What are my next steps now I know I'm pregnant? (scared and alone)

[lostfairy]

I have recently discovered I'm pregnant, I think I must be anywhere between 12 - 14 weeks. I am 23. I am currently staying with my boyfriend but I've yet to change my GP to the local surgery here (it's still the one I'm registered with back home). I popped into the surgery here anyway and explained to the doctor my situation, he gave me a number for the ante-natal department at a nearby hospital and said if I explain I'm still registered with my old GP they would understand and book me a scan. I called the ante-natal number in hopes of booking an ultra-sound scan but the woman on the phone wasn't very helpful and made my panicking even worse and I couldn't book an appointment.

What steps do I need to take? I realise I sound like a complete lunatic but this is all new to me, unplanned and unexpected, and other than my boyfriend (who knows nothing about how any of this works either) I have no support or anyone else who knows my situation. Please help as I feel I'm going mad and I keep crying all the time.

Are you planning on carrying on with the pregnancy? Sorry, it isn't clear to me from your posts.

Sorry you've had this experience. It sounds like unneeded stress for you.

My GP referred me to my local hospital but I know you can self refer as well - I found this information on one of the London hospital's website - www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/our-services/maternity/care-during-pregnancy/choose-us.aspx - which might help.

Can you google 'pregnancy self referral' and the name of your local hospital and see if they have information on their website? I think you should just need to fill in a form.

Ok, so first try ringing the antenatal number again. Take a deep breath first and be ready with what you want to say - your doctors given you the number to book a first scan or appointment, you’d like to make an appointment, you are roughly 13 weeks pregnant and haven’t seen anyone yet. Hopefully you’ll get someone more helpful and you can get that booked in.

You don’t need to do much else practically. Maybe just a quick read of nhs or similar source dos and donts in pregnancy.

Emotionally, I would tell someone if you can. It’s a huge mental adjustment for anyone, but especially if it’s a shock/surprise and you’re quite far along. If you have no one you know to tell google pregnancy counselling in your area or ask the GP practice if they have a recommendation - I saw a counsellor in my last pregnancy through a charity so it was free, and it was really helpful.

Take care of yourself and good luck!

I would register at the doctors surgery, you can do this temporarily i believe. Sounds like your best option would be to have a doctors appointment that way they can point you in the right direction and make any referrals.

You poor thing! I'm so sorry that you haven't had much help from the gp or hospital. It's a long time since I was first pregnant, but I can remember feeling very panicky too, even though that was planned! So I'm not surprised you're feeling scared. I don't know what to suggest really - could you try ringing the surgery where you are registered and seeing if they can help fix you up with the hospital? Sorry not to be more help - I'm sure someone with better advice will be along in a minute. There is help out there - you will be alright x

Ps - assumed from your post you wanted to carry on with the pregnancy; apologies if that’s not the case!

Well, you could phone the anti-natal dept back, explain that you are resident in the area and that your temporary GP has told you to ring for an appointment - give his name.
Or you could call your old GP at home and ask them to make you an referral.
If neither of those works, you might have to reregister for a GP locally, but if you're planning to have the baby where you are now, that would probably be a sensible thing to do anyway.
As long as you are generally healthy There's nothing to panic about, nothing needs to happen for weeks yet - unless you are planning to terminate in which case BPAS would probably give a more speedy response.

At 12 to 14 weeks you should be having a dating scan fairly promptly, so if you want to you can have the standard tests for downs/Edwards etc. This can't be done after 14 weeks or so, although I think there is an alternative test you can have.

I agree with ringing the ante-natal department again, and go through what @CorianderSnell has said. Be clear that you haven't seen anyone at all yet and you could be as far as 14 weeks along.

In the meantime, take pregnancy vitamins and have a read of the NHS pregnancy info on their website for more advice.