When do i call the Dr?

[Squeezy212]

Hi, just found out we're pregnant finally! I don't know what to do now, I am only about 4 weeks.
I thought I should ring the Dr, but my niece recently had her baby and when she found out and rang the Dr they basically turned her away and said they wouldn't consider seeing her until she was 8 to 10 weeks. Now with this virus aswell I don't think they will see me. I will probably get laughed at by the receptionist as well which has happened before regarding other stuff!

[IvinghoeBeacon]

Congratulations! Look on your surgery’s website as they should have information about what to do when you find out you are pregnant. In my area, you fill in a self-referral form and send it directly to the midwifery service and there isn’t any need to see a doctor at all. The antenatal team then send you an appointment. Of course things may be a little different now, but your surgery’s website should tell you what you need to do.

[Icedlatte]

Hi OP, congratulations!
The process now is you call the GP surgery, explain to the receptionist, and they will refer you to the midwives. It may be that you don't get seen for a few weeks, but you should get your name on the list so that you can get your appointments scheduled in by them.

You don't need to actually see a gp unless you have any problems, but they are the gateway to the midwife service in most areas.

[IvinghoeBeacon]

Check for your area - I don’t go via receptionists at all as everything is booked via antenatal team and the midwife books me into my next appointment herself

[peachypetite]

I self referred to my hospital. Just google it.

[Amichelle84]

Congratulations!
It will depend on your area, I went to my GP but only because I have health conditions so needed to male them aware.
I then referred myself to my hospital of choice online, they then got in touch at around 10w with a scan and a midwife appointment.

[PotteringAlong]

Yes, google the process for your area - in most places you don’t need to see a dr.

They won’t see you until 8-10 weeks anyway, virus or no virus.

[oneofthose]

Congratulations, I have just found out this week that I am pregnant with my second.
The process in my area is to call your GP surgery and they make you an appointment with the midwife for a booking in appointment. However, when I called they said it was too early to make the appointment as their diary only does a couple of weeks ahead and to call back when I'm 6-7 weeks. They were very nice about it though.

[namechanger0989]

As others have said, google process in your local area. In our area we just phone midwives direct and book in for 6/8 weeks or somewhere near there.
You could ring drs surgery and tell them you are pregnant and ask the process?

[Prettylittlelady]

You won’t need to see the GP unless you have a specific concern, you need to go online and self refer to your local midwife team and they will see you at 8-10 weeks for your booking appointment. You’ll get confirmation of this by post and you’ll date for your 12 week scan should come through as well.
Congrats

[peachypetite]

Yeh also to say you won’t be seeing anyone before 8 weeks anyway!

[kittykat7210]

I always rang at 5 weeks to make my booking appointment with my midwife. Wouldn’t want to ring any later or I wouldn’t be seen until later and then you risk being unable to have nuchal translucency test!

[Russell19]

As above says, you can self refer. No need to see a doctor. I did it all online and got a call back from a midwife to arrange my booking in appointment for about 8 weeks.

[sel2223]

In my area too you completely bypass the GP. I was given a number by the receptionist to self refer and make a booking appointment. I don't see the GP at all unless it's an actual health issue (when I recently needed antibiotics for a uti for example).

My booking in appointment was made for when I was 9 or 10 weeks (although I've heard some areas are now combining it with 12 week scan to reduce number of appointments so you may have to wait a bit longer).

The first trimester can be very slow and frustrating. No one actually confirms your pregnancy or anything and it can feel like a long time before anything starts happening.

Just look after yourself and start taking folic acid/daily supplements if you're not already.

[tiredanddangerous]

Phone the GP surgery and ask what the procedure is. In my area you see the GP first and they refer to the midwife.

[squee123]

my area you just self refer to your hospital of choice

[MichelleOR84]

I actually never saw my GP in early pregnancy. This was before covid-19 too.

I got a positive pregnancy test , probably took about 5 more tests over a course of a week 😝 and then decided on a hospital . I’m 2 miles from a good one so it was kinda easy .

The hospital has a self referral form online which I filled out and summited. It took maybe 5 minutes . They sent me a letter to my home within a week , maybe even less with my 8 week booking appointment with my GP and my 12 week scan date .

Throughout my pregnancy I did see my GP a few times but not until my second trimester.

[IvinghoeBeacon]

I haven’t seen a GP at all for the entirety of this pregnancy (due now). It’s not necessary in my area unless you have a medical problem eg last time i was pregnant I had a chest infection and needed antibiotics

[Chants20]

Hey .. congrats!

I'm 5+3, just found out a few days ago.. I self referred to my local hospital however I did call the doctor mainly as I'd started taking antibiotics a couple of days before and wasn't sure if I could continue. I asked him if there was anything I need to do or know (this is my first) he was very relaxed about the whole affair just said to self refer to the hospital (which id already done) and that was about it, aside from the general stuff about folic acid and supplements!

I'm just waiting to hear from the midwives about my booking appointment but not expecting to hear for another couple of weeks. Feels like a lifetime away before I'll get to the first scan!

[selfisolatingsince2007]

Its pretty standard for you not to be seen until week 8 or 9 for a dating scan. But, I fell pregnant in Australia and that's what happens there. Not sure about about the NHS. I moved at 16 weeks to London and they said to come in and be seen then.

Suggest calling and or referring to the NHS guidelines, my midwives have all assured me that antenatal care is generally unaffected by the current problems unless you display symptoms of Covid.

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

I would check local hospitals, where you'd like to give brth, and self-refer to the chosen one. They will not see you until 8-10 weeks, but at least you can get the ball rolling.

[IvinghoeBeacon]

selfisolatingsince2007 I’m afraid that’s not quite true for many

[quarantinevibes]

Congrats. I didn’t tell my dr until I was 9 weeks. They said i needed to see mw before 10 weeks and they would have to try get in me in. So I’d say perhaps 8 weeks?

[howmuchfood]

I just self referred to the midwife and my booking in appointment and first scan were booked that day.
Booking in should be around 8 weeks and scan around 12.

[NataliePB]

Hi, congratulations! I’m in the same boat, I found out a couple days ago that I’m around 5 weeks and have been trying to google every bit of information.

It’s tough times and have been trying to see what’s best to do. We’ve been trying to conceive for one and a half years so feeling nervous at the minute.

[Lyris]

I contacted the GP at 5 weeks but only because I needed to be put on high dose folic acid, have thyroid levels checked and meds increased etc. They gave me the details for the antenatal people who I phoned at the same point. They sent me a telephone booking appointment for 8 weeks.