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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

pg!! don't want to see GP

60 replies

cloudlessskies · 19/07/2016 19:48

Hi all,
Did a pg test this morning, it was positive! DH and I are feeling strangely calm... but that's another thread!
Anyway, have been online today and apparently you're meant to book a gp appointment asap but I don't want to... I feel like this is our special secret but mostly because I know that the chances of miscarriage are high this early so there is no point really until I'm further along. I'm about 3 weeks gone.
What do you think?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Barefootcontessa84 · 20/07/2016 09:06

I rang my GP reception to inform them/ask how to refer myself to the midwife as I "knew seeing the GP was a waste of time" (as that is what I had read on MN). The receptionist was perplexed, asked if I was seeing a private midwife (I'm not) and said I had to see a doctor to register the pregnancy. Call your surgery and take the advice from them.

Duckyneedsaclean · 20/07/2016 09:13

If you ovulated 3 weeks ago, it means you're 5 weeks, btw!

dreamingaboutcheese · 20/07/2016 09:40

I would book in in the next week or so. They like to check your blood pressure and you can sign up to get your maternity exemption card (free dental and prescriptions). Congratulations by the way!

Laura05 · 20/07/2016 09:42

I've gone to the gp with all 3 of my pregnancies. They give you the maternity pack with your notes, info etc and they refer you to the midwife who gets in contact to arrange your booking appointment (normally between 8-10weeks)

I would definitely phone your gp practice and find out what their protocol is.

Ooh and Congratulations!!

thecatsarecrazy · 20/07/2016 11:22

At mine we went to surgery about 6 weeks and they make a note in a book, midwife has a look then contacts us for 8 week appointment. This is my 3rd pregnancy and I hardly have any appointments. Lived in a different area with my last 2 and didn't need to see g.p then either

DesignedForLife · 20/07/2016 12:51

If you're 3 weeks post ovulation you're 5 weeks pregnant ;)

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 20/07/2016 17:18

I was the same as Barefoot - tried to self refer to midwives based on Mumsnet and was hauled before the GP and roundly told off. Best to check with your surgery - many GP's WILL want to see you!

HedgehogHedgehog · 20/07/2016 17:23

I thought you were supposed to contact your GP straight away too but apparently you arent, you are supposed to go to your doctors reception and book a first appointment with a midwife. I too would wait until a couple of months in. I didnt make that choice though the first time because i didnt even realise until a few months in!!
Congrats on your pregnancy!! xxxx

NameChange30 · 20/07/2016 17:24

Ask the receptionist at your GP surgery whether you can book directly with the midwife or whether you need to see a GP first. As everyone has said, it depends on your area! But either way you should call sooner rather than later because the midwives can get very booked up. I wanted to change my booking in appointment but decided not to in the end because they were booked up for weeks and I wouldn't have seen a midwife for ages. I didn't want my hospital referral and 12 week scan to be delayed. I also think it's a good idea to get in the system ASAP in case you have any bleeding or other worrying symptoms and need to be referred to the EPU for an early scan.

HedgehogHedgehog · 20/07/2016 17:25

oh sorry i see reading peoples posts that it differs according to where you live! Its weird then how they seem to expect you to know what to do and be surprised if you do the other!! My GP looked very confused that i come to tell her i was pregnant!! x

YoungGirlGrowingOld · 20/07/2016 17:26

Depends on the surgery hedgehog. It seems some insist you see a doctor and others think it's a waste of GP time (which also seems to be the prevailing view on here).

All mine did was fill in a form and tell me not to smoke (which I don't anyway)

Thequilltosurvive · 20/07/2016 17:28

In my area you ring the Dr's surgery to get a pre-booking appointment with a midwife around 6 weeks. This is where they set up your maternity record and give advice/info on diet, vitamins etc. Around 8/9 weeks you have a booking appointment with the midwife again where they do bloods, lots of paperwork, and ring the hospital to book your 12 week scan.

LondonGirl83 · 20/07/2016 17:29

The protocol in every area is different. Ring your GP and at the very least they can advise you on the process of getting your booking in appointment which is typically scheduled between week 8-10 (based on NICE guidelines)

In many parts of the country, midwives are very busy so leaving it until you are further along to try to make an appointment may result in you not getting your initial appointments and scans at the appropriate time, including the time sensitive 12 week scan.

As others have said, if you ovulated 3 weeks ago, you are 5 weeks pregnant not 3 weeks pregnant (that's just the way pregnancy is measured).

I'd strongly suggest you ring your GP this week and get the ball rolling.

Congratulations!

AlaskanSnow · 20/07/2016 17:43

I phoned the surgery to ask the process and I needed to see the GP to be referred to the midwife - you can't self refer.

They adv seeing gp no later than 6 weeks, then midwife would contact me for an 8 week appt.

Original poster

cloudlessskies · 21/07/2016 15:12

It seems there are two ways of counting, so from my last period I am 6 weeks but really from fertilisation it's 3ish. (I have 5 week cycles) What an odd way to measure pregnancy from before the egg was even released!

So when you track development, do I look at 6 or 3 week info?!

I just called my surgery but they are closed on Thursday afternoons.

OP posts:

MotherofPearl · 21/07/2016 15:20

Congratulations OP! It's always counted from the date your last period started, so you're 6 weeks along, even though as you say, it's an odd system! So you'll need to get your MW booking in appointment and 12 week scan booked fairly soon; as others have said they are often booked for weeks in advance. Enjoy the lovely conspiratorial early days with your DH!

LondonGirl83 · 21/07/2016 15:24

When tracking fetal development, due date, scan dates etc its all based on your last menstrual period. Its done that way as most women have no idea when they ovulated so the last menstrual period is the most reliable dating methodology for health care professionals to use.

If your cycle is longer than the standard 28 days, they will adjust your dates at your 12 week scan but that adjustment will still count your pregnancy as if it started circa two weeks prior to ovulation.

Good luck!

2nds · 21/07/2016 15:28

Cloudless all this is confusing now but soon it will be more understandable.

You now go by the 6 week info.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 21/07/2016 15:29

I didn't see the GP with either of mine, in fact I was working in Milan when I found out I was pregnant with my first so didn't tell anyone remotely official until I came home at 9 weeks. We phone and self refer to the midwife, who sees you at around 10-11 weeks and phones to book your 12 week scan appt while you're at the booking in session.

April241 · 21/07/2016 15:35

Congratulations!

As others have said you'll be 6 weeks as you're dated from the first day of your last period until your dating scan, at that they'll measure baby and get a more accurate time.

Call your GP surgery in the morning and let them know and they'll advise the best plan. You should see your midwife between 8-10 weeks for your booking appt and, again, as others have said they can be pretty full up for a few weeks, waiting any longer could mean you miss the cut off for certain testing.

Where abouts are you from? In Glasgow we have a central number for the midwives, you call and give them all your details and then give you the 8 weeks and 12 weeks appt over the phone, then they send out letters/leaflets to confirm. No need to see the GP at all through pregnancy here. I've seen people in England say they don't having a dating scan appt until after their booking appt etc.

LondonGirl83 · 21/07/2016 15:38

Yes, some places you can self refer yourself to community midwives, other places you need to be referred to the midwives by your GP. It changes in each NHS trust and sometimes by each hospital.

As the OP doesn't know what the procedure is in her area (or how busy her community midwives are) she should ring her GP who can inform her of the appropriate next steps.

I'm currently pregnant and one of the ladies I know couldn't get her 12 week scan booked because she left it too late to get her referral. She ended up going private for that scan so she wouldn't have to wait for the quadruple test for Downs Syndrome etc. It is not guaranteed that the NHS will have a slot for you when you need it an appointment.

LondonGirl83 · 21/07/2016 15:41

April yes, where I live you do your booking appointment and the dating scan is done as part of the 12 week scan. There are no scans before that covered by the NHS.

Its crazy we all apparently live in the same country but it just shows how wildly different things are in one area to the next.

Original poster

cloudlessskies · 21/07/2016 15:52

Thanks for the congrats!:)Apparently by 6 weeks there is a heartbeat!
It does seem a bit confusing and yes I'll call in the morning.

London girl - test for Downs etc? Is this done at the booking appt at 10 weeks? when they take blood?

OP posts:

LondonGirl83 · 21/07/2016 16:09

Where you live they probably do the combined test as that's most common on the NHS.

This will be a combination of looking at your blood work to assess hormone and protein levels as well as the 12 week nuchal translucency scan.

Your midwife will explain all the tests etc during your booking in appointment when you meet him or her when you are between 8-10 weeks.

I hope you get through to your GP tomorrow.

2nds · 21/07/2016 16:15

You are all saying booking in was between 8-10 weeks but my booking in apps were at 6 weeks for both my pregnancies and I had to book it through the GP.

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