6 week postnatal check

[ElphabaThropp]

Can anyone tell me whether there is any point in this? I've been 'invited' to make an appointment - just for me, not for the baby who has a separate appointment- by my GP & it just seems like a load of hassle I can't cope with at the moment. Can anyone tell me what happens at these and whether its worth going?

thanks!!!!

Doc: Hello SOH, how are you?

SOH: Exhausted, sore, crazy, confused, hungry.

Doc: Lovely. Well have a nice day then.

Except not as indepth as that.

ShowOfHands sounds familiar. I was advised to book a female GP but she wasn't interested in seeing my extensive stitching. My favourite line was 'still breastfeeding then? Do you actually like it???"

ShowOfHands sounds familiar. I was advised to book a female GP but she wasn't interested in seeing my extensive stitching. My favourite line was 'still breastfeeding then? Do you actually like it???"

Lots of veiled questions about 'getting enough' help - very hamfisted attempt to see if you have postnatal depression

Discuss contraception!

Possibly do your blood pressure

That's it really.

Although a friend's male doctor felt her boobs at her six week appointment she was bf-ing though so maybe that's routine?

I just had mine, had my blood pressure done (4 times ) checked my episiotomy etc and talked about contraception. I am glad I went as apparently I am not quite 'fixed' down there yet

My 6 week check was done at the same time as ds'. He gave me a prescription for the pill and that was it for me. I was actually quite worried because I had no checkup at all, I had an episiotomy and noone checked my stitches. I felt really overlooked and was quite upset about it (probably hormonal too though). Ds got a thorough examination though so it wasn't all bad!

From GP point of view:

I try to see how the birth went, see if people feel physically / emotionally recovered from delivery. Wouldn't do examination unless patient says they still feel uncomfortable / would like exam.

Meant to screen for postnatal depression. I try to do this by asking people if they feel low and just chatting about how baby is doing / problems with sleep or feeding etc.

Discuss contraception - if wanted.

Ask how feeding is - if breast feeding are there any probs, if bottle feeding are there any probs and are they feeling ok about it?

We always do baby checks and postnatal checks for mum together which seems to make sense to me.

Answer is if you don't want to go perhaps not a lot of point going - but can be handy if you've any concerns at all or want contraception.

I think I have probably got a lot more helpful since actually having a baby!

thanks everyone!

Show of Hands your message made me LOL. Sounds exactly like my GP :-) Wish I had Smiley for a GP but mine is not all that helpful

Mine was:

GP: here are some contraceptives. Any questions?
Me: Yes. I was in hospital last week getting an abscess aspirated. There's still a lump there, look.
GP: Oh yes, breasts are lumpy when you're feeding.

Several weeks later: multiple operations, IV antibiotics, etc etc etc.

Thanks love.

After DS2........

Me: He doesn't seemed as settled as i'd have hoped by now. He's quite whingy especially in the evenings, do you think it could be colic?

Doc: If you ask me, he doesn't seem to be the one who's doing the whinging here.....

Thank Doc!

Went home and cried!

I found it useful, mostly because I could arrange coil fitting with that particular doctor.

If you don't have any issues or don't need a contraceptive fitting/prescription then I guess it will not be useful for you (but do keep the baby appointment).

Shaz - oh dear.... Hope all is ok now.

Elphaba - if there is a GP in the practice that you do find helpful may be worth asking if you can have postnatal check with them instead... I think different GPs prob have different strengths and weaknesses (and I try v hard to be helpful at postnatal checks having now experienced awful delivery / incessant baby screaming and feeding and the utter torture of sleep deprivation - before I think I probably had a bit of an attitude of oh well, babies cry don't they, never mind, just keep going - we live and learn!)

Felt her boobs?

dancingonmybladder! What a horrible thing to say! I cried after my 6 week check too . Its such a vulnerable time isn't it? I know I should have asked for a proper checkup but after asking mws 3 times to look at my stitches and being fobbed off I just didn't feel strong enough to ask again for someone to look at my fanjo so instead I thanked him, left and dissolved into tears when I got home . Next time I'm booking my appointment with smiley!

Mine was a complete waste of a morning, was all set to be examined after 3rd degree tear only for him to give DD a quick once-over and ask me if I was ok.

What ShowofHands said.

After 3rd deg tear and incontinence. my GP did not want to know. I asked him to have a look and he looked at me like I had Secret Designs on him that would be advanced by asking him to look at my trashed perineum. He took one hesitant looks and hastily referred me right back to the ob/gyn. Possibly because my posterior wall was about 3 cm outside of my vagina.

Twit.