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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When to make a booking appointment?

29 replies

Cariadxx · 25/05/2018 19:51

As above really....I know the appointment is at about 8-10 weeks pregnant usually but I'm currently 4+1 according to LMP and seems a bit early to book as there are so many who miscarry between 4 and 6 weeks, I don't want to have to phone up and cancel. Or am I being silly and should phone on Tuesday?

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MollyHuaCha · 25/05/2018 19:59

Congratulations!

(Sorry, no idea re your question.)

Peachy92 · 25/05/2018 20:09

Congrats! 😁I didn't know either so when I found out I was pg I booked the next avail appt with gp which is 1st June I'll be about 7-8 weeks then and thought best to let them tell me the next step. Hope that helps! 😊

Original poster

Cariadxx · 25/05/2018 20:24

I wasn't going to book a GP appointment just go straight for midwife....is that wrong? My head is all over the place at the moment, it's not really sunk in yet tbh.

And thanks ladies!

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DappledThings · 25/05/2018 20:25

I didn't book as such. First time my GP referred me, second time I self-referred on line both times giving my LMP date and I got a letter back a few weeks later with my appointment date.

Every hospital seems to be different. A lot of people talk about making their first scan appointment at their booking appt but mine send you both dates at the same time.

imablackstarnotapopstar · 25/05/2018 20:29

I'm a midwife - at 4+1 from your LMP you are only 1 day late for a period if you have a 28 day cycle. Wait until you've missed 2 periods and then book to see your GP. They'll then refer you to a midwife who will book your 12 week scan and arrange to see you at around 10 weeks.

Original poster

Cariadxx · 25/05/2018 20:35

Thanks, I knew it was too early to make an appointment now, but just wasn't sure when the right time was!! I'll go and make a note in my diary.

My cycle is a bit shorter than that, I'm 6 days late now.

OP posts:

BridgeFarmKefir · 25/05/2018 20:40

Just to say that where I am, you self refer. I waited until I was about 6 weeks. Have a google and see what the process is in your area.

Usually a GP just give you some advice and refer you to a midwife anyway, they don't even do a pregnancy test.

Buglife · 25/05/2018 20:40

I self referred to the Midwife service as there isn’t anything a GP would do (they don’t retest for pregnancy, they don’t do the bloods etc and all your history is taken at booking appointment). I’ve not heard about having to have missed 2 periods before and that to me would seem a bit late as I got my booking appt at 9 weeks. I can understand if you are very early wanting to wait but I’d say 6 weeks or so would be fine to get into the system as appointments and blood tests etc might take a little while. I went to GP at 6 weeks this time as I already had full on morning sickness and knew from first pregnancy how ill I had been so wanted to get in with the meds early!

GemmaLL · 25/05/2018 20:46

I phoned my GP surgery at around 5wks and they made me an appointment with the midwife for when I'd be 10wks.

hammeringinmyhead · 25/05/2018 21:11

I self-referred at 7 weeks when I found out and had my booking appt at 9 weeks. I never saw a GP.

Curlypop · 25/05/2018 21:21

I phoned the drs and the receptionist booked me in for 6 weeks with a midwife. This seems crazy early. I was 10 weeks with first but she said that's what I should do!

Original poster

Cariadxx · 25/05/2018 22:30

Thanks guys. I'll phone at 6 weeks. I can't get there before then because of work anyway so would be pointless

OP posts:

Bluebirdsky · 25/05/2018 22:33

Congratulations, I think it would be fine to call up at about 6 weeks if that is best for you. The appointment is usually around 8-10 weeks but varies in different areas so you should still have time to get booked in if you call then.

coffeeforone · 25/05/2018 22:37

I filled in an online self referral straight away and they booked me in with midwife at 9 weeks.

meel · 25/05/2018 22:41

In my area you can self refer online from 5 weeks. This is what I did and have midwife appointment next week when I will be 7+5

Maedoula · 25/05/2018 22:43

If you to GP, they can usually refer you to the local hospital. If you have a different hospital you'd rather receive care from, then you could do a self referral (usually filling a form in online and sending via email, they will get back to you by letter with a date etc)

Wildlingofthewest · 25/05/2018 22:49

My GP had no interest in seeing me, I went to see her, told her I was pregnant, she literally just said “oh you don’t need to see me about this, go online and book in to see a midwife” and sent me on my merry way!
Give it another couple of weeks and then call the doctors office to ask if you need to see a doctor or info to self refer if that’s agar they do where you are.
Congratulations!!!!

yikesanotherbooboo · 25/05/2018 23:00

Different surgeries have different rules.
Where I work the woman sees the gp for a bit of a chat about obvious potential problems and for the gp and patient to meet so that the gp has a clue who she is when they start getting messages from the mw.gp discusses folic acid:/ vit D and gives woman some bumf. Woman books appointment with mw for 8 weeks.it is sensible to see dr by 6 weeks to ensure 8 week appt with mw.
Ring your surgery and receptionist will advise you.

Wellthisunexpected · 26/05/2018 07:40

I'm also wondering this. I'm 4 weeks too and know I don't need it yet (and may not need it at all) but I also know they book up fast!

I'll probably try and book when I'm 6 weeks for 8/9 weeks.

meel · 26/05/2018 11:39

There are posters all over my GP surgery saying not to make an appointment for pregnancy unless there are other issues. Out of interest, what happens at a midwife appointment, do they check anything about the baby at all, like heartbeat? Or do you have to wait till the 12 week scan for confirmation everything is still as it should be?

PotteringAlong · 26/05/2018 11:43

They can’t hear a heartbeat that early - in my area they won’t check the babies heartbeat until your 24 week appointment.

You have to wait for your 12 week scam.

meel · 26/05/2018 11:46

Ah okay, thanks

SoyDora · 26/05/2018 11:47

I phoned at 5 weeks to book an appointment for when I was 8 weeks. They see you between 8-10 weeks here so I phoned a few weeks before (as advised at our GP surgery) as otherwise they get booked up (visiting midwife at our surgery who only comes a day a week)

SoyDora · 26/05/2018 11:50

Phoned for an appt with the midwife I mean, I didn’t see the GP.
meel at the midwife appt they take bloods to check for antibodies, std testing etc, test your urine and go through vast amounts of paperwork re your medical history, previous births etc. They give you the form you need for your medical maternity exemption form etc. They don’t listen to the heartbeat as they wouldn’t be able to hear it that early.

rosegeorgia21 · 27/05/2018 08:36

I phoned to book with midwife as soon as I found out (5+3) but I only did that because my midwife is impossible to get an appt with so overbooked!! Haha good luck with your pregnancy. ❤️

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