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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

1st midwife appointment - stupid question!

19 replies

lisacatjohnson · 05/04/2016 15:54

Hi,

I've just found out I am pregnant around 4 1/2 weeks with my first child (1 week before my wedding no less!). I have booked in for my first appointment with the midwife for 3rd May when I will be just over 8 weeks

I have a stupid question...do they test you are still pregnant? Am a first timer, and being so early, I am very nervous about the whole thing and the worry of miscarrying. I've read online that they check your bloods, blood pressure etc but just wondered if they checked the baby and it's health/progress in any way?

Any advice would be appreciated...it's one stressful week! :)

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icklekid · 05/04/2016 15:57

No they don't test with a pregnancy test or anything. They will take bloods and I presume check hormone levels incase they were low but otherwise you then wait until 12 week scan unless you have any other symptoms suggesting problems. I know it can be stressful so be kind to yourself, first trimester is exhausting!

chandelierswinging · 05/04/2016 16:01

As pp said; it'll just be the 12 week scan which always seems like aaaaaaages away! It seems odd, doesn't it, but they really do just take your word for it that you're pregnant! I remember asking my GP if they wanted to test me and being surprised she didn't!!

Congrats btw. And best of luck for your wedding day

Original poster

lisacatjohnson · 05/04/2016 16:04

Thank you both! I think I'm still in shock as we expected it take a while so thought we should start trying early (as I have endometriosis) but it happened straight away! Very nervous/excited and hoping everything goes to plan (I'm a real worrier). Thank you for your messages, I really appreciate the response.

OP posts:

Primaryteach87 · 05/04/2016 16:09

No, they don't test you or examine you in any way. They do take bloods to test if you have certain diseases and your immunity. They also ask you about yours and DHs family medical history.

You can keep taking pregnancy tests and in the early weeks, you should see the line getting stronger, if that makes you feel less anxious.

fruitpastille · 05/04/2016 16:15

The first appointment is mostly them filling in lots of boring forms. Not exciting!

shitwithsugaron · 05/04/2016 16:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

londonrach · 05/04/2016 16:26

No tests which is really strange. I visited my gp when 4 weeks pregnany and got given midwife information. Very strange as spent the first 12 weeks thinking am i or am i not. In fact at first scan i apologised for wasting the ladies time as i bet theres nothing in there. She smiled and said there was and she appeared on the screen!!!! Dh eyes did not leave that screen for the whole time she was there. Really strange and unreal experience and so special. Celebrated with chocolate cake whilst trying to send her scan photo to family members. Congratulations by the way. Xxx

Original poster

lisacatjohnson · 05/04/2016 16:30

Thank you all! I started welling up at your message londonrach...and I didn't think I had any pregnancy symptoms yet :)

OP posts:

londonrach · 05/04/2016 16:32

Lisa im 23 weeks now and no pregnancy symptoms at all at your stage hence why i wasnt sure...despite 4 pregnancy positive tests......its amazing experience so far. Wait till she kicks......

AnUtterIdiot · 05/04/2016 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

lisacatjohnson · 05/04/2016 16:51

Relieved to hear someone else is in the same boat - I don't have any symptoms at all really...I've taken 5 test because I'm worried. Seems like such a long wait to 12 weeks! At the moment I'm trying to focus on getting through my wedding on Saturday without slipping up to anyone and how I will go about disguising a lemonade as a prosecco.

OP posts:

Persipan · 05/04/2016 16:57

Lisacat, I feel like adding a little bit of (non-cloudy) apple juice to lemonade would put you in the vicinity of prosecco, appearance-wise. Have a great wedding day!

becciandbump · 08/04/2016 16:29

Hi guys congratulations on your pregnancies ive just found out that I got pregnant on my honeymoon and I think we will be due around the same time. I'm so excited but also nervous as I had a miscarriage age 21 (im 34 now). Really hoping to start getting pregnancy symptoms to reassure me all I have is a rotten cold!!

becciandbump · 08/04/2016 16:31

Ps. Take a good look around the room on your wedding day and just soak it in! I can't believe it is 3 weeks since our wedding it flew by. Hope u have an amazing day xxx

Jamjar12 · 09/04/2016 08:32

Thankyou for this thread- I'm in a similar position! I'm getting the 'typical' symptoms- sure boobs, nausea, general exhaustion etc (I'm 7+2) and even managed to convince myself there's a bit of a bump starting to form! But it's bizarre that nobody checks to see if you're actually pregnant! I'll be devastated if there's nothing there and this is all psychological. I think the system is pretty weird that way and doesn't offer enough support in this very confusing first trimester!

I have my first midwife app next Friday at 8 weeks but have booked an early scan through a private company on Monday at 7+4 because I just need to see if there's anything in there!! It cost us £65 but if it stops me going crazy then it'll be worth every penny. Just have all my fingers and toes crossed for Monday.

Hope you're all doing ok and not worrying too much! Have a lovely wedding day

MeDownSouth · 09/04/2016 20:22

At our booking in appt I had bloods and was supposed to give a urine sample. Nobody told me about the sample and I went before I went in as I couldn't wait so couldn't provide anything. Whatever she was going to test for has to wait til my next appt!

Artioo2 · 09/04/2016 20:37

But it's bizarre that nobody checks to see if you're actually pregnant! I'll be devastated if there's nothing there and this is all psychological. I think the system is pretty weird that way and doesn't offer enough support in this very confusing first trimester!

Presumably you've done a test and got a positive? If so, it's definitely not psychological, as the only way to get a positive test is for the pregnancy hormone to be present. :)

It does feel a bit weird not to get medical confirmation of something that feels so major, but the doctor doing another urine test would be pointless, as the ones they use in doctor's surgeries are identical to home tests. And it would be crazy for them to do a blood test for every pregnant woman who came through the door, it would be phenomenally expensive.

Jamjar12 · 09/04/2016 21:38

Haha yes I've done a few! It's more than I'm worried I've had a missed miscarriage and would only know when they try to find a heartbeat. Too much googling has informed me tests can still show positive after mmcs!

Helenwiththebigmelons · 09/04/2016 22:18

With my first pregnancy, the midwife did ask who confirmed the pregnancy, and asked if it was just me or my GP too. I did actually go to the GP before my midwife appointment to ask if my meds were safe - he insisted on testing for pregnancy when I said I'd already taken a ClearBlue and a cheapie

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