Doctor doesn't want to see me and long wait for midwife

[FASH84]

Hi all, I'm probably being a bit anxious but I found out I'm pregnant last week (two tests with very strong lines and a digital that says 3weeks+). I have diagnosed PCOS so hadn't anticipated falling pregnant this quickly, we'd been told we would need fertility treatment, and this wasn't available until we'd been TTC for at least nine months. From last period date I'm nearly ten weeks pregnant. We moved a little while ago and I hadn't registered with a doctor in our new area yet (I've not been unwell or needed to see one I had continued getting my repeat pill six monthly from old GP as it was near my parents anyway) I know I shouldn't have. Called local surgery today to register, I have to fill some forms in and book a registration appointment, next one available is nearly three weeks away. I told them about my pregnancy and they gave me the number for the local hospital maternity team and said they wouldn't see me at the GP about that anyway. I called that number and was told to fill in an online referral form and someone will call me back in 7-10 days to book an appointment. Is this amount of delay normal? Do they not want to confirm I'm definitely pregnant? I'd also previously been told that PCOS is linked to higher chance of miscarriage in the first trimester so I'm a little bit worried. Sorry if I'm just being OTT because this is my first pregnancy, what are your experiences?

They don’t need to confirm you’re pregnant, a positive test is a positive test. I am 7 weeks and haven’t seen a GP, just self referred to the midwife (who I’m seeing at 10 weeks).

Congratulations! Sadly, in my experience, they don't care that you're pregnant until your booking-in appointment (was approx 8 weeks for me), and then they only seem to consider it "real" at your first scan.
I felt very unloved to be honest. If you're anxious, can you get a private appointment?

Firstly congratulations!
Secondly this sounds pretty normal. In some areas you just go straight to midwife (which actually makes more sense as IME GP just gives you some leaflets and refers you there anyway!) Modern pregnancy tests are so accurate they wouldn’t bother retesting I don’t think.
Totally understandable that you’re concerned about miscarriage risk but if you’re already 10 weeks it will have dropped quite dramatically by now, in addition to which I don’t think there’s much medically that could be done if one was to happen IYSWIM...
seeing midwife around 12 week mark should be fine but they may want you to book your first scan directly with hospital now... I’d call back, explain you’ve moved area and are already 10 wks and that you have extra concern due to PCOS and they may manage to see you sooner.
All this worrying is normal btw... have never googled so much in my life as with first pregnancy!

That's absolutely normal. They will just take your word for it that you are pregnant and the midwives will arrange a booking appointment for you for somewhere between 7-12 weeks pregnant (normally they see you around 8/9 weeks but it depends how busy they are).

People don't always find out they are pregnant straight away so there is usually some give in the system to account for this.

Your 12 week scan can be done up until the day before you are 14 weeks pregnant.

If it’s an option a private scan/harmony test would be bookable now and may reassure you. Expect to pay around £400 for harmony

Thanks everyone, I feel a lot better now! We've not told anyone yet so can't ask SIL etc what their recent experience has been. I feel fine, well other than nausea and tiredness, but no vomiting , spotting, bleeding or pains other than the odd mild twinge, so think I'll see what the hospital says when they call back next week, if my scan is still a few weeks away I might consider a private one.

That all sounds normal. There is no need for a dr to confirm the pregnancy.

However, if your cycles are irregular you don't know how pregnant you are and could miss the window for the nuchal scan, so it'd be worth talking to the midwives to see if they can do a dating scan.

Yep as everyone else has said this all sounds pretty standard. GP’s don’t need to see you to confirm the positive test. When I met with my midwife for my booking in appointment she also didn’t do a pregnancy test. She took a blood sample but other than that she took my word that I had a positive test.

Congratulations and try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy- it goes very quickly!!!!

Sounds normal. The midwife won't give you a pregnancy test either, they take your word for it and crack on . I found that very strange when I first got pregnant. My story is similar to yours, pcos, endometriosis, over 35, told last time I saw a consultant that we might struggle to conceive then was taken totally by surprise when we conceived on the 2nd month of trying. I know the whole 'if you're having unprotected sex, you can't be surprised if you get pregnant' thing, but if you have prepared yourself for the long haul it genuinely is a surprise (albeit a great one!)

When I saw the midwife at booking in she referred me to consultant care at the hospital alongside my 12 week scan because of the pcos but I'm otherwise fit and healthy and was discharged back to midwife care after the first consultant apointment and have had a very straightforward pregnancy and have been classed as low risk for birth.

Having long cycles might mean you are called for you 12 week scan at the wrong time (i was only 10 +6 when I went) but it just means you get another appointment a few weeks later and you get another look at your baby. I also can't recommend a private scan highly enough ( both me and DH cried buckets at the most beautiful fuzzy blob we'd ever seen)

Same here. I think I am 6 weeks, going from the first day of my last period. Doctor won't see me. Midwife won't see me until I say where I want to give birth. The earliest I can do a hospital tour is next weekend, so I will have to decide and book in after that. It is my first,and I am 40, so I am very nervous!

Same with me when I was pregnant. Not able to see GP and first midwife appt at 10 weeks... people say you have to go to dr for them to 'confirm' the pregnancy but I've never actually heard a GP surgery doing that!