so when you first find out your pregnant what next?

[grottielottie]

My DH and I are planning to start TTC at the start of next year, however we are also moving abroad for the first 5 months of the year. Obviously is unlikely that I will fall straight away but just wondering what the medical implications of being away from the U.K.

When would you first go to the doc, how far in advance does the 12 week scan need to be booked etc, and if luck is on our side and I fall pregnant straight away how would I go about sorting the scans etc for my return.

Will be in France so not exactly out mongolia, could return if need be but would rather not as we are seeing it as a bit of a break too.

You can see the GP when you get a positive test result or probably contact the midwives directly.
Then if all goes well - booking appointment with midwife at about 8 weeks - the midwife books the 12/13 week scan at the hospital. Then midwife appointment at 16 weeks. Anomaly scan @20 weeks (I made the appt when I had the first scan).
Then midwife at 25 weeks. Some of these things vary depending on where you live.

Hi,
I found out last week that I'm pregnant but due to having PCOS, an erratic cycle, previous infertility and recent upheavals (moving house etc) I've no idea when I conceived. I think my last period was early June, which could make me anything up to 3 months pregnant. My GP has just said she'll 'refer me' but I don't know who to or why/when. Does anyone know what might be likely to happen next, given that I could be anything between 6weeks and 3 months pregnant? I'm going crazy not knowing how pregnant I am or thinking that I'll have to wait forever for the slow process to creak into action!
Any advice gratefully received!

lifescomplicated, contact your local hospital to ask if they have an early pregnancy unit (even hospitals without maternity units often have them), explain your situation and ask if they can do a quick early scan for you to give you a rough idea.
They MAY say no, esp if you're (touch wood) not having any "problems" such as bleeding, but my EPU were more than helpful about everything.

Thanks so much vmcd28, that's really helpful advice. I've got a GP appt for tomorrow morn so I'll see if she does a referral to the EPU and if not I'll self-refer as you suggested.
Thanks again, and I hope all's well with your pregnancy (if you are also in the club!)

no probs, let us know how you get on.
Yes, I'm 30 weeks now, and keeping well. Thank you :)

Lifescomplicated - you sound in the same situation as me! think my last period was June, no idea how far gone I am! Do you have any 'symptoms' yet? I'm not even registered at my doc's yet!

Don't bet on not getting pregnant straight away. Although sometimes it is hard to conceive sometimes it isn't. I conceived within 2 months of stopping using contraception. But as GoldenKippers said you don't actually have to be in the country for the first 10 weeks anyway.

Medical implications could mean that if something goes wrong you might end up paying for your treatment while away but I believe if you get a travel watzit from, erm.. somewhere you can still get free health care while in the EEA (most of Europe), but I suggest you check that with someone who at least knows where you get one of those travel watzits from or even knows what they're called.

LadyBay - at last someone in the same situation as me! Absolutely everyone else I meet on these threads seems to know to within a day how pregnant they are and I feel totally clueless! The GP felt my abdo yesterday and thinks I'm at least 8 weeks with a guestimate of a due date of 29th April 2011.

Yes I've had symptoms from the off (but didnt realise I was pregnant until I was 7 weeks - durr). Sore boobs I thought was PMT, abdo cramps I thought was bladder infection, urinary urgency ditto, night sweats I thought was due to new house, tearfulness I thought was my depression, nausea I thought was stress, exhaustion and revulsion from certain smells I thought were both from the meds Im on.... ! I'm also now plagued by headaches. Have you had any symptoms? Apparently it's a v individual thing and my mum had no symptoms with me, so dont worry if you've not.
I'd get registered with the GP practice and then either pop along and see your GP to confirm the pregnancy or I think you can just ring the midwife directly. If you're a bout the same amount of weeks as me certain things need booking soonish.
It'll be fun being in the same boat. Let me know how you get on.
best wishes to all.
x