NI pregnancy care

[confuddledconfudle]

Hi is anyone from NI and know the process.
My first pregnancy was in England where I just contacted Midwife about 8 weeks pregnant, she did booking appt and arranged scan.
I have heard whispering from friends that in NI you need to see GP. Wish I had of listened more
Do I need to see GP? Is booking appt before scan or with scan? I've heard rumblings that that is also different.

Yes you need to see gp and they'll refer you to midwife :)

Sorry and booking appt is with scan, in my experience

Yes your GP will refer you to go for your scan etc ,:))

I just rang my health centre and asked for an appointment with the midwife..

I don't think I saw my GP once during my pregnancy. Good luck

Also OP my best friend got scanned at her GP once or twice - she's in Bangor, I'm just at Carrickfergus and all my dealings were in Whiteabbey Hospital and Antrim Area (abattoir)

Thanks everyone - I will try GP. In England, I didn't need to contact Midwife until 8 weeks. Is it around the same here?

I had a GP appointment anyway, so just mentioned pregnancy during that. I didn't have to contact midwife, the GP referred me to the hospital and I got my booking appointment time from then.

It seems like every practice does things slightly differently - I'd just ring your GP receptionist and ask them what you should do.

Thanks @LivLemler I will do next week or week after

You can go via GP who will get you referred to your hospital for booking apt and scan, or you can self refer directly to the hospital. I went via the first route and that was in Belfast.

I rang the GP and receptionist said to self refer to midwife and that they didn’t need to see me. It might differ depending on what trust you are in but try googling maternity care in whatever trust you are in and it will tell you what to do

Also my booking in was at same appointment as scan