Why do you need to see a doctor first when you're pregnant rather than a midwife?

[pradabag]

This is my second pregnancy and have just rung up to try and make an appointment with midwife. Have been told I have to see doctor first before midwife. Does anyone understand why? When I was pregnant last time I saw the doctor and said "I'm pregnant" and she said "Oh OK, take folic acid and make an appointment with midwife". And basically that was it, in and out the door within 3 minutes. Seems like a complete waste of time to me. I was hoping because this is my second pregnancy I could skip out the doctor and see the midwife straight away.

I can understand if someone finds themselves pregnant and isn't sure whether to continue with the pregnancy, that they might want to see the doctor to discuss options. However, as I made clear to the receptionist this is a wanted pregnancy and I don't need to discuss my options with a doctor. It just seems that I'm taking up a valuable doctors appointment to be told "go and see the midwife".

DD - living in Scotland, had to hand in urine sample and then had to contact surgery a few days later to confirm pregnancy. Saw Dr who then passed me on to midwives

Ds - living in England, never saw a gp for the whole of the pregnancy, nor did i have to give a sample. Just booked straight in with midwife

I'm with little miss norty. It's about form filling and cash. If they fill in the form taking you on a pregnant patient the practice gets the money for looking after you, even if it is all done by the MWs in theory. So go, but at least make them fill in the forms and make them give you the form for claiming free prescriptions while you are there.