any difficult bloods and do a lot of prescribing. When they're on their labour ward day they also cover the assessment centre so anyone who attends there once they've been seen by a midwife they will be called to see anyone the midwife feels needs seeing. Once a week they will work as the on call sho for the postnatal ward where they do lots more prescribing. And if someone is feeling unwell they're asked to see them.

So they spend about 24 days doing obstetrics, a lot of which is prescribing and cannulating.

So to be honest I think as long as the nurse has had enough training and experience in doing postnatal checks they aren't really at a disadvantage compared to a dr.

In the Ops case as she wishes to discuss her thyroid then it may well make more sense to make an appt with the GP to discuss this.

[BillyButtfuck]

I never had a postnatal appointment with a gp or midwife with my twins, but I had a section so not sure if I should have or not?
The midwife/HV checked my stitches occasionally.

[Want2bSupermum]

batfurger Actually I disagree. There is a need to be seen by a doctor who has a specialty in obstetric care. Lots of women who have delivered vaginally are not healing well and the six week exam identifies those who need to be seen by a specialist who can correct the problem.

My sister was one of them. She had a terrible time and thought it was normal at 6 weeks to be in discomfort, have trouble with her bladder function and be wetting herself. Her obn referred her right away to physiotherapy and a specialist who restitched her up. She is fine now.

With me I was still bleeding after my third at 6 weeks so had a follow up appointment at 11 weeks. With my first two I was done bleeding after 10 days.

Totally agree that a regular GP isn't going to be much use. Might as well see a nurse.

[CPtart]

Do you mean a practice nurse? I'm one. And post natally I would rather see a doctor too. You'd be amazed at the number of things that are passed to us without sufficient training. The number of times I've heard "it's just doing this, it's just doing that." In reality it often isn't, and people have queries that can't be answered. The doctor may not be available if concerns arise, or they are bogged down running their own clinics. I did 6 weeks lbs as a student nurse 23 years ago.
As amenable and interested as I may be, having to rebook you in with a doctor due to my lack of expertise is a waste of everyone's time. Another example of pass the buck.

[Batfurger]

I didn't say there was never a need. The ethics of provision are totally different, over medicalisation in the states vs referral onward from a nurse in the U.K. One of these is lucrative for a private insurance based system, one is based on the greatest benefit for the greatest number.

[ineedanewbody]

Billy everyone should be offered a postnatal check at 6-8 weeks. Babies shouldn't be vaccinated without it, although this differs if the baby is still in hospital.

I'm really surprised to hear this. Who is going to do the check for the baby? The weighing & measuring the HV can do but the heart, hips etc they don't have the training for.

[BillyButtfuck]

NewBody they had a GP appointment for hips etc.. but was never offered one for me.
Sorry if I misread the thread I thought Op was talking about a postnatal check up for the mother not the baby/babies.

[Naty1]

I had gp checks with both dc. Dc1 i raised issues with uneven leg fat so possibly hip problem and possible squint. We were referred for a hip scan - clear. But also to eye hospital for squint and she had glasses from 2.5.
I did find gps not too keen to check episiotomy healing.
Could a nurse do a referral? Or would you have to see gp anyway.