Pregnancy process query

[Manycatsandallthegin]

Hi all, looking for a bit of a description or list of what happens when youre pregnant with midwife/scan/doctors appts - not the actual sperm meets egg, egg fertilises - got the science side down!

We’re TTC this month onward (wish us christmas luck!) but it struck me, once I actually have the BFP - what then? When do you go to the gp? Do you even need to? How do you get to see a midwife and how often? I appreciate theres always going to be variances based on each experience, but if someone couls roughly outline what appts you would usually have and when that would be most helpful.

And things like when do you have to decide on the place to give birth, whether to have ELCS or VB, birth plans etc!

Thanks for any help or advice!

Here you go: www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/antenatal-appointment-schedule/

It varies from area to area. If you contact your gp surgery, they will tell you whether you need a gp appointment, or you self refer to the midwife.

Normally, for a low risk pregnancy, you have a booking in appointment with the midwife at around 8-11 weeks pregnant, scans at 12 and 20 weeks, and various midwife appointments throughout the pregnancy to monitor. This is all explained at the booking in appointment though.

It's assumed that you would be having a VB, unless you've got a reason for wanting an ELCS - this is unlikely to be brought up as an option by the midwife unless you make a request.

I was asked which hospital at my booking in appointment (as where I am we have a choice of two), but I could change my mind, or switch to a home birth, at any time.

It's varies by region tbh. I self referred to the midwives in my nearest hospital and had a booking appointment about 9 weeks, then a scan at 12 weeks and 20 weeks, midwife appts at 16, 25, 28, 32 and every 2 weeks thereafter. I had my scans at the hospital and saw midwives at GP surgery. Next appointment was booked while I was in the current appointment.

You get a bfp. Then it's lots of waiting!

Weeks are weeks pregnant, so from date of last period.

6 weeks- call your GP surgery and as what the procedure is for referring to the midwives. Most places don't need a GP appointment any more.

8 - 10 weeks - booking in appointment, takes around 45mins to an hour. Very boring and lots of questions. They take bloods. Depending on your area you'll either wait for a scan letter or the midwife will book one on the phone.

11.4-13.6 weeks - dating scan and trisomy screening (more bloods).

16 weeks - midwife appointment. The most boring of them all. Some areas let you hear the heartbeat. Others don't.

Then you'll have an anomaly scan at 20 weeks to check foetal development and midwife appointments at 24, 28 weeks. Then every 2-4 weeks until you give birth.

At every appointment they'll dip your urine and take your blood pressure. From 20 weeks they'll usually listen to baby heartbeat and from 28 weeks they'll measure your bump.

Most appointments are boring and most of pregnancy is waiting around!

I called my doctors when I found out I was pregnant at 4 weeks. They gave me a number for the midwifes to self- refer. Booked then for the 8 week booking in app.

At the beginning you see someone about every 4 weeks. I did felt very much left to my own devices, and it's a lot of waiting about. It's quite boring really.

I have my 36 week midwife app next week where we will discuss my birth plan, so it's quite late on. Though i think around 12 weeks I was told I'm low risk so could consider any type of birth I want including home birth but nobody has actually asked what I want yet.

Your scans are at about 12 and 20 weeks, but you might be offered more if you need a bit more monitoring. I had Low Paap-a from a blood test so have had 2 additional scans and one more to go.

I will say that after the BFP it's quite anticlimactic but really a boring pregnancy is exactly what you want!

Thanks all, thats helpful. Fingees crossed for a nice BFP followed by a nice boring peegnancy haha.

Usefull to know then the blood tests are due as Im trying to get over my needle phobia! Guess i’ll have to get over it pretty damn quick haha! Thanks for helpful and quixk responses!