6 week check: interesting to see what GPs look out for

[thomasstockmann]

6 week check: were you asked about all these things?
I was a bit shocked to see the numbers about urinary and faecal incontinence after birth.
What do you think?

www.patient.co.uk/doctor/mothers-six-week-postnatal-check

I was asked one question "so, everything ok?"

I replied well yes as good as can be I suppose. Great he said and I was shown the door....waited 30mins in a waiting room for that!!

The GPs at our surgery don't offer a 6 week check unless there are ongoing problems.

Gosh my 6 week check involved an internal examination as well as an embarrassingly in depth discussion about my stitches, bum and any weeping issues.

I guess I should be glad it was thorough but at the time
It was just cringy!

She checked my stitches had healed, and checked that my uterus was contractind, checked pelvic floor muscles and did a smear. Dont remember what else. I talked over a lot of those things with my wonderful hv.

well goes to show how crap my surgery is . I knew there was a reason I never went.

Last time mine had a go at me for having baby with me (i dont have any childcare, so where was I supposed to leave him - in the car???). Said are you OK, to which I answered no, I was having horrendous problems with wound healing down below (stitches had dissolved too fast, wound opened up completely, hospital wouldn't do anything just said itll take a lot longer to heal, then it became infected, had antibiotics, it cleared up but got thrush from antibiotics, then seemed to have come back) and i was concerned infection was back. She just told me not to be ridiculous and ushered me out. I actually cried.

Had to make an appointment following day to actually get wound checked, it was infected again.

This time I'm not sure I'll even bother going to a 6week checkup appointment, just make a normal appointment if I need it.

That's awful, Why, I think I'd have asked for a word with the practice manager about that. Not good enough at all.

Lego - I had some terrible experiences with drs and midwives around the time of my DS's birth (rather a shock when id been lucky to have never met a nasty dr prior to then) and tbh probably should have put complaints in about a few things but I was too much of a mess with PND to deal with it.

I did tell the other Dr, the following day how horrible the first had been to me. That Dr was a practice partner, so hopefully even though I didn't do anything official the nasty Dr will have had someone have a word with her.

Good, it's a shame when health professionals think they can be so dismissive to vulnerable patients, hopefully this doctor won't speak so thoughtlessly to the next new patient.

Sorry you had to go through that though. Sorry I hit post prematurely!

I went to mine and was told that they don't routinely do them, not sure where I got the idea I should book one here probably

I asked that she checked my stitches which she did but other than that just asked if everything was ok.

I didn't have one... They only do one for the baby and not the mother in my area. In fact I never had my stitches or anything checked by anyone after the birth!

Mine just asked how I was and then talked about contraception and then moved onto DSs 6 week check up

Mine was the same as Alb's. DS and I had s combined one.

Except that it wasn't 6 weeks, it was 10 as the receptionist refused to book me in any sooner as apparently my surgery do it at 8 weeks after due date and DS was 2 weeks early.
I tried to argue with her but she stood firm. Good job there wasn't anything wrong with either of us!

I was expecting an examination as my stitches had come apart- was seeing nurse weekly but would have liked Dr recommendations too. Also asked about birth I explained how traumatic I found it but no mention of support to work through this- my health visitor will support me with this though when I feel ready she has said.

In some ways I wonder if I should have waited until fully healed before going for my check (was 8 weeks so they could also examine ds pre first immunisations) so very much expected to bring child! Also interested to hear about smear test as I got letter before I was healed asked nurse if should put it off and she said yes but if I'd read this would have waited longer! Done now!

Oh God, I didn't even know some areas don't offer a 6 week check. Personally I had so many problems after birth, including a secondary postpartum haemorrhage, that I had seen the GP 4 or 5 times before my check was due.

I cried after mine too. It just felt like a real waste of time. No one checked my stitches and I didn't feel I could ask him to look. I don't remember what he did ask tbh.

Mine was messed up due to a GP receptionist who 'knew it all' and told me they were no longer routine for mum or baby.

When I went at 8 weeks for DD's jabs I asked why and the nurse looked aghast! Immediately booked ours.

At mine they ASKED questions but it was very hands off - but then again I was fine bar needing some stool softeners. Maybe if I'd asked them to look they would but feel it intrusive if OK.

Still furious about that receptionist. DD has a mild clicky hip I need to get checked for dysplacia (though unlikely a small risk GP assured me). If I were less assertive it would never have been picked up. Ditto if I had severe PND (I have mild PNA as it is!).

...they asked me to describe the receptionist then I heard nurse say to GP "I know who told that lady that, she's at it again..." as I left. So I hope someone had words!

Mine was combined with DS 8 week check. I was asked how I was. I told her okay except for ongoing hip pain when I walked for more than 10 minutes. I was told it would get better and try doing pilates. Then DS was checked out. That was it. Totally rubbish.

Oo interesting. None of my local antenatal class friends found their check up useful at all - they were all asked how they were and then sent on their way ASAP, but I'm at a different surgery and mine was fantastic. Only problem was it happened at 10 weeks bc there was a bit of a backlog, but it was combined with DS check up - doctor checked him over really thoroughly then had a big chat with me about my birth, checked BP and then (tmi) my piles and proper internal. I was thrilled, it was so thorough and she was so patient.

I was told to book my 6 week check by the hv and when I tried later that day I was told they don't offer them any longer. So haven't been checked after my 2nd degree tear & stitches... Hoping things will sort themselves out in due time ??