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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When did you see midwife/GP?

28 replies

thistlescot · 07/02/2016 08:37

I'm interested to hear other people's experiences when you found out you were pregnant. I'm 4 weeks today found out on Weds when I was only 10 dpo so very early days.

Called doctors on Friday to find out next step they said I will need to book in with midwife between 8-10 weeks. That you don't see the doctor.

I didn't question it at the time but now I've thought about it surely it's important to see someone before then so they can tell you about supplements Eg folic acid etc. As it happens I've been taking a prenatal vitamin for the last 6 months but if I didn't know to take one in the early days and they don't book you in until 8-10 weeks who tells you this stuff?

Interested to hear what you were told and who you saw etc.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ThursdayLastWeek · 07/02/2016 08:40

That sounds right.

Within my first, I made a docs appt. and he did go through all the healthy eating/stop smoking/folic acid stuff with me, but at the end I had to go to reception and ask them to put my name and number on the MWs list.

She then got in touch with me nearer booking in time.

With this second pregnancy I just called the docs surgery and self refered. I think that's not unusual.

Congratulations!

maybebabybee · 07/02/2016 08:44

Pretty standard - I didn't see the midwife til 8 weeks. I did go and see my GP beforehand but was a bit pointless really as I already knew what vitamins to be taking from the internet and nhs website etc.

Champagneformyrealfriends · 07/02/2016 08:45

Saw my midwife at 8 weeks-I've not seen a doctor at all. They told me to take vitamins at my appointment (I already was-my BFP was a huge shock and I dazedly bought some pregnacare the same day!).

MrsRolly · 07/02/2016 08:54

Seems normal, my booking in was a bit earlier about 7 weeks, just had my 16 week appointment and now don't go back until 28 weeks. Never seen the doctor. Although I will have to call and get my MatB1 posted as I think 28 weeks may be pushing my luck to hand it in. congratulations

seven201 · 07/02/2016 08:55

Midwife at 8 weeks, no dr appointment first. I think you're just expected to know to take folic acid.

Jw35 · 07/02/2016 09:14

I had the doctor at 6 weeks then midwife at 8 weeks but all surgeries are different

Lj8893 · 07/02/2016 09:18

I saw a doctor at first, told him I was pregnant and he said "so why are you seeing me?"

Yes, you book in with your midwife at 8-10 weeks

Oysterbabe · 07/02/2016 09:23

You don't need to see a Dr. Folic acid and Vitamin D are the only things you need really.

Wardrobespierre · 07/02/2016 09:27

I just self referred to the midwife at 8 weeks.

I think folic acid is one of those things where you can expect the vast majority of people to take personal responsibility for whilst ttc. It's simply not necessary or viable for every newly pregnant woman to see a GP.

Wardrobespierre · 07/02/2016 09:28

Shocking grammar. Sorry. I nigh go back to bed.

Wardrobespierre · 07/02/2016 09:29

Might!

FFS.

0hCrepe · 07/02/2016 09:29

I know what you mean, it feels like you should have to 'tell' someone but really there's nothing to do in the early stages. Mine's at 9 weeks. No appointment before that. As oysterbabe said take folic acid and vitamin d. If you have any concerns before get in touch with your dr. The nhs website has lots of clear info on what to eat/avoid etc and of course there are endless threads on here. Congratulations!

Wardrobespierre · 07/02/2016 09:32

Just checked our surgery website and it has the nhs pregnancy care planner with everything you need to know about everything.

Vap0 · 07/02/2016 09:35

I am confused about this too! I've just had my booking apointment at 8+4 and she told me I needed a slightly higher dose of folic acid as my bmi was 30.7. The letter she gave me said to take it up until week 14. So today I'm 9+1 and haven't got my prescription yet, hoping they will have it ready by Monday which will be 9+2 but from everything I've read online it says the time that is most important for folic acid is week 6-8 (I think) so surely it's too late now. It was only a tiny bit more than I'm currently taking 5mg I think she said so I can't just take an extra pill as that will be too much. I'm a bit cross that I didn't know about this extra folic acid requirement before now and haven't read anywhere online that suggests it. I will be mortified if it turns out I have problems later on due to not taking enough folic acid. I'm just hoping that I have enough in my system as I've been taking it for about 3 years now. I have also been seeing the infertility clinic, not had any treatment from them but have been seeing them for quite a while and they never suggested I take any extra which makes me wonder why it's only been mentioned now? Even had a 6w scan and they didn't ask me any questions about supplements. Very confusing.

Other than that she just asked if I was taking vitamin d.

1frenchfoodie · 07/02/2016 10:35

It is a good idea to take folic acid when ttc so dont wait for doc/midwife to start it.

Procedures different countrywide, I moved at 20 wks from SW London to cambridgeshire and while both midwive services needed me to be registered with a doctor's surgery I did not need to see a doc at all in the 2nd location.

My early experience was a bit topsy turby as there was no capacity to do the booking in appointment befor the scan so informed surgery I was pregnany at 6 weeks, had bloods taken at midwife clinic at 11 weeks, scan at 12 and booking in appt at 13.

Grumpelstiltskin · 07/02/2016 11:07

I also need to call my doc but have a slightly different question about it- sorry for hijack, OP! As I know I'm moving in 3 months to a different borough, should I just self-refer in my new area? Don't have a GP there yet but do have a registered address and I can go straight to the midwives at my preferred hospital I think. Is this better than registering where I currently am and then moving me and my notes across later?
It's only a case of 14 miles difference but it IS London and therefore will take an hour to get to new place from my current one each time I have an appointment until April...

Runningupthathill82 · 07/02/2016 11:55

Booking in appointments with the midwife are done at 10 weeks here. I called them when I first found out I was pg and was given an appointment for six weeks later.

It used to be done at 7 weeks when I was pg with DC1, but they've moved it back.
No doctor's appointment at all, just the midwife.

JessieMcJessie · 07/02/2016 14:30

Grumpelstilstkin in London you can self refer to any hospital you like, even if you don't live there. Like you I am moving London boroughs while pregnant but I don't yet have any proof of new address as we haven't exchanged on the house yet. My local GP said it was fine to fill in the self referral form for the new borough straight away and when I had my booking in the midwife didn't even ask why I had chosen them (though I did explain voluntarily).

I am fine to travel across London for appointments before I move though- if that is a hassle for you then you might prefer to transfer later- my doc said that was also pretty easy so entirely my choice, but there might be extra tedious form- filling caused by the transfer.

Back to the OP- I fully expected the GP surgery to refer me direct to midwife but their policy was "see GP first". I actually apologised for wasting her time! I was 8 weeks by then though and agree that supplements have to be taken sooner- I guess it's like many other public health matters though- there are awareness campaigns and people are sort of expected to look on the Internet off their own bat nowadays.

frikadela01 · 07/02/2016 15:29

That's interesting vap0 my bmi is 34 (shameful I know) and I was never advised to take extra folic acid. I'd been taking it for a few months prior to bfp and started pregnacare after that which my midwife said contained everything I'd need. Are you still taking a basic folic acid supplement until you get your prescription?

Grumpelstiltskin · 07/02/2016 16:14

Thanks Jessie, super helpful! So much to learn about this actual pregnancy bit...

Jw35 · 07/02/2016 17:07

Well..I wasn't allowed to book my midwife appointment until I'd seen a the doctor! This is my 3rd baby too! Definitely different everywhere

Vap0 · 07/02/2016 17:46

frikadela yes I'm just on std dose at the min as don't want to take too much, no idea what happens if you take too much, may have a quick google. It sounds like it is probably just a precaution if not everyone is prescribed it with a higher bmi. I read that link some one posted (on this thread I think) about the higher dose of folic acid and it doesn't mention anything about taking it if you have a higher bmi so I'm sure they are just being overcautious. I can't see how the 4lbs difference between being under 30 and where I am can make much of a difference.

jamenhej · 07/02/2016 17:58

I had my first baby in the UK so my timeline was like many of these mentioned above, but DC2 is being born in another European country. Here you book in around 9 weeks, have your ultrasound at 20 weeks, and your second midwife appt at 24 weeks! Quite a big difference, took me a while to get used to!!

seafoodeatit · 08/02/2016 09:40

I called my midwife at 7 weeks and had my booking at 9 weeks, there is no need to see the GP in the UK as you can self refer to a midwife. (provided of course you don't have complex medical needs which will affect your pregnancy, in which case it's best to speak to them ASAP).

OhPudding · 08/02/2016 09:45

With both of my DC I had to see my GP (think it was around 6 weeks-ish) and then they booked me in with the midwife at 10 weeks.

Nothing of any note happened at the GP appointment, though. I didn't get any advice - they just asked me my dates and I think with my first baby they did a pregnancy test to make sure (but this didn't happen with my second).

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