Don't need to see GP anymore? anyone else had this?

[bippitybopityboo]

Hey
I just called my GP to say im pregnant,they said they don't really give gp appointments out for that anymore and gave me the midwives number.
I called the midwife and she said I'll get an appointment through in around 3 weeks for a 1st mid wife appointment and in the mean time I need to take folic acid.
Has anyone else had this and not seen their gp maybe I'm thinking really old fashioned

I didn't see my GP with second Dd thirteen years ago, straight to midwife. I think if you feeling ok there is no need for anything medical so the midwife is the right point of contact.

That's normal procedure isn't it? It was when I had mine 2 years ago. You just make an appt with a midwife when you think you are between 8-10 weeks.

It does suck though. I think we should have the American system where you go to the Dr's and have an early scan to make sure there is a heartbeat / it's non ectopic etc first. Also, by that time it's a bit late for advice about nutrition / folic acid etc.

Ohh that's put my mind at rest then thankyou, my first pregnancy and I don't have a clue I don't think

Yes it's perfectly normal. You're not ill. What do you actually want the GP to do for you?

My GP saw me when I rang up to say I was pregnant - however the only thing I can really think of that was necessary about the appointment (he got me to call the midwife myself) was the flu jab. You ought to have that, so maybe ring again and ask to see the nurse?

I'm 39+4 and saw my GP when I first found out I was pregnant. Apart from prescribing me folic acid (available in supermarkets at around the same price as a prescription) she didn't do much else. Unless you have any medical concerns surrounding the pregnancy I wouldn't bother seeing the GP, I'd just go straight to the midwife between 8-10 wks for your booking appointment.

(If your entitled to free prescriptions then seeing your GP to prescribe you folic acid might be an option as you'll need to take it daily up until you're 12 weeks at least)

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I'm 33 + 6 and that was the same, Gps don't bother confirming pregnancy anymore in my are we book online for a midwife appt

Never seen my GP, in either my first or second pregnancy. You just ring the midwives and get a booking appt arranged.
In my first pregnancy, it was at 7 weeks, this time it was 10 weeks.

Your GP is still there if you have an emergency (Ie. slight bleeding,or SPD and needing a sick note) and the midwife is not available.

Pregnancy is natural and your midwife is probably more knowledgable about normal pregnancy than many doctors.

My only concern is that I had a vitamin D deficiency I was treated for about 7 months ago but never had a follow up blood test to make sure all was ok so now I'm worrying my vitamin D levels won't be right for baby!

The midwife will give you healthy start vitamins if you ask.

This is my fifth pregnancy and the first time the receptionist wanted me to see the GP first. In the end the GP phoned me and agreed that it was a wasted appointment for me to see him only to be referred to a midwife.

It is recommended that you take folic acid while TTC as well, or at least was!

Can I just say GPs loved doing ante-natal care. It was not their choice to move to the self referral system!! We've lost a really good link between pre and post natal care but I appreciate for a lot of women there is no specific need to see a GP. But they are there and you should see them early if you have any other health problems.

I didn't see the point of seeing the GP but the receptionist at the surgery said they had to see me first to confirm my pregnancy. When I did see the GP she said they don't need to confirm and to just book in with the midwife!

I booked an apt and saw my GP as soon as I found out but I needed to discuss adjusting my epilepsy medication because of the pregnancy :)

Unless you have a pre existing health condition which may be affected by pregnancy, then I doubt your GP will want to see you, but there's no harm in ringing up to check their policy

I had to see the GP which was really irritating. They were the ones that referred you to the midwife. I would've much rather gone direct

I think its normal practise now just to book to see mw at around 8 weeks. I think the only time you would need to see gp is if, as others have said, you have meds that may need changing

Don't feel bad about being clueless - you've never done this before! With my first I just assumed I would need to go through the gp so I made an appointment (didn't tell the receptionist why) and he just looked at me and said so why are you here? Second time round I just called the surgery and asked for the midwife's number.

Yup all normal, am 23+1 and had an 'early bird' appointment at 7 weeks, basically an hour of telling me not to drink or smoke, and to eat healthily.
Then a midwife 'bloods and urine' appt at 10 weeks, 1st scan at 13+5, 16 weeks midwife appt, 2nd scan at 21 weeks, about t have 24 week appt next Tuesday.
I think it's now just a midwife appt every 4 weeks until baby due, which seems odd - no scan after 20 weeks baffles me.

Congratulations and good luck!

I saw the GP when I found I was pregnant out only because I had no idea how to contact any of the maternity services in my area. They don't give out numbers here, you have to wait for the GP to refer you and for the midwife to call you. All he did was find out my dates and tell me not to smoke or drink. It wasn't rocket science stuff.

But I never saw the GP for anything medical. I went to the GP surgery for my vaccinations, but they were done by the nurse.

Now I've got all the midwife numbers, if I had another I would self-refer and skip the GP altogether.

I never saw a GP with my third pregnancy, and she was delivered by the midwives. First contact was the baby check at 2 days old. The other two I had maybe 3 appointments in total with GP's? Everything else was midwife led. My American relatives were horrified when they heard I didn't have gynae appointments and scans every month!