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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think the GP surgery should follow NHS guidelines and offer a 6 week check?

62 replies

Disgruntledpelicanlady · 16/08/2022 16:10

Lucky enough to have just had a baby. She is 6 weeks on Sunday.
I had severe pre eclampsia and she was delivered by emergency c section at 35 weeks. She was in SCBU and has been admitted back to hospital twice since she was sent home to treat jaundice and an infection. When I was discharged, hospital recommended additional checks and bloods for me after 6 weeks to correspond with 6 week check.
I rang my GP today to book our 6 week check and was told they don't offer 6-8 week checks (as is NHS policy) and they want to offer it between 8-12 weeks as that's their practice policy.
I've been told that I can't drive or exercise until after 6 weeks and when my GP OKs this. I feel frustrated that I have to wait longer to get back to normal when I feel fine.
This will apparently also push baby's 8 week jabs back until after the appointment.
AIBU to think the GP should follow the NHS policy and offer the appointments when is recommended?

OP posts:
passport123 · 16/08/2022 16:19

OK, there's a few things to unpick here. I'm an NHS GP.

We do the mother's check and the baby's check at different times. this is deliberate as we find that if we combine them, the Mum finds it difficult to concentrate on her own health, which is just as important as the baby's health.

We do the Mum's check at 6 weeks, earlier if asked, and it covers healing after the birth, mood, is a smear due, contraception and any other concerns she has. For someone who has had severe pre-eclampsia we might see her much earlier to sort out BP meds etc, or it might be that she's still under the care of the hospital and community midwife for that - it varies.

If your hospital team want tests done then they should give you the forms, so that's very cheeky of them ordering the GP to do specific tests. First action is I would contact your consultant's secretary and ask for the forms, so that the results go back to them and not to the GP. We have a massive issue in primary care with secondary care trying to give us unresourced work which we don't have the staff for, plus it introduces extra loops into the pathway which can be dangerous.

We do the baby's check in the week that the baby turns 8 weeks and they get the full check over and their first imms. We are not allowed to give the imms at less than 8 weeks (literally, we'd get into massive trouble for giving at 7 weeks and 6 days) and our baby clinics in my surgery are only one day per week so it would usually be between when your baby is 8 weeks and 8 weeks + 6 days. I suppose it is possible that if something happened at the very last minute e.g. the dr or nurse doing baby clinic (dr and nurse do it together) was ill and we couldn't find cover then we might have to push it back a week- having it at 9 weeks isn't the end of the world.

Not offering the baby check until 12 weeks is unusual. But I would caveat that by saying that primary care is under immense pressure. I personally have several friends who are close to burnout and thinking of leaving. I'm aware of three GP suicides in the last couple of months. I myself would have burnt out and left GP years ago if it wasn't for the fact that I recognised it, cut down my GP hours and do other things for part of the week. So your surgery isn't automatically bad/lazy (they might be - there are good and bad in any walk of life) - on the odds, they are more likely to be struggling with supply and demand issues where not only do the ends not meet, but the ends can't even wave at each other.

We don't sign people as fit back to drive, it's your insurers decision so I'd ring them on that - it's usually when you feel safe to do an emergency stop. Ditto with exercise, I wouldn't say anything more insightful than start slow and listen to your body.

Hope that helps - happy to come back if you've got any further queries, though with the GMC's social media policy in mind I should be clear that this isn't individual medical advice.

lanthanum · 16/08/2022 16:21

Ring them again and say that you need to book the checks/tests the hospital has recommended at six weeks. Once you're there they'll probably okay you to drive, and if they choose not to get the rest of the checks done at the same time, that's their problem.

(I know someone who was told after an op that they needed to see their practice nurse MWF to change dressings. The surgery initially said they only did dressings on Mon/Thu, but they stood their ground, and the surgery backed down.)

Hugasauras · 16/08/2022 16:21

Who told you the driving thing? I was back at 10 days PP this time round after my section. My insurers said as long as I feel safe to drive then it's fine. The six weeks thing is a myth that gets repeated so often it's hard to convince people it really isn't true.

Hugasauras · 16/08/2022 16:23

Oh and DD was 8 weeks on Fri and just had her GP check then and her jabs are on Weds so I think that's pretty standard.

willithappen · 16/08/2022 16:24

Firstly check with your insurance re driving. If there are no strict terms in that you should be fine to drive providing you feel fit yourself and I'd suggest a small journey first

I drove at 4.5weeks pp after a c section on an automatic car but it was a BAD idea as I passed blood clots after. Was fine, but obviously moved some stuff around

Re the checks, you absolutely should get a 6 week check. You may need to call again and really push this. I had to with my GP and initially they were offering me it over the phone. I was fuming and told them I'd like to be seen in person considering I had a c section and I wanted the scar checked. I'm the only one out of my close friend group who got an in person check - the rest got over the phone or didn't bother phoning in to book for themselves!

BlackbirdsSinging · 16/08/2022 16:25

I’m sure they would love to but they are too busy with emergencies

Hugasauras · 16/08/2022 16:25

Although this has reminded me that I never did book a check for myself! Oh well.

RockAndRollerskate · 16/08/2022 16:26

In Wales we don’t get a mothers check at all

Greenqueen40 · 16/08/2022 16:30

People can't get appointments for suspected malignancy so unless you are currently clinically unwell or need BP meds reviewing then yabvu

wpaosj · 16/08/2022 16:31

passport123 · 16/08/2022 16:19

OK, there's a few things to unpick here. I'm an NHS GP.

We do the mother's check and the baby's check at different times. this is deliberate as we find that if we combine them, the Mum finds it difficult to concentrate on her own health, which is just as important as the baby's health.

We do the Mum's check at 6 weeks, earlier if asked, and it covers healing after the birth, mood, is a smear due, contraception and any other concerns she has. For someone who has had severe pre-eclampsia we might see her much earlier to sort out BP meds etc, or it might be that she's still under the care of the hospital and community midwife for that - it varies.

If your hospital team want tests done then they should give you the forms, so that's very cheeky of them ordering the GP to do specific tests. First action is I would contact your consultant's secretary and ask for the forms, so that the results go back to them and not to the GP. We have a massive issue in primary care with secondary care trying to give us unresourced work which we don't have the staff for, plus it introduces extra loops into the pathway which can be dangerous.

We do the baby's check in the week that the baby turns 8 weeks and they get the full check over and their first imms. We are not allowed to give the imms at less than 8 weeks (literally, we'd get into massive trouble for giving at 7 weeks and 6 days) and our baby clinics in my surgery are only one day per week so it would usually be between when your baby is 8 weeks and 8 weeks + 6 days. I suppose it is possible that if something happened at the very last minute e.g. the dr or nurse doing baby clinic (dr and nurse do it together) was ill and we couldn't find cover then we might have to push it back a week- having it at 9 weeks isn't the end of the world.

Not offering the baby check until 12 weeks is unusual. But I would caveat that by saying that primary care is under immense pressure. I personally have several friends who are close to burnout and thinking of leaving. I'm aware of three GP suicides in the last couple of months. I myself would have burnt out and left GP years ago if it wasn't for the fact that I recognised it, cut down my GP hours and do other things for part of the week. So your surgery isn't automatically bad/lazy (they might be - there are good and bad in any walk of life) - on the odds, they are more likely to be struggling with supply and demand issues where not only do the ends not meet, but the ends can't even wave at each other.

We don't sign people as fit back to drive, it's your insurers decision so I'd ring them on that - it's usually when you feel safe to do an emergency stop. Ditto with exercise, I wouldn't say anything more insightful than start slow and listen to your body.

Hope that helps - happy to come back if you've got any further queries, though with the GMC's social media policy in mind I should be clear that this isn't individual medical advice.

Very helpful post, thank you

GrapesAreMyJam · 16/08/2022 16:44

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

User8273738273737 · 16/08/2022 16:50

passport123 · 16/08/2022 16:19

OK, there's a few things to unpick here. I'm an NHS GP.

We do the mother's check and the baby's check at different times. this is deliberate as we find that if we combine them, the Mum finds it difficult to concentrate on her own health, which is just as important as the baby's health.

We do the Mum's check at 6 weeks, earlier if asked, and it covers healing after the birth, mood, is a smear due, contraception and any other concerns she has. For someone who has had severe pre-eclampsia we might see her much earlier to sort out BP meds etc, or it might be that she's still under the care of the hospital and community midwife for that - it varies.

If your hospital team want tests done then they should give you the forms, so that's very cheeky of them ordering the GP to do specific tests. First action is I would contact your consultant's secretary and ask for the forms, so that the results go back to them and not to the GP. We have a massive issue in primary care with secondary care trying to give us unresourced work which we don't have the staff for, plus it introduces extra loops into the pathway which can be dangerous.

We do the baby's check in the week that the baby turns 8 weeks and they get the full check over and their first imms. We are not allowed to give the imms at less than 8 weeks (literally, we'd get into massive trouble for giving at 7 weeks and 6 days) and our baby clinics in my surgery are only one day per week so it would usually be between when your baby is 8 weeks and 8 weeks + 6 days. I suppose it is possible that if something happened at the very last minute e.g. the dr or nurse doing baby clinic (dr and nurse do it together) was ill and we couldn't find cover then we might have to push it back a week- having it at 9 weeks isn't the end of the world.

Not offering the baby check until 12 weeks is unusual. But I would caveat that by saying that primary care is under immense pressure. I personally have several friends who are close to burnout and thinking of leaving. I'm aware of three GP suicides in the last couple of months. I myself would have burnt out and left GP years ago if it wasn't for the fact that I recognised it, cut down my GP hours and do other things for part of the week. So your surgery isn't automatically bad/lazy (they might be - there are good and bad in any walk of life) - on the odds, they are more likely to be struggling with supply and demand issues where not only do the ends not meet, but the ends can't even wave at each other.

We don't sign people as fit back to drive, it's your insurers decision so I'd ring them on that - it's usually when you feel safe to do an emergency stop. Ditto with exercise, I wouldn't say anything more insightful than start slow and listen to your body.

Hope that helps - happy to come back if you've got any further queries, though with the GMC's social media policy in mind I should be clear that this isn't individual medical advice.

@passport123 thank you for taking the time, very helpful!

Hiddenvoice · 16/08/2022 16:57

I had my baby via c section, I didn’t have a check until 9 weeks. My dd had all the same checks she had in hospital. I had my blood pressure taken, asked about contraception and asked if I felt okay. I wasn’t checked in any other way. My wound had an infection 2 weeks pp but the gp didn’t ask to see it or even mention it.
I just started driving after 6 weeks because I didn’t have access to a car. I started properly exercising at 6 weeks when I felt ready.

PinkDaffodil2 · 16/08/2022 16:58

I just came on to say pretty much everything @passport123 said but they put it much better! Also an NHS GP, driving is nothing to do with us, but it’s good practice for Mum to have her appointment close to 6 weeks as lots need contraception sorting by then. Hospital tests should be requested by hospital.

teezletangler · 16/08/2022 17:00

The "signed off for driving and exercise" things are both myths that just get repeated over and over!

Hottt · 16/08/2022 17:04

When I had DS (pre-Covid), I was told by my GP that the six week check is just for the baby and that there is no six week check for the mother. I'd been told by consultant during the pregnancy to follow-up on something at my six week check but the GP insisted that it didn't exist and if I wanted an appointment for myself I'd need to book one by phoning up at 8am the usual way. I tried to do that and was refused an appointment. When I had DD, the consultant again mentioned getting something followed up at my six week check and I questioned it, the consultant said that mothers are definitely supposed to have a check after the birth and the GP was wrong to refuse me a check after my first pregnancy - but they did the same again with DD.

willithappen · 16/08/2022 17:29

BlackbirdsSinging · 16/08/2022 16:25

I’m sure they would love to but they are too busy with emergencies

That's a lie and don't try guilt OP with this. GPs are not busy with emergencies, they are stuck in Covid rituals

Hottt · 16/08/2022 17:37

BlackbirdsSinging · 16/08/2022 16:25

I’m sure they would love to but they are too busy with emergencies

How exactly did you come to this conclusion? They have to devote exactly the same amount of time, money, staff and resources to give the check at 9 weeks as they would to do it at 6 weeks. If they have 100 new mothers on their books then they'd have to do 100 6 week appointments if they followed NHS guidelines. They're choosing to do 100 8-12 week appointments, against NHS guidelines.

Why do you think they're somehow less busy by delaying the appointments? Your point is completely illogical.

Darkstar4855 · 16/08/2022 17:49

I had a six week check but it was with the obstetric consultant in outpatient clinic at the hospital. I did have a third degree tear so that might have been why. If they are concerned about the pre eclampsia and want additional tests then they should be following you up, not the GP. They are the specialists.

I’d suggest phoning your consultant’s secretary to arrange an appointment as pp said.

Mommabear20 · 16/08/2022 17:55

Had my DD in 2020 and DS in 2021, both had a joint appointment with me for my 6 week check and their 8 week one when they were 8 weeks. It stops you having to trail out twice which is a win in my book! Have 3 nephews and a niece born in the same years that have all done the same with different GP practices.

passport123 · 16/08/2022 18:15

willithappen · 16/08/2022 17:29

That's a lie and don't try guilt OP with this. GPs are not busy with emergencies, they are stuck in Covid rituals

Of course. It's a really easy life, we just sit on our arses all day and get paid loads for the privilege. That's why GPs are leaving in droves. That's why GPs are dying of suicide. That's why no-one wants to do the job. 🙄

dammit88 · 16/08/2022 18:22

You say yourself you feel fine so .....

passport123 · 16/08/2022 18:27

dammit88 · 16/08/2022 18:22

You say yourself you feel fine so .....

so she still needs a post natal check. Every woman does. Lots 'feel fine' and on very gentle probing have post natal depression. And she's had significant complications to her pregnancy.

Hidingawaytoday · 16/08/2022 18:28

We had the mum and baby check in the same appointment at 8 weeks, then the first set of jabs straight afterwards with the nurse. You could try and get an appointment just for you?

Hidingawaytoday · 16/08/2022 18:30

Greenqueen40 · 16/08/2022 16:30

People can't get appointments for suspected malignancy so unless you are currently clinically unwell or need BP meds reviewing then yabvu

Well she's not is she? The check is vital to check the health of the mother and baby a few weeks after birth.

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