Just found out I’m pregnant

[Handas]

Just found out I’m pregnant (happy about this) and not sure what to do given the current situation. Can’t get through to the doctor on the surgery number and don’t want to turn up there. I’m 41 and it’s our first. Just after some advice about whether to leave worrying about getting in touch with a dr for a few weeks or if it’s really important I do it now? Thanks!

Congratulations! If you can’t get hold of your gp, maybe ring the maternity services of your local hospital (number will be on their website) as you’ll need to be booked in for a booking appointment with a midwife at 8 weeks (which could be done over the phone I would guess) and a 12 week scan. Given your age (sorry!), I think you would be considered high risk so you would need to be monitored. Good luck Op!

Congratulations!
I wouldn't worry about the doctors now - a lot of areas operate by self referrals to midwives so it might be worth checking online if you actually need to contact GP at all.
Most booking appointments are happening over the phone at the minute due to CV but you do not need any appointment/contact with midwife generally until 8+ weeks.
I would look online and see if you can self refer to your midwives, if not I would just try ringing GP within the next few weeks to get them to refer you.

It depends where you live but you should be able to self refer yourself to your chosen hospital without the help of your GP. Just do a Google search of the hospital you want to birth at and then fill in one of their forms. They'll then book you in for your 8 and 12 week appointments.
I'm not sure if this has happened to others appointments but my 8 week one, which is meant to be tomorrow, has been rescheduled to the same day as my 12 week scan (which I'm happy about).

Best of luck

Thanks all. I thought my age 😩 would be an issue. Good to have extra care but hoping it doesn’t mean too many trips to the hospital right now! I haven’t even begun to think about which hospital I want to go to (we are in east London so possibly have a few choice) but all of your advice has given me lots to think about and do :)

With my second baby I didn't tell the midwife til 11 weeks. I'm thrilled for you but it is so normal for them like they won't be bothered. I'd start fussing now so you get an appointment by 11 weeks. And start taking folic acid now.

Congratulations

@Handas your age doesn't necessarily mean there's more trips to the hospital than normal. I voluntarily tested for GD and had blood tested at 10 weeks for T21, 18 & 13, but as long as you're in generally good health, no previous problems etc, unless anything looks a bit precarious at your 12 week and 20 week scans, there won't be much else to worry about. Your LHA might want you to be consultant led and will maybe suggest induction, but all that can be talked through at a later stage. Congrats and good luck!

Congratulations to you both, Hope you have a easy and healthy pregnancy!! Iv just found out I'm pregnant too I'm 8 weeks now, all you need to do is call your midwife centre or on the hospital website and they will book you in. I just received a phone call from the midwife and she said that for my first app they will be doing it over the phone to minimise close contact then I will get another appointment for some bloods ect but that only takes about 15mins xx

My GP and midwifes have all told me that it's not high risk until age 45 so you should be fine on that score OP! I'm not far behind you in age either. It's really common these days to have babies at 40+ so they don't tend to bat an eyelid!

Congratulations on your lovely news!

Take your folic acid and try and get through to some sort of maternity ward or your out of hours practice so they can start to get you in for obs and check ups x

While 41 isn’t uncommon to be a first time mother - it is considered high risk.

Congrats again OP

Thanks all, really grateful to have sane, simple and useful information at a time like this! Have done some research and filled in an online form for the maternity department of my nearest hospital (which also seems to come out well on various surveys). Hopefully I’ll hear from them soon.