What happens after going to the doctor?

[Louise24902]

Hi, finally got a BFP on Wednesday after a year and a half of TTC! Then did a CB digital on Thursday that said 1-2 weeks! 😁

We are both over the moon and I have made a docs appt for Monday as this was the first I could get, this is my first baby though and I was just wondering what happens once you go to the doctor?

Do they just refer to hospital/midwife, and when do you go to hospital etc after that?

Sorry if this is common sense but as I said first baby so no idea😁

It varies everywhere so there’s no answer I’m afraid!
At mine you see GP then MW contacts you for booking in. Mine was early at 6 weeks but usually 8.

The best thing to do is google maternity services for your area- they usually tell you what happens in your area. Most don’t require GP and you self refer instead.

Congratulations

Congratulations!! I think it varies from area to area but I didn’t have to go to the doc at all - the reception desk there just gave me the number for the midwife and I had to call and book an appt. At my initial appt they just asked me a few questions (name, address, DOB, general health, etc), put it all in to a form and sent it off to my chosen hospital (you have to choose the hospital you want to give birth in now!). The hospital then called to set a date for my booking appt (which is this coming Tuesday), where I believe they take bloods, urine sample, more in-depth chat about everything, etc. A lot of places seem to do that and the first appt in one though. I’m 8weeks today, for reference, and had my first appt at just short of 7weeks.

Eg this is how it works here

www.leicestermaternity.nhs.uk/

Most places you don’t see a GP at all, maybe just check with reception at your practice as to whether that’s their protocol as some GP’s can get quite annoyed at these appointments. Most places you just self refer to midwifery and they contact you with a ‘booking in’ appointment for between 8-10 weeks. At that appointment they take a lot of medical history from you and your partner, take your blood and possible a urine test. Takes about 45-60 minutes. They will also refer you for your dating scan.

They then don’t see you until you’re around 16 weeks (when they will usually listen to the heartbeat) but you will have your dating scan around 11-13 weeks. It’s quite slow to begin with as it’s mostly a waiting game to make sure everything proceeds correctly.

After the 16 week appointment you won’t see them again until 24 weeks, but you’ll have your ‘anomaly’ scan at 20 weeks.

After your 24 week appointment it’s every 4 weeks and then much later in your pregnant it does to weekly.

This is all if you are ‘midwife led’ - if you’re ‘consultant led’ your appointments are likely to be different.

In my area you don't have to see the GP , just self refer to the midwives. You call them up and book an appointment about 8 or 9 weeks and it all goes from there.

You just call up and book in with the midwife here. The GP doesn’t get involved - they don’t confirm the pregnancy or anything.

I’d check and save yourself the hassle of going to the GP if you can self refer.

Congratulations You don’t need to see a doctor at all unless you have concerns or are unwell. They don’t even double check you are pregnant, they take your word for it as home pregnancy tests are so accurate these days. They’ll just refer you onto the midwives or you may self refer in your area. The midwife will then contact you for a booking appointment which will be around 8-10 weeks pregnant. I see my midwife at an outpatients hospital local to me but some midwives are based at GPs or local health clinics.

At the booking appointment, they’ll book your 12 week scan. The booking appointment is really boring. Blood test, urine test, blood pressure, a thousand questions about your health, dads health & family health & a carbon monoxide test. You’ll get your notes to take home .. oh & you’ll get info on claiming free prescriptions which is really handy in pregnancy!

Don't need to see a doctor, you can usually go on hospital website and self refer through maternity section.

You don't need to see the doctor. You can just self-refer yourself to whatever hospital you like and they'll send you a booking appointment for when you're around 9-10 weeks.

I didn't see my GP at all, just made an appointment with the midwife. You will have a booking appointment at around 8 weeks and then your first scan at 12 weeks.

Hi, I'm 6+2 and from the Leeds area. I went to my GP who took my blood pressure as I was feeling dizzy/lightheaded for over a month. She said my BP was fine & told me to book an 8 week appointment with midwife at the reception. The receptionist gave me the Midwife's number and we arranged to see each other this Monday! I'll only be almost 7 weeks so not sure if it's normal to see someone that early? It's my first baby too!

I would say don't expect much from GP, I got all excited and they don't say much. Waiting is the WORST thing! I just want to hear my baby x

I just rang the GP's reception and asked to be referred to midwife services. I didn't feel the need to waste an appointment

You don't even see the gp at all in my area, as soon as I told the receptionist what it was for, they just gave me the number for the local midwife unit to self refer.

You then get a booking in appointment around 8/9 weeks then a dating scan around 12/13 weeks.

Congratulations on your pregnancy x

Thank you for all the replies!

I wasn't sure whether it was normal to go to the GP or midwife etc but I did ask at the GP reception and told them I'd took a positive test etc, it was them that said they would book me an appt with the doctor, they never mentioned self referring etc which is why I thought it was standard

Was reading that they would take it from the date of your last period which would make me just over 5 weeks so hopefully see the midwife in a couple of weeks then😁

in a lot of areas now you don't have your booking in appointment with the midwife until around 12 weeks, so don't be surprised if that happens to you

I'm pregnant with my first and found it strange that nothing really happens for the first couple of months of pregnancy. I understand why, it's just not what I was expecting. No one even confirms your pregnancy in the UK!