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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to prefer to see the GP face-to-face re pregnancy rather than talk on the phone?

45 replies

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 07:39

Found out on Tuesday that I'm pg and was planning to pop to the GP today. Just assumed that's what you do, see a doctor when you know you're pregnant...? But it appears that I'm wrong! Looks like a dr will be calling me some time this morning instead.
Should I tell them I'd prefer to speak face-to-face or is this just normal procedure?
I do need a fairly urgent referral to an endocrinologist for monitoring of an underlying pituitary adenoma but I guess I can just ask for that over the phone too...
I don't know... I was just kind of hoping to sit down and have five mins with my GP (it's my first pregnancy) but maybe this is just the way it's done...? I have booked in for an appointment with my own GP two weeks from now (earliest I could get for a booked appointment) but I definitely need to get the referral underway before this, and anyway 2 weeks does feel like a long time to wait to get any kind of GP advice/info! Or just to get into the system.
Any advice/experiences?

OP posts:

dexter73 · 19/07/2012 07:43

It sounds fairly normal to me. You can say all you need to on the phone. I didn't have an appointment with my gp until I was 12 weeks as that was their date for booking in pregnant women.

Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 07:46

Thanks dexter - that's reassuring!!

OP posts:

blackteaplease · 19/07/2012 07:46

Do you have a midwife team at the surgery? Both times my gp appointment has been a waste of mine and their time. they ask if you have had a positive test, check your dates and tell you to make a.midwife appointment. That's it. I thought there would be more than that really. A phone call will be fine and will save you a trip down to the surgery

Hopeforever · 19/07/2012 07:46

Seems quite normal, but if your pregnancy might be complicated by underlying conditions you can say on the phone to the GP today that you would like an appointment

Congratulations

hodgiebreeder · 19/07/2012 07:47

Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS!!! I remember it being a complete anti-climax at the GPs too (although at least I got to see him face to face)!!! I turned up, told him I'd done a pregnancy test, he took my word for it, and told me to book a booking appointment with the midwife for 6 weeks time. I don't know what I was expecting..... Trumpet fanfare and cotton wool wrapping probably, but they really leave you to your own devises in early pregnancy! Don't worry by 40 weeks you'll be sick to death of being prodded and poked!! Hope you can get your referral and good luck with your pregnancy

PurplePidjin · 19/07/2012 07:49

They don't really do much until you see a mw for booking in ime (of being 21w with dc1!)

I was in complete shock so booked to see the nurse, just so i could get in quick. She obviously twigged that I'd been thrown for a loop so did a test (they mostly take your word for it apparently) and booked me in to see my GP, who asked how my MH was (6m off anti-d's!!) and referred. That was it, i saw the mw at 9ish weeks to get my notes, choose a hospital, bp, weight etc.

I don't imagine there's much they can do in person that they can't do on the phone - a referral = writing a letter to the relevant hospital department and you don't need to be there for that

Congratulations!

lightrain · 19/07/2012 07:50

Can I ask a question (sorry to hijack, it is related!). If you don't see midwife for booking in til 12 weeks, how do you get your scan appointment for 12 week scan?

Pastabee · 19/07/2012 07:50

I never saw the GP until 6 weeks after DD was born! I phoned the surgery when I found out I was pregnant and was advised to book straight in with the midwife. Makes sense really as midwife will manage your care.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 19/07/2012 07:51

Lots of surgeries will do it differently. You will probably have a phonecall with the GP and then a booking in appointment with the midwife. That's a longer appointment where they go through everything with you.

Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 07:52

hodgiebreeder - you made me laugh - maybe that is partly what it is! Perhaps I secretly expected some kind of fanfare and red carpet :) :)

In all seriousness though it does feel a bit weird not seeing a doc but I guess if the only thing to really do is make the midwife appt then what else can they do?

And of course the referral for the endocrinologist can all be discussed over the phone.

It's more the odd detached feeling, I think :) I do know this happens every day but it's the first time it's happened to me and DH!! Why isn't my GP turning up by private helicopter and mopping my brow with a lavender-scented flannel?

OP posts:

HappyCamel · 19/07/2012 07:53

It's normal not to see a GP at all. In my pregnancies I've been looked after by my midwives and consultants for my health conditions. I phoned the consultants' secretaries and sorted it from there.

EugenesAxe · 19/07/2012 07:53

Another anticlimax here. I had no idea when they normally expected to see you so I booked an appointment quickly - maybe about 4-6 weeks gone (I laugh now), as I was also excited (1st).

She barely raised an eyebrow; I think as I was there she gave me the gumpf (purple book etc) and said they don't expect to see people until nearer eight weeks. She said they don't retest as home pregnancy kits are as accurate as the ones they have.

I'd say a phonecall was fair enough but second Hopeforever about mentioning the pituary thing. Your midwife booking in appointment is when all the form filling really begins.

Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 07:53

lightrain that's an excellent question!! Seems a bit chicken-and-egg. Anyone understand this?

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Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 07:56

Thanks EugenesAxe - and here I'd have been rushing down to the surgery only to be pooh-poohed in anti-climactic way!!

HappyCamel thanks too - do you mind if I ask if the consultants you saw were private? What I mean is that I think I need the GP referral for the consultant because I'm planning to use the NHS? And so I can't/shouldn't call the consultants without the referral? Thanks!!

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Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 07:57

Thanks purplepidgin - I had thought about seeing the nurse actually but on the basis of everyone's posts I think I'll save myself the trip!!

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Dprince · 19/07/2012 07:58

Sounds normal to me. I called the surgery the day I found out and they made me an appointment with MW at 10 weeks for 'booking in', which is when she booked my scan and went through everything.
If you have addtional possible complications tell the gp and he/she may feel an appointment in necessary. However you will be most likely to be placed under consultant care and its not really the gp that will monitor you. It will be your MW and consultant.
but I get where you are coming from. My SIL is pg and assumed the same.

dexter73 · 19/07/2012 07:59

lightrain - I didn't have a 12 week scan just a 20 week scan. My dd is 15 so things have probably changed now. Also I was told that as I was 24 I didn't get offered certain tests as they were only offered to geriatric mothers who were over 27 !!!

Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 07:59

Thanks Dprince - it's all a bit new and foreign and I can't quite believe I'm not doing something wrong... :)

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Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 08:00

dexter - oddly I did hear a friend of a friend who was just told she was an 'older mother' at 32!!! (this was a month ago...) I am 35!!! Feel positively geriatric now

OP posts:

Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 08:02

More to the point, I suppose I feel like I should be 'doing' something IYSWIM...

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dexter73 · 19/07/2012 08:03

Go and get a few baby magazines and have a read. It is such an exciting time - enjoy!!

PurplePidjin · 19/07/2012 08:04

Mw team and sonography team are completely separate here, so as long as they know about you they see you iyswim? My mw appts and scans happen in different counties and are a good 15 miles apart!

fireice · 19/07/2012 08:04

If you arent taking any medication that could affect the baby then all you really need from the GP at this point is your referrals, and if they can get the information they need to do that over the phone then it saves you traipsing along to the GP.

HappyCamel · 19/07/2012 08:05

The thing is, they make minimal fuss before 12 weeks because they couldn't prevent a miscarriage. Between 12 and 25 they look for abnormalities that might need intervention now or later (multiples, deformities etc) only after that could a baby survive so monitoring and medical intervention starts properly at 25 weeks. Just try to relax and go with the flow for now, congratulations.

Original poster

emeraldgirl1 · 19/07/2012 08:06

Thanks v much everyone!

dexter baby magazines... ooh, I hadn't thought of that... :)

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