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.

I'd chase it - clearly from this thread it varies quite a bit by region, but I had my booking appt today at 9+2. My surgery said they do them from 8 weeks onwards and I booked it directly with the receptionist. I had the appt in the surgery but other areas do them at your home or the hospital I think?

Ugh I had something similar, called MWs at 7 weeks to ask if I could self refer and they said no. Fair enough. Made appt for Drs and it was at about 8.5 weeks when I could be seen, sat down in waiting room, wait for the standard 25+ mins for the appt and then notice a poster on the wall saying we can self refer to midwives now didn't look like a new poster either. Still went to GP obviously as I was there and she was a bit as to why I made an appt if I know I'm pregnant but checked blood pressure anyway. Then self referred to midwives as I had previously tried to do 😒 I wasn't seen til gone 10 weeks though, that seems pretty standard x

I've always just rang the drs and asked for an appointment with the midwife. Sorted out everything with her at appointment at approx 6 weeks, had a booking appointment at 10 weeks scan at 12 weeks. I was consultant led care on all my pregnancies so barely saw a midwife at all.

It is worth checking what the process is as in my area they don't book your 12 week scan until you've had your booking in appointment and I think there's a window for the 12 week scan from what I remember.

Wow.
Thanks all. It really does vary.
I don't mind if I don't see her till later if that's ok but I have no idea.
I think the communication is poor from them. The receptionists (all 3 I have spoken to!) Have lead me a merry dance.

I was specifically told I can't just see the midwife and I had to see the dr. Argh.

Ok. So, I will wait till Wednesday (the last receptionist said she does her surgery Wednesday mornings but she would call me to make an appointment) then call and chase - just for peace of mind.

Thanks to all who answered. Sorry I was gone... fell asleep! Oops.

Btw... the poster who asked what she wrote on the card? She scribbled 7.5 weeks on the edge upside down. That was a sign wasn't it?!

God this thread is just so worrying. It's such a palaver and all over he place. In the NHS it should be the same everywhere.

Positive HPT
Ring GP for community midwives. Call. Arrange booking appointment to be done some time between in would say 8-10 weeks to allow for dating scan to be booked. Dating scan booking should also be the same process. Ie midwives send off woman's details and hospital of choice contact patient with dating scan details ASAP.

I'm 20 weeks pregnant with my third baby and all three pregnancies the booking in has been a total faff on and totally different. That's across two GP practices in the same commissioning area.

Mind bogglingly stupid.

It is a faff. I thought I had to see my gp first but all he did was give me terrible advice about stopping exercising. Then I saw my midwife, and she was horrified. Fortunately I'd moved surgery by then (due to a house move) because I think she was getting ready to hunt him down and give him a piece of her mind. She was due to retire and had nary a fuck left, I think!

If you've got a children's centre, they might have a number for the local community midwife team? Just to set your mind at rest.

I'm not sure even being seen at 8 weeks works for everyone. I mean there are women who won't know to take folic acid - and certainly women with a higher BMI who won't know to take a higher dose. Also it's good to be given understanding of the warning signs of ectopic to look out for. I do think if it's a first pregnancy women need to be seen earlier.

I do think if it's a first pregnancy women need to be seen earlier

I agree. I actually saw a gp at 4+3 because I couldn't find any info about the correct mw referral process. Although it turns out I could have self referred, GP was pretty great actually and went through lots of useful info that I wouldn't have known if I hadn't done quite a lot of reading for myself already. For example he talked a lot about caffeine limits which a lot of people don't seem to be that aware of, and could be knocking back the double espressos until their booking appt!

@peachgreen and @TonicAndTonic the sad reality is that midwives seem to be waiting as long as possible until the 12 week point to see women somas to not "waste" time with those who might tragically suffer early miscarriages, that is what I have basically been told by my current one. She said it's down to massive lack of capacity. They didn't see me until 10 weeks and she said that's fairly standard now in suburban parts of big cities.

I agree about early info but there should be basic info packs and info for women who find out they are pregnant if they need them, when they contact GP or midwives. Then at least if they don't know about folic acid and what to alive etc they can before booking appointment.

The moves are towards less hands on care not more I'm afraid.

What not to do and if they have problems that should have read. Not alive ..... not sure how that mutated into that.