Booking in appointment

[Newtothis24]

Just a quick question, what happens at your booking in appointment ?? All I know is that it's an hour long so was wondering what happens in that time? Thanks in advance x

[Queazy]

You get asked lots of questions regarding your current and previous health, all relating to potential risk factors for baby. As I recall, they take a urine sample and a blood sample. They also usually weight you to assess your BMI in early pregnancy. And they give you first advice on what to eat/not to eat and multivitamins, but to be fair we all will have googled that bit on finding out! I wondered how they would fill an hour but it did take that long.

[Runningupthathill82]

Basically, lots of form filling!

Check with your DH before you go as to whether there's any history of family illnesses you need to be aware of, as you'll be asked about that. There's a lot of questions to answer on everything from previous pregnancies to mental health, drugs and alcohol, health issues, etc etc.

You'll do a urine sample and have bloods and blood pressure taken. We also do a carbon monoxide test in my area, though I understand that's not nationwide.

I wasn't weighed, but the midwife ticked a box saying "healthy BMI" - presumably if it's not obvious your BMI is healthy just from looking at you, then they'll weigh you.

Erm...Think that's about it? I wasn't asked much about birth choices but I suspect that from looking at my notes and seeing what happened with DS1s birth, they'd guess I was just going to go for hospital again rather than a home birth.

They put all my details in the system and I got my dating scan appt a couple of days later.

With my first pregnancy I was also given a bounty pack and a load of leaflets,but I wasn't this time. Oh, and they asked if I was planning on breastfeeding again.

Think that was about it!

[Emileelogan]

Do I have to specifically request a booking in appointment? I've just made a docs appointment it's in 2 weekd... Was going to say it's was because Im pregnant but the receptionists are gossips lol

[Runningupthathill82]

At my practise you'd have to request a booking in appt with a midwife, so the GP appt would be a complete waste of everyone's time. I never saw the GP with either of my pregnancies.
But the system may be different in your area - I'd just ask the receptionist.

[Lightbulbon]

They sit you in a busy waiting room and give you a book with loads of questions in for for you to fill in whilst you're waiting.

There will be questions about you and your partners family's medical histories.

They will want to see you alone to ask you if you are suffering domestic abuse.

They weigh you (with your shoes & coat on ) and get you to breathe into a CO machine.

They take bloods, urine & bp.

They tell you to take folic acid & vit d.

They ask if you want a hospital or home birth.

They ask if you want the screening tests for downs etc.

They don't like it if you question them on anything.

[Emileelogan]

Thank u for all ur help ladies.. Just didn't want to tell them coz I've overheard them gossiping about other patients ... Nosy cows lol.. I'll ring tomorrow give them something to go with their elevenses ;).... This is my second but I still clearly have no cluexxx

[Labradormummy]

Hi all, I'm in the same situation as Emileelogan that I don't want to tell the receptionist as one is a family member...nightmare!! Only found out I was pregnant on the 31st of July. Booked to see the doctor the next day and whilst he was lovely, he just took my blood pressure and said to wait a couple of weeks and then ring the surgery for a midwife appointment. Glad I'm on mumsnet and have read some good book otherwise id be a bit clueless.