Now what?

[minniecat2406]

Hi, just had a BFP and a GP appointment on Monday. Any tips on what to do next?! And any questions you think I should ask my GP? Thank you in advance

Congratulations!
Did you mean GP appointment or midwife?
Start taking folic acid if not already. Stop smoking, if you do. Join the relevant mn antenatal club. Enjoy your pregnancy!

With my first, the GP appointment was a total waste of time! They just said to take the right supplements and referred me. I self-referred to the maternity unit at the hospital this time.

The booking appointment with the midwives was much more helpful. If you have any birth preferences already (hospital, midwife led unit, homebirth), then you can ask about those even that early. I wasn’t aware that homebirth was an option for a first, for example. So glad I considered it early, because it gave me plenty of time to research and make the best decision for me.

I found a baby app helpful too, as love knowing what size they are and what’s developing. Mine is currently poppy seed sized. Yay!

Congratulations.
Nothing much for a while. I’m surprised your GP is seeing you, ours doesn’t!

Get yourself some folic acid and find out what stage your midwife wants to see you.

Our GP doesn’t see you either, you self refer to the midwife for a booking in appt at 8-10 weeks. Not much the GP can do!
Id just read the NHS pregnancy section, that basically has the info you need.

Thanks ladies, really appreciate your replies. Just a GP, not midwife. They were happy to see me and I could do with the reassurance of speaking to someone as this is all a bit unexpected! Thank you x

I’m not sure the GP will offer much reassurance, they’ll probably just say ‘take folic acid and avoid x, y and z foods’. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

GP won't be much reassurance to be honest. Mine told me most pregnancies end in miscarriage and not to get excited. Then told me to self refer to the midwife at 8 weeks!

Yes, I was working abroad mon-fri when I found out I was pregnant with DC1 so phoned my GP at home to find out what I should do re the midwife. Told her I was around 5-6 weeks pregnant and she said ‘phone back in 4 weeks, anything could happen before then. Don’t get too excited in the meantime’ 😏

Depending on the area you live in, you might have to see the GP anyway TBH. I can self-refer to midwife but I have to see the GP too as they operate "shared care" in my area with some antenatal appointments with midwife and some with GP. GP arranges first scan here too, so important to see them. Definitely no harm in seeing your GP if you don't know what the care system is in your area. Good luck. xx

In my experience seeing the GP was a waste of time.

She seemed clueless on pregnancy and gave me some very outdated advice on what I can and can't eat.

Unless you have any underlying health concerns I'd request to be referred directly to a midwife.

Congratulations OP :) you should be taking folic acid and vitamin D, check the nhs website for doses, I can't remember them now. There's also a clear explanation of what foods to avoid on there as well - just go by that, ignore anything else you see on the internet, you'd end up starving to death if you didn't eat all the things various people say you shouldn't.

Unless you need to see the GP, id just rearrange and get your booking in appointment booked where you'll see the midwife. It's just using an appointment someone else could use.
I say that as nicely as possible, I panicked and wanted to see someone ASAP but realised the GP couldn't do anything and so made sense to just wait a few weeks to get seen by the midwife who will do a long list of questions and give you your book of notes.

If you're particularly anxious (I was!), maybe consider an early private scan.