Advice on antenatal care......

[leah770]

Hi,

I'm a new member, just been reading messages so far, didn't think I'd be asking for help so soon!

I just want to know what is "normal" for antenatal care. I know there are guidelines, and that it varies round the country, but this is my first time and I am feeling very anxious and new.....!

I saw my GP last week for my first appt, at 7 weeks. I don't know exactly what I expected, but I was in & out in 10-15 mins, and didn't even take my coat off!
She asked if I was fit & well, and told me some very basic stuff about folic acid and soft cheese.... Then asked me which hospital I wanted out of 2 local ones, although she didn't have any details about either. She suggested I ring up and ask (which I intend to!).
A midwife will come and see me at home at 12 weeks (so no scan then - I checked, and 1st scan will be at 20-22 weeks).
GP didn't weigh me, take blood pressure, ask if I worked....... am I just being paranoid because it's my first time, or should she have done more??

Don't worry - I remember feeling exactly the same. You are being offered the same level of care as I was and I know it seems limited. However you should bear in mind that you should always contact your midwives or gp if you have any concerns at all. Apart from that you have found the perfect website on which to ask any questions or to get any extra support that you need. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I think the current guidelines are 10-11 antenatal appts. for a 1st time pregnancy. You sound on schedule.
They don't tend to weigh you because it just puts pressure on women to think they need to diet. Which would add to anxiety!
Am surprised about the blood pressure, but I would guess the MW will get that from you at home. The trend now is for as much midwifery-led care as possible, so I would expect MW will take a proper full history from you at 12 weeks. The fact that she's seeing you at home sounds like special attention to me! HTH.

Hi Leah. Home birth is another option - there's plenty of information here if you're interested. The only thing I'd add is that if you want a nuchal fold scan you need to think about it soon since they have to be done at a very specific time (around 12 weeks ish). You may decide you don't want one though - it all depends on what you'd do with the results really. There are new guidelines about antenatal appointments (I think they're being reduced further for uncomplicated pregnancies) but I'm not sure if they've been implemented yet. It is surprising isn't it, the first time? You expect them to 'do' much more, I felt the same. Congratulations though and welcome to mumsnet.

Thanks everyone,

I've calmed down now! Nice to know I shouldn't be worrying (and nice to know I'm not the only one to think like this first time around!).
Suppose I should just be grateful that if you're healthy they leave you alone to get on with it..

Leah how old are you if you don't mind me asking? If you are 30+ I should think a nuchal fold scan is a good idea, can be good predictor of problems etc. But as WWW says, it does depend on what you would do with the outcome ie if you would never have a termination regardless of problems shown up in scan then don't bother to have one.

I do remember thinking when I was pg that I should have lots of doctors buzzing around me from the very beginning and was rather put out that they ignored me for 12 weeks!

You had the same care as myself. At 12 weeks they begin to take blood pressure, urine teasts e.t.c. But with ds1 I only had one 20 week scan, but with this one ( now 34weeks) I have had two scans one at 12 and one at 20 I don't know whether because I am now a 32years instead of 28years the age when I was first pg. But don't worry your care is perfectly normeal.

I think it's normal - although i wouldn't know as this is my first too.

I have been really lucky with my care - i had my first scan at 9 weeks, then a second at 13 weeks, will get another at 20 weeks (approx.)
Think it just depends on where abouts in the country you are as it varies alot from what i have read on here. As long as you see the midwife every 4 weeks from now until 28 weeks (i think), then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and then every week from then on you should be fine - May be worthwhile checking out the correct dates as i'm not sure if my guesses are right.

My GP didn't do anything either. I think it's great they don't weigh anymore. I would have spent my entire pregnancy in deep gloom if they had - I never weighed myself and was - looking back - vast. But I felt lovely! I had a nuchal fold scan though, but then I was very ancient.

If you want an earlier scan, I think you should ask for it. Maybe the hospital will organise it when you contact them.

SC - My Antenatal appointments are every 6 wks until 32 wks where I live now. It was every 4 weeks until 32 wks with ds.

I find it rather disturbing that there are so many variations over the country as what antenatal care and scans should be offered.

I think NICE is trying to standardise these types of things...
Problem is that for historical reasons Health Authorities have grown up with their own traditions and internal guidelines on how to do things, what to offer, which can be good if it means more room for experimentation and meeting local needs, but also means they're real sticks in the mud when it comes to any kind of change.