First pregnancy, new to the country, no idea what to expect.

[mikaelaelizabeth]

Hi ladies, I'm an American newly married to a Brit and living in the UK. This is my first pregnancy and basically... I have no idea what I'm doing.

My husband and I are pretty private people so we haven't actually told anyone (here or in the States) that I'm pregnant. But since we're keeping it to ourselves, I also have no one to ask for advice.

When I was about 5 weeks I went to the GP and told her I was pregnant and she said she'd refer me to a midwife and that in the meantime there was nothing to do but wait (and not to eat any soft cheese).

Now I'm at the end of 9 weeks and I'm wondering when I should expect to hear from the midwife. After having a look around mumsnet it seems like I'm supposed to have a booking appointment soon. Do I just wait and hope someone contacts me? Can I contact a midwife directly myself, or should I call my GP back? Or am I just being anxious because time seems to go so slow when you think you're pregnant?

Any advice or suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated as I'm new to being pregnant and the medical care system here. Thanks!

Congratulations!
I think different GP practices have different booking in procedures, but it wouldn't hurt to phone the surgery and ask for a booking in appointment with the midwife. There should be one attached to your surgery. It's possible that you've got a letter on the way or equally likely that your GP was expecting you to contact the midwife directly.
Good luck.

Hi mikaelaelizabeth, your first booking appointment should be around 10 weeks so I would chase up GP if I were you as I got a letter a couple of weeks before my appointment confirming when it was. Although all health authorities are different. Mine seems to be quite good and everything gets automatically booked up for you. But a friend of mine from a different area has to book everything herself and constantly chase the midwife.

Firstly, congrats!

I would call your GP practice, they can advise you whether you can talk to the midwife yourself at this date or whether they sort things out. The booking in appointment is normally around 9-10 weeks so it's unlikely you have completely missed it, but it is probably time to give them a gentle prod and ask them when you can see the midwife. The key thing is to get your 12w scan done at around the 12w date if you are interested in getting the results of the nuchal scan.

Am only on my first pg myself here so can't help too much, but I've always gone for calling the GP and politely pestering the receptionists to find out what should and shouldn't be happening.

I would definitely chase up your appointment. The GP receptionist should be able to give you a number. Then you can make sure you haven't slipped through the admin net.

Thanks for all your advice! I called the GP's office today and they booked me in with a midwife in two weeks, which is good.

Will I have an opportunity to have an ultrasound then, do you think? I only ask because a week after that appointment my husband and I are leaving for the States for Christmas, which is when we would like to tell our families about the baby. But I am hesitant to tell them if I haven't actually seen that there really is a baby in there. Is that weird?

You won't get an ultrasound scan until you are approximately 12 weeks pregnant. This will take place in your local hospital, whereas your midwife is likely to either see you in the GP surgery or sometimes at your home.

During the booking appointment they usually sort out the paperwork to send off to book your 12 week scan and then you get the details in the post. Since you are going away at Xmas you might be able to wangle a dating scan earlier, but they might say that you can just have the scan when you get back.

If you are desperate for a scan so that you can spill the beans there are loads and loads of places offering private early viability scans. Babybond is a well known company, they will do a 7-10 week scan for £99. I got one for £50 round here in a smaller clinic. Just google private ultrasound and the name of your town, or something like early viability ultrasound scan. I can recommend Babybond though, they are very good and professional.

Congratulations!

ok... maths... 9 weeks now, end 11 weeks at midwife appt doesn't give you a whole lot of time to book and have an ultrasound nuchal test for trisomies, esp if you are flying at 12 weeks!

I would suggest you try and speak with the MW now, and see if she can put the booking request in. Nuchal translucency tests are done between 11 and 13.6 weeks - the upper limit of that you'll be in the US. So knowing the NHS delays in booking, you probably need to book it immediately!

I went private for mine as at that point (4y ago) my skinflint local health authority didn't pay for the tests as standard despite me being high risk (>40) at the time. The FMC in London (place which invented the test) currently price it at £180 including the blood test. My local FMC-trained sonographer did it for a few £ less than the FMC.

You have to be really sure of your dates though!