Midwife vs. GP - who does what?

[LondonSkylar]

Hi all,

I'm 19 weeks into my first pregnancy and getting confused... I've been to one scan and seen my midwife once. She gave me a list of all the appointments I should have, including two with my GP. The GP practice I'm with has a minimum 5 week waiting list for appointments so called today to plan ahead and they told me that they will not get involved in anything antenatal/related to pregnancy. I went there when I first found out and they messed up the referral to the antenatal unit, hence has only had one appointment with midwife because she was also oversubscribed. Are you/have you experienced similar issues? I'm alright but worried that if I need advice/help or if there's is something I'm doing wrong, there will be nobody to tell me. Feeling confused and a little worried... Thanks in advance for your help!

It really varies from area to area so not sure anyone here will be able to help. Could you call your midwife though and let her know what your doctor said and just generally that you're confused?

I'd have expected you to have had your second midwife appointment by now as well.

Hello, we had a similar issue, as I'm not at my local hospital - I'm out of area. I did manage to see a GP at 25 weeks, but they really didn't want to do other appointments. I told the midwife (who I am seeing at the hospital) and that was fine, I've had all my appointments there.

My gp has had nothing to do with either of my pregnancies, I have always just seen the midwife and my consultant at the hospital (high risk pregnancies).

Same here, never saw a GP for anything, not even booking in as we just self-referred to midwives.

Each area, and indeed each GP surgery, differs a little. My GP did my initial referral for 12 week scan, but I booked myself with the midwives and apart from that had no routine GP appointments. I did see him for a few minor issues during pregnancy, like checking which of my usual hayfever meds were ok, and asking for a prescription for ranitidine for reflux, but all my standard pregnancy care was with my midwife.

If you have a phone number for your midwife, give her a call and check what should be happening.

My GP had no input at all, except for one MW appointment during my 2nd pregnancy when the MW was ill and the GP covered appointments for some women (I'm lucky she did as she diagnosed possible preeclampsia and I spent the next three weeks in hospital).

agree every area is different although it does seem that your midwife and GP dont seem to agree on the process! calling your midwife would be a good idea as they take the lead in your antenatal care. do you have your 20 week anomaly scan booked yet? did you see your midwife at 16 weeks after your 12 week scan? you would next be due to see usually the midwife at 25 weeks is this the appt you were supposed to book with GP?
you would next be due to see midwife usually at 25 weeks.

Thanks everyone for your resposes, this is really really helpful!

I have the 20 week scan booked as well as a midwife appointment the week after to talk about the results so will raise it then and ask for advice.

Every conversation/interaction I've had with hospitals/midwife/GP has been prefaced with "Apologies, we're so busy..." and I do get that. I know how hard the NHS is working to see everyone and I don't want to take time from others who need it more. As this is my first pregnancy, i'm really new to everything and worried about not being careful enough so just needed reassurance that this wasn't completely off.
Thanks again so much for your responses, you've eased the worry :-)

PerspicaciaTick So sorry to hear about the possible preeclampsia that must have been terrifying. Hope you got through it okay.

I went to my GP to discuss medications I was on given I was pregnant, but other than that i won't see them at all
I see the midwife (well whichever community one turns up) and they've been quite good at rearranging an appt this week- I had rung to cancel but message hadn't quite got through.
I also go to the antenatal clinic at the hospital to see the consultant as I have 4 weekly growth scans scheduled. But if I didn't need those (and that is debateable as it's a precaution based on a tiny tiny chance I was exposed to the zika virus), i'd only see the midwife

London - it all turned out fine. DC2 arrived on his due date very healthy and I was pretty OK too. Took the shine off the first month of maternity leave - but I guess that (ultimately) that is what it is therefore.