How soon should you visit the doctor after a positive test?

[mrsy2015]

Hi ladies,

Just wondered what everyone else did when they first went to visit the doctor following a positive pregnancy test?

How soon/late did you go after discovering?

Thanks :) xx

[welshweasel]

You don't usually have to see the doctor. Just ring your surgery and book to see the midwife. They usually give you a booking in appointment at 8-10 weeks. Congratulations!

[LillyBugg]

Yep no point seeing a doctor. Just the midwife!

[PolaroidsFromTheBeyond]

Most surgeries don't require you to confirm your pregnancy with a GP as home tests are so accurate. As others have said, phone your surgery and ask what to do. They'll likely just book you in for a midwife appointment when you're 8-10 weeks pregnant.

[mrsy2015]

Thank you, i never knew this! The waiting from 4-8 weeks is going to feel like a lifetime but nothing compared to waiting for the 9 month mark I'm sure. Not one of you saw a doctor then? x

[mirrorballs]

No doctor here, rang and told them, the gave me the midwives number. Congratulations!

[frikadela01]

Straight to the midwife for me. I contacted them at 5 weeks and booked in at 10. Ring now becasue some prefer you to do it sooner rather than later because they fill up quick.

[Essexgirlupnorth]

I did go and see a doctor at my surgery she just said congratulations, checked I was taking folic acid and told her to make an appointment with the receptionist to see the midwife

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

I didn't, just booked in to see the midwife.

[isthatmytshirt]

Check with your surgery. I was overseas for the first 23 weeks of my pregnancy and had all scans etc over there. When I came back to the UK my surgery made me have a GP appointment to confirm my pregnancy before they'd book me in with the midwife! Seemed a total waste, turning up with my bump and scan pictures and medical records from my overseas gynae, but that's how my surgery operated. So it's worth a phone call, just to see :)

[soundsystem]

In my area you do see the doctor first. There are posters up in health centres/children's centres, etc that say "Make an appointment with your GP as soon as out find out you're pregnant". It seems a bit of a waste of their time - as nothing really happens at the appointment other than the GP asking for the LMP date and logging you in the system for the midwives to contact you for the booking in appointment. I asked last time if they could just take my details on the phone but was told I had to come in... But the next appointment was a month away!

[mrsy2015]

I would assume its a bit soon at the moment as i've had a positive x 3 (2 clear blue digital) but its only my due date for AF to show up today. Should i hang fire a few days to ensure I'm late before calling? Sorry…. new to this obviously! Thank the lord for these sites! :) x

[mrsy2015]

Thank you soundsystem… i did think it may differ due to area! Great to get everyones opinions x

[sparechange]

It is different by area.
I had to see my GP, who then referred me to the maternity department
There is no midwife at the surgery to book and see!

[MrsJoeyMaynard]

I would check with your surgery, the receptionist should know the procedure for your area.

For my surgery, I had to go see one of the nurses with a urine sample to get the pregnancy confirmed, and then the nurse filled out the referral form for the midwife. Apparently before they started this system they had a fair few cases where women were self referring to the midwife when they weren't actually pregnant.
Routine midwife appointments are at the GP surgery here.

I was about 5 weeks when I contacted the GP surgery with this pregnancy. Got offered a same day appointment with the nurse so first midwife appointment was booked in pretty quickly.

[soundsystem]

I think if you've had three positives that's pretty clear I'd ring the surgery and see what they say. congrats!

[mrsy2015]

Thank you all, i think it sounds like calling my surgery and asking the receptionist for the procedure in the area sounds like the best option, thanks MrsJoey. Thanks sound system.. I'm so so excited but trying to be calm and not get myself in a state. haha! x

[Bobbycatz]

I had to see the doctor first, I called up about 2 weeks after my bfp and just asked the receptionist what the procedure was. She was very helpful and worked out when I should see the doc and midwife. Doctor at about 6 weeks then saw midwife at 8 weeks. Congrats!

[VocalDuck]

Congratulations. It has always been the midwife first for me, even when I have moved to a different area.

[PrincessHairyMclary]

I saw a Dr before my booking in appointment but only because I had hyperemesis and couldn't keep anything down and was severely dehydrated by week 6/7.

[Lozde]

Procedure in my area is you have to see the GP first and they then refer you to the midwife. Good luck X

[mrsy2015]

Which area are you in people that have had to see the Dr first? X

[isthatmytshirt]

Was in Oxfordshire back then.

[soundsystem]

I'm in East London.

[DappledThings]

South London here. I saw GP in order to be referred to hospital for midwives. You can self refer to the hospital but GP said lots of the self referalls go missing so easier to go via them. No midwives visit my surgery so all appointments were at the hospital

[sparechange]

SW London. All the pharmacies have got posters up encouraging people to book a GP appointment as soon as they get a BFP so it a 'thing' around here