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Original poster

6 or 8 week post-natal check!!!

17 replies

GenT · 15/07/2003 21:00

At my surgery we get an 8 week post-natal checkup instead of the normal 6 week. Are there any questions in particular one should ask?

OP posts:

boyandgirl · 16/07/2003 13:42

How are you feeling about yourself and the baby - if you have any queries or anxieties then I would suggest writing a list, because while some doctors do a thorough examination, others just say 'Oh you look fine, off you go!' Is the check-up at 8wks so that they can do the baby's check-up at the same visit?

Original poster

GenT · 16/07/2003 19:46

Both baby's and mum's check is at 8 weeks. I think baby should do fine, just hope mum is too. I am a bit anxious.

OP posts:

boyandgirl · 17/07/2003 15:01

It's not a test or exam that you pass or fail. It's to make sure you are recovering well physically and emotionally, and that the baby is developing well. So don't feel threatened by it . (I love these emoticons!)

SofiaAmes · 17/07/2003 22:58

Yes, good idea about the list. After I had my ds (emergency c-section after 40 hours of labor) I got a cursory 6 week check by my useless gp at the time. After having my dd, when I week for my 6 week check, I went armed with a written list of things I wanted to ask about. Some of them were pregnancy/birth related (contraception, hemmoroids etc.) and some were just existing things that had been made worse while pregnant (sore toe, skin growths). My lovely current gp took them all seriously and immediately referred me to consultants where necessary.
Don't feel shy about asking about everything and anything that you may feel is wrong with your body. It's your right and you certainly deserve the chance to get your "original" self back.

justmummy · 18/07/2003 14:15

Had an 8 week check with both of mine. Don't be anxious about it they just check that you have recovered after the birth, blood pressure etc, and check that the womb has returned to its pre-pregnant size.

Also a good chance to sort out contraception. I didnt think i could go back on the pill whilst breast-feeding, but GP thankfully explained about mini-pill.

Original poster

GenT · 19/07/2003 23:02

Thank you for the responses. Contraception will be an issue. Which one of the pills make you put on weight? I am veering toward that one. I really thought when I got pregnant I would put on weight and stay with some of it, sheesh, no luck there, I lost everything.. Don't worry, I do eat like a horse and nothing. Help!!!
I am looking forward to the check up as I need to know when babies are allowed to fly? Does anyone know? If my little one was crying on a full plane, I think the journey might be express just so she could shut up? She has a shrill in that cry of hers.

OP posts:

Ghosty · 20/07/2003 05:56

I don't think there is a 'rule' about when small babies can fly. My friend flew from NZ to the UK recently with her 5 week old DD.
I personally wouldn't fly with a tiny baby ... but that is just me ...

steppemum · 20/07/2003 15:59

There is no rule about flying with little babies, but I know lots of people who have done it, some as young as 4 weeks. I asked a couple of doctor friends and they suggested that pre 8 weeks was not a good idea because their immune system is too immature, also there is a big difference between 2 hours to go to spain and 24 hours to go to Australia. Only you can really decide when you and the baby feel strong enough. I live overseas, and ds was born in UK, we returned at 9 weeks, and that was fine (7 hours flying) BUT i nearly cancelled at the last minute because he had a bad cold, and a baby can burst their eardrums with take off and landing pressure, fortunately he woke up sniff free on the day we were to fly. He slept all the way, just like in a car or bus. Remember to book the skycot if you can.

wobblymum · 20/08/2003 14:11

Don't want to argue with anyone but I was watching Airline a while ago and there was a mum on there who was flying home after having her baby (I think it was about 3 weeks old, not sure) and she was told that the baby was too young to fly by a few hours, so she wasn't exactly happy, as she'd been told all the way through that it would be ok. So I think there is a limit, but it's quite young.

boyandgirl · 20/08/2003 14:35

I remember seeing that. For some reason she couldn't go home, and by the time the airline had come to some arrangement for her, the baby was 'old' enough to fly! Crazy. I personally wouldn't take such a young baby on a plane.

motherinferior · 20/08/2003 20:27

Good luck - my checkup last week was bloody hopeless (doc obviously felt asking about contraception was terribly embarrassed, and never asked me how I actually was) but it was OK, really.

jessi · 20/08/2003 21:45

This thread has raised my anxiety levels now, I am due to fly this weekend with dd who will be 6 weeks, is that too young? Its only a 1hr 50 minute flight and I thought that would be OK if I fed her on take off and landing. Arggh!

Sparks · 21/08/2003 10:07

If you are worried, why don't you just phone the airline to check? These type of rules vary from one airline to another. IMO they are for the benefit of the airline, not for the protection of babies.

One of my friends flew from the UK to South Africa with a 6 week old. She had no problems at all, in fact got many complements about her beautiful baby

boyandgirl · 21/08/2003 13:40

Jessi, if you can manage it, try to get a seat as near the front of the plane as possible because the air quality is much better at the front.

jessi · 21/08/2003 19:35

Thanks, I will ask at check-in!

morocco · 25/08/2003 09:26

I flew with ds at 8 weeks no problems and when I asked my doc he said that a baby's ear drums are too small for them to get pain when taking off/landing. All I can say is that he's never cried on take off/landing (now 10 months) except to protest at being strapped down so I guess it's true (once he even had a bad cold at the time). On the positive side I personally found it easiest to travel with ds when he was a tiny baby as he slept most of the way and didn't need any messy baby food etc.

Wills · 25/08/2003 11:18

Going back to the checkup I have to agree with motherinferio. We had just changed surgeries and because of this I had no idea who was good or bad etc. My 6 week checkup consisted of being asked what form of contraception I was using - thats it! So as another point insist that your 6 week checkup is done with a gp that you like/trust.

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