I don't have to actually go to a postnatal check do I?

[belly36]

...although yes, understand that it is important to have one, especially as I have some post-natal 'issues'.

Anyway, phoned the surgery today to rearrange my appointment as it's on a Monday and DS1 is not at nursery then. I really don't want my four year old son earwigging on a discussion about that sort of stuff. So surgery woman says postnatal appointments only happen on a Monday even though it's with my regular doctor who's there 5 days a week. So I say I can't come then. So receptionist woman says "But you have to come to a postnatal appointment it's compulsory"

It's not is it? If I decided not to go then it would be up to me wouldn't it?

I booked a double appointment, too, because I had two issues: my mental health and my savaged fanjo.

Filmed by the GP??? LittleSilver - what was that about?

Not compulsory for you, but probably compulsory for them if they want to get paid for it!!

I agree entirely with LittleSilver. I would have been fuming to have been told that ANY medical treatment of this kind was compulsory.

I was told this by a ward sister if all people, wrt blood tests for anaemia following the c/s birth of DD2. All I can say is that I bet she never tried the same tactics made the same mistake again.

There's good advice about booking a double appointment with your GP at a time to suit you both - though no doubt the receptionist will want to know precisely WHY you need one!

What is wrong with these GP reception staff? They always seem to be a) incredibly stupid and b) little Hitlers. I'm sure there are nice ones out there, but if so, I've never met them.

I never had my postnatal check. Our surgery has a policy that you are only allowed to see your own GP for non emergencies. my regular GP is male. I wanted to see a woman for my postnatal check and my request for refused.

all of mine (3) have been joint appointments for me and the baby - i assumed this was normal and would not have dreamed of missing it - got to be good to know all is back to normal (or not)

My postnatal check was pointless, and didn't need more than a normal appointment.

Made me furious when they tried to insist that all vaccinations had to be done on a Wednesday afternoon - when I was working, that would have meant a day and a half off work each time (nursery exclusion of 24 hours). I had to kick up a right stink each time for them to concede that the very same nurse could do them on a Friday afternoon instead.

mine was with nurse.

once she established that:

a) i had normal delivery with no stitches
b) i was feeling great
c) BFing was going well

she said, well that could have been done on the phone..

not in my world you dont

The GP was doing some kind of training and as part of this was being filmed. I was at the desk and the receptionist said "Oh, you will be filmed during your appt", to which I beleive my reply was something along the lines of "Oh no I'm not". She then told me I couldn't see the GP unless I agreed to be filmed. I got VERY shirty and complained to the practice manager and the PCT.

MumNW, slightly worried your appointment was with the practice nurse, it is out of their area of practice and therefore they should not be undertaking postnatal examinations. I had a letter from my GP's to make an appointment with the practice nurse for mine after DD, I poiletly declined and pointed out that she really shouldn't be performing the postnatal examination anyway.

I'm really confused by this! My 6 week check was with the gp at the same time as ds' check. He got a full examination but my check was just the doctor asking if I wanted to go back on the pill. I had no examination at all by midwives or the gp even though I had really painful stitches after an episiotomy! Is this normal or was there some oversight somewhere? I'm quite annoyed thinking about it because I asked 3 times for my stitches to be checked and I pulled them out myself in the end!

I probably posted that in the wrong place, I'll try posting in childbirth! Sorry op, yanbu at all. I would do as others have suggested and make an appointment without telling the receptionist what its for. Just make sure that you get a proper check up!