Rubbish first doctors appointment

[daisystone]

I went to see the doctor this morning to let them know that I am pregnant and to start the ball rolling.

What a totally rubbish experience that was! She was some locum doctor who looked as though she could only have qualified yesterday as she looked about 23. She was so vacant and her mouth was hanging open catching flies. Honestly, she looked like she should have been stacking shelves somewhere, not responsible for people's health and wellbeing.

I told her I was pregnant and she just stared at me. I mean, what else can I say?
She asked if I was taking Folic Acid - a rather obvious but necessary question I suppose and then finished up with, "right, do you want to ask me anything about pregnancy?"

I got the hell out of there as soon as possible and have an appointment with a midwife in three weeks time.

I think I would have got more information and warmness from a stranger at the bus stop. Talk about a waste of time.

I really hope the midwife is massively better than that eejit today.

I wasn't expecting a cup of tea and a cuddle, but surely there is some middle ground??

[SpicedGerkin]

What exactly did you want?

She asked you if there was anything you wanted to know? Did she not answer your questions?

[Naetha]

Sounds fairly standard for a GP appointment to tell them you're pregnant.

Other than the GP's bedside manner, not much to complain about. Maybe she'd had a rough night, or had something on her mind?

[lisasimpson]

no, not really pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence and you're not ill so what could she say really?

[FatSeal]

What a shame. Talk about bursting your bubble, it doesn't exactly fill you with confidence does it. There are plenty of medical muppets around- I saw a consultant this time round who gave me the "23 yr old shelf stacker" impression too, makes you wonder doesn't it?

I would expect the mw appointment to go much better than that- so just lurk on here and enjoy being pg until then. Best of luck!

[Rockbird]

Sounds like my first appointment only my gp wasn't vacantly staring. There's not a lot else they can do. HPTs are so reliable there's no longer any need for them to stick their hands up your hoop to double check. In fact mine got out her little wheel to calculate my EDD, I opened my mouth to tell her that about 9 different websites had already done that for me and she started hopping up and down saying 'please let me, it's one of the best bits about being a GP'! Other than that though she asked about folic acid, ascertained that it was good news and said the mws would be in touch. Job done.

Congratulations

[HarderToKidnap]

What should happen at a first Drs appt for a wanted pregnancy:

Congrats!
Folic acid?
Foods to avoid
Give prescription exemption form
Which hospital do you want to go to?
Ok, we will refer you, you should hear soon...

So not much happens. I am a bit bemused sometimes when people get upset about the lack of happenings at their appointments - what do they want? Fireworks and a champagne buffet?

[MinnieMalone]

Totally standard first appt.

I must admit, with my first, I was expecting a bit of advice and information, but he just said 'Are you happy?' (Me: 'Yes')...'Then congrats, and book in with the midwife on the wait out'.

I didn't even go to the GP with my second pregnancy, just rang the surgery and booked in with the midwife myself!

[mistlethrush]

Our surgery tells you not to bother to see the Dr at the start of pregnancy - just book in to see the midwife....

[JackRabbitBauer]

I do see what you mena but I didn't even bother with the GP with my second, I just called the surgery and asked to see the MW. They really can't do anything unless you are expecting a difficult pregnancy or are having problems they just fill in a form and arrange for you to see the MW.
I wouldn't worry about it

[daisystone]

HardertoKidnap, unfortunately we only covered one topic off your list.

No I really didn't expect her to tell me that I had made her year, but it was awkward, as though she wasn't sure what to do or say and I have never been in this position before so I don't bloody well know!

I did ask about vitamins (should I be taking extra). Her answer was that it was up to me. Again, not really helpful or informative.

[confusedfirsttimemum]

I went to the GP first time round too, because no one tells you what you should do IYSWIM and it seems the obvious first step. I won't bother if and when no 2 comes along (and actually, a sign has just gone up saying to book in with the midwives instead).

Mine was worse than yours, she basically said 'ooh, come back in a few weeks if you haven't miscarried' . Talk about no what you need....

[MinnieMalone]

You don't need vitamins - just folic acid.

Your midwife will be a tad more helpful, although they aren't always all singing and all dancing info gurus, either, as are often oushed for time and trying to keep to their appointment schedule.

It can all be a bit daunting for a first time mother, I know.

If I was you I'd note down any questions you you have for the first appt. and make sure your midwife answers them. You will have quite a few antenatal appts. as a first time mum, so you've got plenty of time to address all your questions, worries etc.

Parenting sites like MN (and Babycentre) are good for general info, too, as I'm sure you've worked out. And all of us seasoned mums on these boards will be happy to bore you senseless with our own experiences advise you, too, I'm sure

[AllieW]

If it's any consolation, my doula told me that with her first pregnancy she was asked immediately if she wanted an abortion! Some Drs aren't too bothered because of the high chance of miscarriage before the twelfth week. Hope the midwife appointment is an improvement (it should be).

[MumNWLondon]

what did you expect? that sounds normal.

mine just asked:
are you happy about it?
which hospital do you want?

i now know that you do not need to go to GP - lot of hospitals allow you to self refer.

[legallyblond]

Agreed - that does sound pretty normal. Although its obv very exciting for you, its not an illness or anything, and there is nothing you could/should be doing except take folic acid and avoid the foods suggested by the government guidelines.
Unfortunately, as you know, about 1 in 4 pregnancies do end in miscarriage in the early weeks, so, although it sounds harsh, it is actually much much better that they save resources for the mw appointment, the first scan and beyond. Until 12 weeks, there is nothing much any medical professional can do to help - the pregnancy will progress or not regardless of intervention (and most do progress just fine, of course!)
Don't worry though, when you see the mw, there will be much more opportunity to chat I expect (I had 1 hour with mine on booking and arrived armed with a notebook full of questions!).

[LittleSilver]

Why didn't you go straight to midwives?

[Allegrogirl]

I was disappointed at my GP appointment with DD, particularly as it was the GP had referred us to the fertility clinic (luckily got pregnant before going too far down that Road). He said congrats and asked if I was taking folic acid then told me to book a MW appointment on the way out.

I couldn't believe he took my word for it and didn't want to do a test or something.

But there isn't much for GPs to do at that stage and hopefully you will get a helpful MW.

I booked straight in with the MW with DC2 and bypassed the GP all together. We've only got one hospital here so that isn't even open to discussion.

[gillianelizabeth]

I had a totally similar experience! And to make it better my first scan left me in tears! She said my bladder wasn't full enough and sent me off to drink more water, i felt like a naughty school girl!

My sensible side says they do see thousands of women every year so why should they act like each one has made their millennium, but the emotional side of me says if you choose a prof which requires contact with people in different stages of life and joy/pain you need to have the ability to show that little bit of empathy!

[cinnamongreyhound]

I went to the GP with my first pregnancy and she was lovely but like your didn't do a lot. As others have said there isn't anything they can do.

She asked if we were happy about it, then said congratulations.
Checked I was taking folic acid and not smoking.
Then asked if I had any questions and wrote my details into the midwife's book so she could contact me at a later date.

At the time I didn't realise I was really wasting the GP's time but I did expect her to confirm my pregnancy, although didn't know what else to expect.

This time around I phoned reception and asked them to refer me to the midwife, everything has gone just as smoothly this time around- appointments etc have been made on time.

Congratulations on your pregnancy, hope you get what you are expecting from your midwife

[nunnie]

Sounds very similar to my gp visit even down to age.
It was my second so to be fair I probably do know what to expect more than her. She did test well two tests of my urine, the got another gp in as I was her first pregnancy and she didn't know the protocol (neither did I as only registered with that practice when I was 36 weeks last time). I was asked about folic acid and referred to mw, mw covered everything else tbh.

LittleSilver, protocol in both the gp's I have been in is for them to refer you to midwife not sure what it is everywhere else. My first GP refused to refer me to midwife in his practice as I wanted to attend my local hospital which isn't their local, so he referred me direct to hospital and I had all my appointments there till I was 36 weeks and then found a gp nearer to home (again wrong hospital) but they were happy to deal with me and correspond with my local.

[plantsitter]

It's just a referral appointment really so setting things in motion. Not sure GPs necessarily know anything about pregnancy these days as it's midwives who do most of it, isn't it?

In a few months time the midwife will be feeling the baby and smiling soppily and commenting on what a wriggler it is (even the old, really experienced one) and you'll have more of a warm feeling about it.

[Rockbird]

It is odd. I saw the GP at 7 weeks, scan at 11.5 weeks and booking in at 14 weeks. So although it doesn't seem like much now, that's a long time wondering if you're imagining it all. By the time I had a scan or saw anyone the morning sickness and all the symptoms had been and gone. Although I know better now I remember saying to DH, 'I can't believe they're letting me go through all this on my own!!

[HoopsAndBelly]

my doctor asked if I was in contact with any sheep and when I said no, he said I don't know why I bother with that question.....twas a bit of a random appointment!!

he just said congrats and hope all goes well and book in with the midwife on the way out....

[shouldibescared]

I was gutted at mine! I went in and told the doctor I was pregnant - she didn't even bother doing a pregnancy test, so the only medical evidence for my pregnancy was my word for it, and the urine test kit I bought on ebay! My 12 week midwife appointment was a bit of a let-down too - I had rather hoped for a cuddly midwife who would get excited (at least a little bit!) with me - but I have a rather scary and dismissive one. I get better chat with my chauvenist boss {confused}

[JessieEssex]

I felt the same... I remember going up to the receptionist at my surgery and almost shouting 'I'm pregnant!!!' and half expecting her to leap over the desk and hug me, before a barber shop quarter popped up from behind the counter to sing 'congratulations'! She just said 'OK, let's get you an apppointment'.

Thankfully I have a lovely midwife who makes me feel awfully clever for being pregnant and always has something kind to say.

x