Doctors appointment tomorrow for planning to get pregnant

[beckyboop1]

Hi everyone!

I'm 29 and planning to start trying for a baby in the middle of the year. Thought it would be good to see the doctor and ask about vitamins, make sure my injections are up to date etc and was wondering if anyone else has gone to the doctors pre-pregnancy and what types of questions they asked? I'm pretty healthy in general and work in a Nursery so one of my main concerns are the things I could catch from the children and whether I need to be extra aware with any of these.

Thanks!

Hi @beckyboop1 I'm also 29 planning on TTC after our holiday in June. I've not been to the doctors but I have started taking pre pregnancy vitamins just to get a head start and tracking ovulation so I have a rough idea where I am come June. Fingers crossed for you x

Really not sure why you need a doctor’s appointment for this. You can find all the information you need in a book/online- basically, take folic acid. They will check all your relevant vaccinations/immunity as and when you actually fall pregnant.

There is tonnes of information from the NHS about getting pregnant, how you should take folic acid, the advice on vitamins etc - not sure why you need a GP appointment when you can easily read up about it? Do you think you might have a gap in your immunisations?

NHS info here

I agree you don’t need an appointment. Start taking folic acid a couple of months before you start ttc. There’s nothing else you need to do, eat healthily, stop smoking if either of you does currently, have healthy diets and healthy bmis.

Round here, you don’t see the GP when you get pregnant either. My surgery has links on the website to self referral paperwork for the midwife, you then have your booking appointment around 8 weeks and at that they book your 12 week scan. No one double checks you’re pregnant as home tests are so reliable.

Good luck!

I agree that you don't need an appointment unless you have existing health issues that could affect pregnancy. You can look up nutrition guidelines on the NHS site and if you want to know if you need any immunisations (highly unlikely if you grew up and went to school in the UK) you can ask your GP for a printout or sign up to view your records online by going to your surgery with photo ID plus proof of address. Good luck with ttc.

GPs are busy enough without having to see people who aren't pregnant yet. It's no wonder it's so difficult to get an appointment.
Just buy some folic acid, cut out/down fags and booze and DTD. Simple.

Please don't waste a GP appointment on this. Or if you think it's important for a professional to tell you information that is readily available online, you can pay to see someone privately.

There are a couple of childhood illnesses you should avoid being around if pregnant. Info for this is available online or from your midwife once you see her.

I agree with others that you don’t need a GP appointment. I’ve seen a few threads on here recently about people complaining it takes 3 weeks or more to get a GP appointment - and these are people who have quite nasty symptoms. It might be too late to cancel now if your appointment is in the morning, but please think about this in future. Sadly the days of having a family GP who you can see for general chats is a thing of the past, but at least you can find everything you need to know about pregnancy preparation online (as per the links and advice from pp above)

I’ve noticed that lots of apps and online pregnancy info seems to tell women to see their dr before getting pregnant, but as others have said unless you have a medical condition there’s nothing they can tell you that you can’t read on the NHS website. It’s a waste of an appointment.

Just take folic acid and stop drinking 3 months before ttc and you’ll be fine.

This shouldn’t be a gp appointment.

If you really want to see someone ask for the nurse?

Agree with previous posters you really don't need to see a GP for this. They really are overstretches with seeing sick patients. The NHS website has loads of info on planning for pregnancy and most of its pretty obvious. I didn't even see the GP when I found out I was pregnant: just a self referral to the midwifery team.

Please don't make a gp appt. the services are stretched enough.

You don’t even need to see the GP when you are pregnant. Unless appointment is 8am I’d call & cancel so someone who needs it can have it.

Very exciting for you though OP, best of luck TTC

Also 29 and going to start TTC in June/July (dependent on promotion).

I’m going to start taking prenatal vitamins & folic acid in April, and that’s about it.

Pp's are right. Even when you fall pregnant don't waste your time going to the doctors.

Agree with others, no need for a doctors appointment. Leave them for others that are in genuine need.

There is loads of info online, but pretty much take folic acid and stop smoking if that applies. I didn’t cut down drinking until I was actively ttc and still had small amounts of alcohol occasionally until I actually fell pregnant.

I don't think you even need "prenatal vitamins". Are they any different from the usual vitamins you get from eating food?
No they aren't. They are a waste of money.

Not sure you should be wasting doctors time. Plenty of advice online about what you should be doing when starting to ttc or speak to a pharmacist?

I am TTC and have not been to the GP.

There are so many services and online information for this I'm quite surprised it would even cross your mind to see a GP using NHS resources.

Heratnumber7 you need to make sure you are getting enough folic acid.

Just read the NHS website - all the info you need if there and to be honest I suspect if you turned up and asked those question the dr would just check there themselves and it’s not information they would normally need to know unless they wanted to ttc themselves.

Sorry but I'm not sure why you'd waste a GP appointment for this - especially when you say you're not trying until mid year?! Unless you have a pre-existing condition? There's plenty of information available online, in books etc. I'd seek guidance form there instead.

Oh gosh no, you don't need to go to your doctors.

Take folic acid and good luck.

Good grief you can't get a Drs appointment here if your arm is hanging off!