Help! Antenatal Care

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Hello All,

I'm 7 weeks pregnant with my first baby, after two previous miscarriages last year.

I moved from Buckinghamshire to West Sussex and was very surprised when I rang my new GP last week to arrange a booking appointment and they didn't know what I was talking about. I was told I had to go into the surgery to fill in a form for a scan that will take place between 12-14 weeks at the local hospital, no appointments with GP or midwife beforehand.

I'm obviously quite anxious about this pregnancy and don't know if I should be pushing to see someone earlier. What happens at a booking appointment? Am I missing out on anything important by not being offered one?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Are you on folic acid? The DoH recommends Vitamin D too.

Otherwise, that's all that needs to happen before your booking appointment. I appreciate time moves very, very slowly when you are waiting for your first scan, especially after problems, but there is nothing crucial medically (feeling reassured about things is clearly different) that you are missing out by not seeing someone until then.

Hope all goes well.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! That's wonderful news :-)

I had my booking in appointment with a midwife at around 12 weeks at UCLH. She went through my medical history, including any medications I was taking, mental health etc etc, and worked out my due date. I was also booked in for a scan. I had blood, urine, blood pressure, height and weight taken. I was given an antenatal folder with all of this information in and I take this to every one of my appointments so updated information can be included. My antenatal folder includes details about the appointments you ought to have with your midwife and at what approximate week, plus when you should have your scans.

Would you be able to contact the antenatal department of your local hospital to ask them which appointments they offer and at what dates? Perhaps also explain about your anxiety for this pregnancy because of your earlier miscarriages?

Firstly - Congratulations!
I would book in and see the GP and discuss with him - make sure he knows your history.
My booking appointment with midwife went through my and my husbands family history. I then had blood tests to screen for certain diseases that could potentially cause problems and test for rubella immunity. They decided from history whether I needed to be referred to Consultant or not (low or high risk pregnancy).
Have they referred you to a midwife at all?

Thank you all for your support and replies.

Yes, I'm taking folic acid. I have been since last year. I've made an appointment to see my GP tomorrow so hopefully she will be able to refer me to a midwife.

Seems odd. I'm in E Sussex and I called my GP surgery to make an appointment with the midwife, and at that meeting she organised the booking in and scan appointments (I gave/am giving birth at PRH). After the midwife, I got a letter through from PRH giving two separate dates for those appointments.

It must just depend on your local areas policy. I went to the doc but was told I didn't even need to and should have gone strait to mw. My booking in appt was at 8 weeks