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

[emeraldgirl1]

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?

I told my GP surgery when I was about 6 weeks pregnant, had to do another test to prove it, then had blood tests at 8 weeks. I didn't see my GP at all during my pregnancy! I had a booking in appointment with the midwife at about 12 weeks, but my scan letter came through before I saw her (I think the GP actioned it).

No, I have an immunologist and diabetologist under the NHS but midwives can do referrals too. I'm not sure if they get rubber stamped by a GP but then I already had named consultants so just phoned up and told them myself.

Thanks HappyCamel - appreciate the info hugely!!

12 weeks as the initial mw appointment is a bit bizarre! The one at my docs sees you at 8 weeks and phones to book your 12 week scan while you're there.

emerald when you do get to see the mw be prepared for loads of family medical history questions about you and the daddy. You'll also be asked if you want the Downs screening tests when the time comes.

Why is it bizarre? All of mine have been at 12 weeks, and you get the scan while you are there. Seemed to work OK.

Congratulations

My experience was pretty much the same as everyone else's, I went to see my dr and she said congratulations and then I made an appointment with the midwife, really no point me going to see her to be honest, your gp may want to see you when you discuss your concerns with them over the phone but a phonecall at first sounds fine.

The first time I found out I was pg I went to the dr and told him, he said the obligatory 'congratulations?' then it was a bit of an anticlimax I suppose. Just gave me advice on folic acid/alcohol etc and that was that. I wanted fanfares and fuss :) I was in there about 2 mins.

Second time, I just rang the surgery and booked in with the mw.

I quite like the dr callback service tbh, my back has been in spasm since last Thursday and it was incredibly painful, almost impossible, to get into the car and drive so a quick call from the dr, painkillers and tranquillisers prescribed, really saved me a lot of pain and hassle. Plus, it saved her time and she didn't need to examine me as I went into spasm on the phone, i don't think she appreciated my language :)

Thanks susieloo.

Still in a bit of shock about it all even though we were trying. Very excited but trying not to jump the gun; my best friend had an mc at 9 weeks a few weeks ago which really brought it hoe to me how important it is not to count your chickens... OTOH I think it is important to let yourself feel the excitement and not be TOO low key about it all...

birnamwood - made me laugh!!

I have really appreciated my surgery's phone system in the past too - had nightmare tummy troubles which meant I was NOT happy to walk 20 mins to the surgery and then sit in a waiting room for God knows how long...

I have a plan re wanting some fanfares and red carpet: will get DH to arrange! We can have our own private fanfare!!

I didn't even bother to see the GP this time, as it was pointless last time. I self-referred to the ante-natal dept of my local hospital (can do it online) as it's much quicker. Got my mw appointment and scan date sent to me very fast.

Only saw my GP when I got a UTI, he agreed that self-referring is much more efficient, and it frees up GP's time too.

I saw the GP but that was only so he could book me in with the MW - this was 11 years ago. First MW's appt was 8 weeks iirc.

I didn't even bother going to the GP this time around, it was a waste of time with DS, I just asked the HV to give the MW my details (they're in the same building) and the MW rang me to make an appointment. Sorted.

My booking in appointment was about 9 weeks, but they booked the12 week scan in seperately so I already had the date for that before my appointment
Just one point. If you want the nuchal translucency test (if it's offered in your PCT) then I believe this has to be done between 11-13 weeks so it is important to have this at the same time as your 12 week scan
Congratulations!

Congratulations! Make sure you really push for your endocrinology referral to happen immediately - I have an under active thyroid which is very common but was told I would get an endo referral and nothing happened aboutl it until after 12 weeks despite my repeated requests. It seems in my area they combine it with obstetrician care which starts at that point in your pregnancy but sounds like you really need to make sure you see someone sooner. Good luck with everything.

Enjoy the private fanfare and red carpet treatment!

TBH whenever I've been pregnant I've welcomed every opportunity not to have to trek down to the GP surgery. But let's not scare you yet

Congratulations!!

Heh, it is a ridiculous anticlimax! I had to book my GP appointment at work as that was when the GP was open, and the receptionist refused to make the appointment unless I told her what it was for. I told her I was in an office and didn't want to tell everyone and she "helpfully" told me to go somewhere private (did she not think I hadn't thought of that?!!!)

When I finally went, the doctor said I'd have some blood tests. Having spent waaaay too much time on American forums, I said "Oooh, is that bHCG, progesterone etc?" She gave me a filthy look and asked why they'd bother with that, no, they were just iron, platelets etc. Oh. She then insisted that I was wrong on how many weeks I was, and that I'd ovulated on day 14 (it was day actually day 29 that cycle) and booked me in for things at all sorts of the wrong times as she told me that apparently ALL women ovulate on day 14 Tell that to my chart and OPKs and the fact I'd been testing daily and only just got a positive.

Thankfully for my four subsequent pregnancies (two losses) the GPs have been a lot better and on occasion I have even got my beloved bHCG and progesterone tests out of the NHS, mainly because I do bleed a lot in early pregnancy and do have losses.

Sorry for the essay - I guess in summary if you get a shit GP just persist in demanding what you need, and that most GPs aren't shit but you might be unlucky! And no matter what, it's always an anticlimax.

I'm an endocrinologist, so I'd really reinforce what gailthegoldfish says. I do tell my patients to phone us directly when they have a positive test anyway so I can see them sooner and arrange the relevant bloods.

I self referred online to the Midwife when I found out I was pregnant. First time I saw anyone was when I had my booking in appointment at our local Family Centre. I am due tomorrow and haven't seen my GP once :)

Congratulations :)

I wish I could have self referred, not allowed at my GP's so you have to have the pointless appointment.