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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

1st GP appointment, what happens?

18 replies

canor10 · 05/12/2018 21:54

Good Evening! So my partner and I found out I am pregnant with our first child, after taking two Clearblue tests. We have booked an appointment with our GP but don’t know what to expect?
Will I have bloods taken?
Will the doctor confirm that i’m Pregnant or just send me to someone else?
We hoped they would confirm so that we could be sure and tell our parents.
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

welshweasel · 05/12/2018 21:56

You don’t usually have to see your GP. Generally you ring the surgery, tell them you are pregnant and they book you to see the midwife. They take your word for it, you won’t get a blood test or anything. Make sure you’re on folic acid, stop smoking if you smoke and have a look at the nhs website for foods to avoid.

Congratulations!

harrypotterfan1604 · 05/12/2018 22:02

Hi congratulations :)
Usually you just ring the surgery tell them your pregnant and they book you in with a midwife between 8-10weeks so just try and have a thinks about when your last period was and work out some dates if you can.
You won’t get a blood test they’ll just take your word for it, home pregnancy tests are very accurate these days.
At your first midwife appointment she will take lots of details from you, past medical history, smoking history things like that. It’s quite a lengthy appointment.

Gillian1980 · 05/12/2018 22:07

It varies depending on the area.

At our surgery you see the GP who asks about dates and refers you to the midwife. No confirmation or anything and a very quick appointment.

M0reGinPlease · 05/12/2018 22:09

Congratulations.

They will give you the number for your
local midwifery service and send you on your merry way. GP's don't really 'do' antenatal care.

Jellybean023 · 05/12/2018 22:09

I saw my doctor, not really knowing what to expect. I left feeling I probably needn’t have bothered really. He basically gave me the instructions for self-referring to the local hospital maternity unit online, gave me some basic info on what’s on on the nhs website, answered my questions on whether I should continue with my usual medication or not (with a fairly non-conclusive “well there’s no evidence of it causing any harm”) and told me to come back if I had any bleeding or anything unusual in the meantime.

Pebblesandfriends · 05/12/2018 22:11

It's straight to the midwife. I made the mistake of making a dr's appointment and he assumed I wanted to see him because I wasn't sure about having the baby! I soon put him straight and he explained that pregnancy tests are so good nowadays that he didn't need to see me and just to book in with the midwife.

M0reGinPlease · 05/12/2018 22:11

We hoped they would confirm so that we could be sure and tell our parents.

What do you mean 'confirm' as in, do another test for you? Nope, doesn't happen at all. 12 week scan is when they confirm due dates etc.

E20mom · 05/12/2018 22:12

Yep nothing. They'll just refer you to the midwives.

OhComeOnRon · 05/12/2018 22:15

Had to self refer to local maternity hospital to book in with midwife for 8 week appt.

Original poster

canor10 · 05/12/2018 22:16

Thanks for your help everyone! We’re still in a bit of disbelief so I guess we just hoped that the GP would do something that would be like “yep, you’re 100% pregnant!” But I guess the pregnancy tests will have to be all we have until we see the midwife!

OP posts:

witchy89 · 05/12/2018 22:17

My gp surgery wouldn't book me in with the midwife until I'd seen a GP. She basically figured out my due date for me (which I'd already done), booked me in for my 12 week scan and made me my 'booking in' appointment with the midwife at 10 weeks. The midwife appointment took about half an hour. Took bloods, checked urine, measured and weighed me, asked me about my medical history, and my partners (who came with me), gave me some leaflets and that was pretty much it. Oh and you get given your 'blue book' which you have to take to any baby related appointment, it has all your notes in and numbers to ring etc. I've had a fairly uneventful pregnancy so far (28 wks) so have had fairly short check ups since, barely got to know the midwife at all.

M0reGinPlease · 05/12/2018 22:18

But I guess the pregnancy tests will have to be all we have until we see the midwife!

They will be all you have until you have a scan.

witchy89 · 05/12/2018 22:20

Oh, and yeh you basically have no idea if you're ACTUALLY pregnant until you have your 12 week scan. I was so nervous and basically convinced myself that It was all in my head and that my uterus would be empty! But there was the wiggliest little baby in there dancing all over the place!

SoyDora · 06/12/2018 07:40

The GP here would say ‘err... child congratulations. Book an appt with the midwife’ and send you on your way!
Unfortunately there’s no ‘confirmation’ until you have your scan. A positive home pregnancy test means you’re pregnant, so no point them testing again.
First midwife appt is usually around 8-10 weeks and they’ll do your bloods etc.
Congrats on your pregnancy!

SpadesOfGlory · 06/12/2018 08:47

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and haven't seen my GP at all, in my area you self refer to the midwife and they write a letter to your GP after your booking appointment at 10ish weeks saying you're pregnant and they will be looking after you.

Maybe just phone reception and ask? Or Google midwifery services in your area and it will usually say on their website of you can self refer or if you need the GP to refer you!

Babymammy · 06/12/2018 08:52

I wouldn't bother seeing the gp, call and ask about the midwife.
Yeah the first couple of appointments are underwhelming I'm afraid. Like a pp said the pregnancy tests are all u have until ur 12 week scan, or if u book and early one.
And congratulations op

Jackshouse · 06/12/2018 08:56

Same in our area. GP receptionist will give you the number for midwife booking in service. At your first midwife appointment you fill in lots of paperwork, you will need to know your and your DP family’s medical history and where you want to give birth. Bloods are taken, for blood group and HIV I seem to remember.

You then have the horrible wait until 12 week scan to see if your pregnancy is progressing as 25% of pregnancy end in miscarriage, normally before 12 weeks.

fiadhflower · 06/12/2018 08:57

I rang the GP reception, said I had a positive test and asked what the next step was. They told me I had to see the GP, which I did. She didn’t do much at the appointment - asked if I wanted the baby, said congrats, worked out a due date based on my last period and said I needed to think about which hospital to give birth in. A few weeks later, I got an appointment for a booking-in app with the midwife (so no self-referral where I live). Like others said, there is no confirmation until the 12-week scan (so my morning sickness was reassuring in some ways). Good luck!

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