Talk me down - receptionist is doing me over

[BlackCatSmushyFace]

So... went Dr at 6 weeks to be told "congratulations - go pee in this.". They wanted to confirm. Ok. Not a problem. Then, obvs, couldn't pre (has just gone and was literally nowt left!) And then cue faffing with dropping off a sample before 12 noon (cant accept it after as they won't store them over night and I have to be at work an hour before they open). Anyway, eventually worked that out and off it went. 3 days later I had heard nothing so stopped by after work (ran out the door and raced back before they close) to be told "congratulations - your test came back positive".

Great! Now I can make an appointment with the midwife. Fab.

Nope. Gotta see the doctor so I can be reffered. :S (Puzzled face!). But dutifully make an appointment for a week's time (making me 7+3) as the sister surgery. Dr works on 2 sites.

On Friday I take more time of work to go to said appointment to hear "congratulations. Your test was positive. Why are you here?" The Dr is confused. I explain the receptionist said i had to to be referred to mw. Dr tells me to make an appointment on the way out and very clearly explains the mw team will handle all my pregnancy care but if i have a general health issue I should make an appointment with dr. Erm... yeah. Ok.

So I stop by reception. She writes a note on a bit of card and tells me the mw will "be in touch" to book my appointment. That was friday. I've heard nothing. Tomorrow I am 8 weeks and mildly stressing out. Had an early loss last may and very aware of my age and that this is my first and all that is making my head... messy!

So.. who do I call / rant at Tomorrow?? My normal surgery or the surgery where she wrote her note on a scrap of card?

This seems to have gotten out of hand. Sorry. Thank you for sticking with it.

Usually the midwife sees you at about 10 weeks for a booking appointment. You could try calling them directly?

Midwife won't see you until at least 10 weeks. So you don't need to 'rant' at anyone.

Thanks for reading all that!!!
Unfortunately I have no contact details for her at all.
Dr said she would want to do the booking in at around 8 weeks.

First one. All very new.

There's no need to make a doctors appointment when you find out you're pregnant. They won't do anything.
Usually you can self refer to your local midwife services and they will book you an appt for a booking in - usually around 8-10 weeks.
They will take it from there. X

Have you decided on your maternity unit? A lot do self referrals now. I picked one, called them directly and was given the booking appointment date over the phonr

As PPs have said - all normal. The MW will be in touch to arrange a booking in appointment around 10 or 11 weeks.

My community midwife only saw me to complete my forms the day before my 12 week scan with DD! I'm not sure who actually referred me for the scan however......

I called my surgery and booked a midwife appointment at 8 weeks (which is what the EPAU said to do). Didn't see a GP the whole time and it's annoying for you that the receptionist seems to not know the procedures. On your surgery website, there may be a link to their maternity care. On ours there is and it says who will see you and when. Congratulations!

Your first appointment should definitely be before 10 weeks
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/antenatal-midwife-care-pregnant.aspx

I work as a doctors receptionist. At our surgery you come to surgery to fill out paperwork pick up pregnancy pack. Then you go to a drop in centre where the midwife is based. This is just a group informal drop in where midwife will explain general stuff. You dont have to attend this. After that you have a booking in appt that is again where midwifes are based. She goes through everything , takes blood and books scan. From then on you have appts at your surgery but can go to drop in at centre if needed. Im not sure if this would be how it works in your area. I would call surgery and ask to speak to practice manager she will explain procedure and chase up what is happening. She will also be able to make sure all receptionist are aware of procedure. As you have been messed around taking time of for appointments you dont need. Hope you get sorted tomorrow and congratulations

I couldn't get my booking appointment till I was 11+3 and had my 12week scan 3 days later!
All happened so quick!

I was 6 weeks when I found out, didn't get a midwife appointment until between 10 and 11 weeks. If you didn't want to go through the doctors and see the receptionist every time you go. Find out if you can self refer to a midwife with your local hospital (or the one you plan to give birth at) they usually have a number on the maternity department with the hospital most likely find one on the website.

Just on balance my doctors surgery booked me straight in to see the MW for booking in at 7 weeks. I was surprised it was so early but some areas do send you to the MW earlier.

Sounds like you've had a bit of a time with it though! Hope you get the appointment sorted, you do have plenty of time regardless

I've had 3 babies in 2 areas and all my booking appointments have been around 10 weeks.

What was written on the card OP? I would either call your surgery or call your local maternity unit and ask to speak to the community midwives.

It's hard but try not to stress! I think every area does it differently - I'm sure I was seen at around 8 weeks (and I booked appointment straight through receptionist) and then didn't hear anything again until first scan date came through post. Sorry don't have any more advice! x

At ours, the midwife is only at the surgery one afternoon a week so wouldn't pick up the note written by the receptionist until she was next in. I'd give it a week before calling to say you hadn't heard from the midwife.

My gp told me nothing, I self referred to the MW and got seen at 12w3 and I'm older-don't worry but it's the lack of info for first timers that's stress you, once the MW sees you you'll have more idea of what's happening .

I saw my midwife at 5 weeks. She gave me all the info on foods to avoid, vitamins to take, general health advice etc etc. Obviously I knew most of it already but not everyone googles everything to death! I actually think it's pretty poor not to be seen by anyone until 10+ weeks.

I thinking is poor too, especially as some of the blood tests need to be done before 10 weeks.

They don't always see you at 10 weeks, I'm being seen at 8 and both of my friends have been seen at 8 weeks too. I'd chase it up even for piece of mind xx

Just to add my two pennies worth in, I was seen at 8 weeks for booking with my midwife which is common practise in my area x

I didn't get to see a midwife until I was 19 weeks. Maybe just call and check that they know you're waiting for your first appointment. I didn't and slipped through the net.

Have a look at your local maternity unit's website, the community midwife number should be on there, if not ask the surgery for the number. Also may be on GP's website.

I didn't phone GP till I was 8 weeks, was referred straight to MW. Had a booking in with local MW at about 10 weeks, blood taken at 12 weeks at hospital, first scan was at 13 and a half weeks.

Congratulations on your pregnancy OP

It's hard to get advice on this sort of thing as every area is different. At my doctors I called to say I was pregnant, I was.booked onto a group talk with the midwife at five weeks, at the end of this group session i was given my notes to fill in my history, a booking in appointment at 9 weeks and a date for my 12 week scan. My midwife was based at my doctors surgery, not everywhere is the same.