NHS antenatal care in first trimester?

[Bluebell1403]

Hi ladies,

I got my BFP on Friday and I'm really excited but got a bit of an anticlimax when I rang my GP and was told they wouldn't want to see me until 12 weeks...They made me an appointment with the midwife for early August and apparently that's it. This seems odd to me- don't they want to make sure I'm taking Folic Acid and not drinking and smoking, at the very least?!

And aren't you supposed to go for a scan around them, how will I be able to do that if I have no antenatal contact until August?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm just a bit anxious and have loads of questions I'd like to ask of a GP or midwife.

Thanks!!

[HopeFull28]

Hi, congratulations
I felt the same although I had my booking in app at 8wks, the first scan can be anywhere from 12-14wks I was told but I had mine at 12wks+5
It does seem that they aren't interested in us until 12 wks lol
I'm 17wks now and just had second Mw app. Good luck

[Bluebell1403]

Hi HopeFull!

Thanks! Congratulations to you too, I can't wait to be that far along!

8 weeks would be good! 12 just seems so so far away!

They're probably aware of how much time all the anxious mums to be with their questions would take up!!

Thanks again

[RockerMummy184]

Hi Bluebell,
This sounds like the experience I had when I was expecting ds. Since then my nhs trust had introduced something called the 'early bird' system. Basically began finding out your pregnant and your first mw app, you see a health visitor who checks you are not smoking and gives you advice on what to eat/avoid, as well as info on antenatal classes/exercise etc. They are held at our local sure start centres. Do you have anything similar nearby you could look into?
Congratulations on your pregnancy.

[HopeFull28]

Seriously it's going so fast. Although I didn't have any sickness so been lucky this far
I can't wait until the 20wk scan 3wks seems so far away haha
Hope ur pregnancy goes as well as mine is going

[RockerMummy184]

Sorry for the typos, I'm on my phone!

[carbolicsoaprocked]

Seems strange to me - I had booking in appt at 8 weeks and scan at 12 weeks, then another midwife appt at 16 weeks. Have they arranged a scan for 12 weeks for you?

[PerspicaciaTick]

I'm surprised the GP wants to see you at all. Everything for my pregnancies was handled by midwives.
You definitely need your booking in appointment before 12 weeks - there are national targets to ensure all women are booked in and have their blood tests and scans by the end of week 12.
Can you self refer to the midwives? We have a phone number on the hospital website to call and start off the process.

[Cheshirehello79]

That's strange bluebel - everyone has a booking appointment at 8 weeks. Have you been assigned a midwife yet ?

[Bumpingalong84]

Hi bluebell,
Huge congratulations, it's such and exciting time. I did make an appointment with the gp but they didn't know what for I guess, they referred me to mw but didn't say much else to me! I then got an appointment for 10wks! It seemed forever to see someone 6eeks later so I can imagine how you must feel, can ypu contact the mw's yourself? Maybe wait a week or 2 to make sure they get the referral.
I'm 15+2 now it does drag a little but try to enjoy it x

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

My booking appts were at 11 weeks first time and 12 weeks second time (with a midwife, didn't see a GP at all). That was the area policy (2 different areas!). I had both of my scans within the time frame though so I wouldn't worry.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I can't believe you have to wait so long! When I had my ds who is 14 now, I was booked in with the midwife as soon as I knew I was pregnant, so 8 weeks.

[bunny85]

Hmm I think it varies from surgery to surgery. I picked up a leaflet from the local pharmacy urging to contact your gp as soon as you find out you are pregnant. That's what I did, they booked me in, gp told me about folic acid, asked if I drink/smoke, if I have any questions and referred me to the mw. I then got two letters very soon for the booking in appt around 9 weeks and then scan 13 weeks.

I guess I must be just lucky with my gp, but tbh as you say that's the way it should be done!

Oh and congratulations!!

[Roseybee10]

I didn't see anyone til 13 weeks both times.
Tbh I think most people know not to smoke or drink during pregnancy. They're really not very interested in you until that 12 week mark. I felt very unsupported and lonely in the first trimester tbh x

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

I'm always surprised that people expect to see a midwife at an early stage. Whatever for? You know not to smoke or drink and to take folic acid. There isn't anything that needs to be done to or for you.
Where I am we see a midwife for basic booking in anywhere between 12 and 16 weeks, and then the first proper midwife appt at around 20-22 weeks.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

Yeah I feel like tang too Winter, there's nothing they can do after all!

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

*like that

[mynameisnotmichaelcaine]

I get that you're excited, but it's just unnecessary and very expensive to see women in the first trimester.

[LorryHen]

I had my first appointment at 12 weeks and scan at 12+5. I'm 20 weeks now and everything has been fine. They just give you lots of leaflets and make sure your blood is fine at booking so it's not really urgent x

[Notso]

It's not like that here.
You can get a midwife appointment as soon as you think your pregnant or even just if you are trying for a baby. They advise on frolic acid, safe foods etc and help with stopping smoking if you need it.

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

But really, what can they do before 12 weeks? They can advise in foods to avoid etc, but all that information is readily available elsewhere. The NHS doesn't have infinite resource.

[PaperFlowers]

I saw GP when I found out (important here as they have to book 12 week scan which needs to be done asap), MW at 8w (booking), will have scan at 12w, next MW appointment at 16w. I live in SE england.

I found the MW appointment at 8w extremely helpful and reassuring and for me I felt like it was important so I was very grateful to have it. They took blood, BP, urine, weight, referred me on to MH midwife due to history of anxiety and depression. Many women will have a lot of questions, some of which might need some action and some which just need some reassurance. I don't think that's a waste of time at all and probably saves time in the long run - less calls to 111!

OP, your arrangement sounds a bit odd compared to where I am - could you call your local MW team or ring your GP surgery back, just to check what they do about booking the scan? Hopefully it will turn out they are sorting it all out fine. Congratulations by the way!

[Notso]

Well in my case after a blood clot in my first pregnancy get me seen by a consultant so I can start essential anti-coagulants ASAP. If the midwife didn't do this I'd have had to use up a GP appointment.
With DC4 the midwife recognised early on I was depressed and anxious. Unplanned pg, DC3 was only 7 months and I was having a lump on my breast investigated. She was really helpful.
They ask about your diet etc, here pregnant women can get very reduced fruit and veg as part of a local scheme as well as free vitamins. Our area is pretty deprived and although as you say the information is there I think a lot don't or won't access it.
Then there is the booking of the 12 week scan.
Seeing the midwife early obviously is deemed to be beneficial here or they would stop it. Booking in needs to happen, not sure it makes a huge difference to the NHS if it's before or just after 12 weeks.

[Emjones88]

I know how you feel! Although I saw the midwife for the first time Monday at 10 weeks. 12 does seem late..

I was counting down the weeks from when it was booked when I was 5 weeks. Knew roughly what happens at booking in appointment but did leave a little surprised that, with the exception of two positive test and pregnancy symptoms, it's not been medically confirmed! (Not that I think it really needs confirming, my boobs hurt, I'm ridiculously tired majority of the time, food is either devoured or offensive etc, etc, etc lol) But I'm a tiny bit (and probably irrationally) worried that I'll get to my scan and my womb could be empty!

[Emjones88]

Ooh congrats too btw! x

[IfYouWereARiverIdLearnToFloat]

I've had the opposite experience tbh - I saw GP at 5 weeks to confirm & got the chat about what/what not to eat. Then booking appointment with MW at 7 weeks & to get bloods done. She arranged an early scan so I've been to EPAS for that at 7 weeks too. Seeing endocrinologist for pregnancy related stuff at 12 weeks & my scan is booked for 13 weeks along with my appt with consultant.

There seems to be a huge disparity in care depending on where you stay.