I didn't have HIGH expectations of my local GP, but geeeeez...!

[DangerMousey]

Went to the GP this evening because I have just found out I am pg (5 weeks).

From what my pg friends had warned me, I wasn't expecting much in the way of this first appointment, but seriously, I got nothing! - no mention of what I should/shouldn't be eating, no information to take away. Nada. It's a good job I've done a bit of research myself online re: food to avoid etc, but this is pretty poor, right??

The only thing I did get was a roll of the eyes and a tired-sounding explanation that since our local maternity unit closed down last year, it's now "very complicated" as I can choose from 2 other hospitals (both around 30 minute drive away) in which to give birth, but will still continue to have my scans and other appointments in the old hospital (which still has an antenatal unit - just birthing facilities).

Not exactly filling me with confidence as it's my first pregnancy...!

Anyone else had similarly uninspiring experiences with their GPs?

Oh I've long since given up with GPs when it comes to anything pg, baby, breast-feeding related. Once you're 'in the system' you should find your midwife the best source of info antenatally, and health visitors are your best resource afterwards. Be prepared though to feel rather left to your own devices for the first few weeks, as far as I'm concerned that's where MN comes into it's own - you can find all the support and info you need here! And congratulations btw!

Mine googled (yes, actual google!) "advice for pregnant women" when I went and then said "do you want to keep it?". Medical school not wasted there then...! :o

Congrats :)
When I went to GP- not my usual one- with a + test (just to show her I'd done one) she sniffily said "Well, that's not enough proof" (like I'd think it was!) then when my urine test was +ve, she handed me a card with the local midwifery unit's phone number on it and that was that. Not a smile, not a single enquiry into how I felt about it, nothing.

Oh and I'm not filled with high expectations for this pregnancy either- I called my practice over three weeks ago to make an appt to confirm my pregnancy, and was told it is all done straight through the mw clinic now. Fair enough. I am not being seen till Monday, when I will be nearly 11wks- I've already had to apply for the maternity exemption cert, which needs filling in by a medical professional to confirm I'm really pregnant. How can they know if they haven't even looked at me yet!

I haven't seen a doctor at all so far (am 20 weeks). I went to my practive nurse after I'd missed 2 periods and had a positive test, and she was very clear that I had come in at the right time and they didn't like to see anyone earlier. I was surprised because I thought I was leaving it very late! Basically I get the impression they are very hands-off so long as the pregancy is normal.

I suppose being as it's my first pregnancy I was expecting more from my doctor and midwife than I got. I don't know what it was exactly that I wanted from them? A long chat about how great babies are? I don't know. What I do know is I was given a plastic folder with information in it from the MW (all in swedish, natch) and appointment dates where she would ask how I feel and nod along then scribble another appointment down. Once she checked the baby's heartbeat, took my bp and some blood and urine... all good bye bye now.

I was meant to have a scan at 25 weeks but wasn't given an appointment for it so I suppose I have to call and request one, which is fine, but I keep forgetting doh

I was given a book on babies but again it was in swedish. Shame, because I could have avoided spending over £8 on that vastly overpriced mumsnet ebook then.

My GP was shit! Every appointment, went the same way. Measure fundal height, take BP, thanks very much, see you in a month. I didnt hear Ds heartbeat at all until induction, and Dd at 36 weeks!

Next time, I will go straight to the midwives at the hospital, and bypassing my GP all together!

I didnt even bother with my gp when I found out, just rang my doctors and said I need to make a midwifes appointment which they did for the following week, had everything talked through, filled in maternity excemption and had bloods, weight, bp done was there an hour, she booked my scan which was tuesday (all went well) and the next time I see her is the end of Feb!
The only reason I'll go to my gp now is for my cocodamol which I know I will need for my back and migraines!! But they have been pretty good if I did have to see them about anything with my last 2

I don't know why people even bother going to their GP when newly pregnant tbh [medical conditions excepted].

I just waited until I was 8 weeks and booked an appointment with the community midwives.

Queen you have to see the GP where I live. The MW won't see you until you've been to the GP.

The GP usually says is it good or bad news, congratulations and take folic acid. Completely pointless.

I'm 38 weeks and have seen the GP and midwife according to the schedule in my blue notes, as well as several specialists as I have a health condition. Midwife is great, given very practical advice, always listens to heartbeat, checks blood and urine samples, explains birthing options etc.

GP takes BP, asks if I feel ok, types what I say into computer. Wastes my entire morning.

Glad it's not just me! I think as it's my first pg and the most momentous news I've ever had in my life (!), i very naively thought it might be interesting to the GP as well! Won't be making that mistake again!

Once i've ticked the box to choose which hospital I wanna give birth at, i will then apparently get contacted by the midwives there to arrange an appointment at 12 weeks for a scan.

I guess this is when they'll first take my blood pressure and bloods etc as well? Just seems strange to me that they don't need to do weigh me, or take BP at this stage? Ah well, if that's the experience everyone else has had as well, then I guess it's fine - I don't have any pre-existing medical conditions so no reason to worry I guess...

Mine sucked so bad, that DP could have gone there said that he was pregnant and gotten a prescription exemption

I rang my GPs, was talking to receptionist about something different and told her that I'd need to see GP as just found out I was pregnant... nope! Just referred myself to MW online! I had an early scan at 6+6 due to abdo pain, had it of not been for that I would have had no confirmation of pregnancy by anyone other than clearblue!
Suzy x

Pregnancy isn't really the GP's remit. To them, pregnancy is just something that happens and if you're well there's no need for them to do anything other than refer you on to the midwife. My GP was actually lovely when I went to her after I got my BFP - she said she was delighted for us (she knew we were trying as I'd mentioned it at a previous appointment) asked if I felt ok, if I had any questions, told me what happened next. That was all down to her being a lovely person though, it wasn't her duty to do any of that.

BTW there's no need for a doctor to confirm your pregnancy - all they do is carry out another HPT which you can do at home by yourself. My GP just took my word for it.

My friend's a GP and she says it's a tough one. Because they're desperately overworked and their job is to deal with ill health. So in a lot of places they've sensibly decided to let you book straight in with a midwife. GPs aren't allowed to do a pregnancy test, your word is enough, they are not necessarily up to date on exactly what's happening with regards to pregnancy care (between my two children they completely changed the appointment schedule, started including a nuchal scan and changed where you go for blood tests, obviously this was stuff the midwife knew but the gps didn't). They don't weigh you now until the nuchal scan and as a one off (unless you have medical conditions/weight problems), there's nothing for them to do bar referring you to a midwife. And it's a waste of an appointment really.

We also aren't given prescription exemptions until the pregnancy is confirmed viable at 16 weeks. You can claim back any prescriptions from before then though.

Mine randomly ventured that there was some issue with being near lambing sheep, missing the more obvious issues entirely. I then asked where I would be having the baby. She said she didn't know. She said she would fill in a form to get me into the midwife system. She didn't. I just formed the impression it wasn't a very important appointment at all, I'd just made it because I thought it was the done thing to do.

I did however have a later appointment with another doctor which was very good - a minor skin condition that had been unsuccessfully treated for years spread to my nipples which I thought was the last straw. GP agreed that "breast-feeding is hard enough!" and made an urgent appointment with a specialist to get the thing knocked on the head in time for the birth, which was great.

I disagree it's not in the GP's remit. Whose remit is it in then? How are you supposed to get the information you need, other than googling it yourself?

You've only just peed on a stick, it might be your first pregnancy/child, you have no idea what to eat/do/not do/avoid/, it might not have been planned, you might not want to keep it, you might have taken contraindicated drugs, you might have pre-existing health issues you may or may not know about, you might be at (increased) risk of miscarrying, you might be at (increased) risk of domestic violence - it's bloody well within a GPs remit. People go to their GPs with much less and expect to be taken seriously and given proper advice - I understand pregnancy is not an illness, but for most people it's a major, if not the single biggest thing that will ever affect their health.

When I was pregnant with DC3, last year, my GP said on my first visit 'Well, at your age, you'd better have amniocentesis.' (I was 40).

No discussion of the risks or alternatives or anything.

I said, well, I think I'll have a nuchal scan and decide after the results, thanks.

The results were a 1:5,000 chance of Downs, so I felt pretty confident not having an amnio (which would have a 1:100 chance of causing miscarriage).

I always avoid that GP now.

Until you hit 12 weeks they don't really consider you pregnant at all. Harsh I know but true. It is the remit of the midwife to give you all that advice destroyed, not the GP, that's why your booking in appointment lasts an hour.

Personally I wouldn't have known how to contact a midwife first time round - had no idea about maternity units, childrens centres etc, which is why I made a GP appt. Round my way now you're meant to self refer, but where do you find the info about who to call etc? The GP is the obvious place to start, but it doesn't instill much confidence for a woman in what is probably a very emotional and scary point in her life that GPs don't seem to give a toss.

By 12 weeks it's too late for a number of things. Like having a termination, for example (not the operation, the pills - they do it up to 9 weeks, I think.) Don't most miscarriages happen before 12 weeks, too? I'd want to know what I can do to avoid it...those first 12 weeks can be important. What if you're on medication etc.etc. I can think of lots of scenarios that can't wait until 12 weeks.

I don't mind being referred on to the midwife or whomever, but just shrugging their shoulders and sending you on your way with nothing is not on.

In your case Tristesse I would ring the surgery and ask them what to do, they'll tell you. I know it seems really harsh but GPs are hugely overworked and they're not there to be an information service. It would a huge waste of resources for both the midwives and the GPs to give out the same information twice. To you, your pregnancy is hugely important, but to the GP it is just something that's happening to you that they have no involvement with.

I suppose it would be a very good idea for the NHS to get the idea out there that the GP isn't the one to go to for a pregnancy.