antenatal check ups

[kirstyk]

I just made my first antenatal check up appiontment and i am seeing the doctor not a mid-wife. Anyone else doing this? I just assumed it would be with a mid-wife, should i question this when i go? I have my 20 week scan first at the hospital maybe i should ask there? I'm glad it's not at the hospital with the last mid-wife i saw as we didn't hit it off, if you know what i mean, but a normal GP?? I'm probably worrying about nothing i just don't get what maternity training can my GP possibly have!? Any advice would be good.

My antenatal checks happen at my GP's but it's the midwife at the surgery who carries out the checks. All she does is check how the baby is lying by physically feeling bump, and listening to heart beat. She also checks urine for sugar and does blood pressure checks... Is this the type of aapointment you mean???

kirstyk - you are quite right that it would be best to see a midwife. In some areas it is the midwife you book with directly. However, in others it is 'shared care' with the GP for the first visit, alternating with the midwife. With the new GP contracts, maternity care is an additional service. That means that GPs must be professionally comptenet and updated to provide maternity care. Most GPs now have a midwife attending the surgery and usually it is the midwife who does the care (although the GP gets the money but that is another story!)
It is most likely that your GP will arrange for the midwife to see you after this visit. You should have the choice of midwife or GP. Some women prefer their GP if they know them well. I am with you on this one though - the midwife is the expert in pregnancy

Thanks mears hopefully i will see him this time and mw from then on, i have only just joined the surgery so i don't know my GP at all i would much prefer a mw doing my check ups. I feel better now thought i was being anxious over nothing.