Choosing a hospital and start of care

[kittenpeak]

Hi, I found out I was pregnant yesterday (first pregnancy) so called my GP which I thought was the obvious thing to do, and they said "oh you need to choose which hospital and then self refer". I'm not really sure which hospital is best and don't want to talk to friends just yet, so I picked the nearest which seems to have a large maternity unit. I filled in a form and the hospital will apparantly get back to me. Is this all I now do. Wait? Will all my appointments then be at the hospital? Nhs website says it's important you have your first appointment before 10 weeks. Sorry for silly questions! My GP wasn't very helpful

Yes, this is completely normal.

I self referred around 5/6 weeks and eventually got a date for my booking in appointment which was around 9 and a half weeks. I didn't see or speak to anyone before that time.
I was over 12 weeks when I got a letter for my dating scan and that wasn't until i was 13+6.

This was all pre-Covid.

Oh, and you can change hospitals later if you decide to so don't worry about that.

It can really vary by area. In normal times the midwifes saw people locally at the gp surgery - might not be your local one but there is a hub for the area.

With Covid we are being told appointments are moving to telephone based. Your first one probably will be and then they will explain it all to you.

You normally have the booking in app by week 8

Thanks a lot - you've put my mind at rest. 3+ weeks til first appointment seems a long wait but glad to hear it's normal. Thanks again

Yes as others have said normal.
The rough guide for appointments (though this differs in areas)

8 weeks - booking in appt at the hospital
12 weeks - dating scan at hosp
16 weeks - community midwife appt
20 weeks - anomaly scan at hosp
25 weeks - community appt
28 weeks - community
31 weeks - community
34 weeks - community
37 weeks - community
38, 39, 40 weeks - community

You'll have to arrange all the community appts yourself through GP or health centre etc.

The 12 and 20 week scans are hosp will be booked at the previous appts. So at your 8 weeks you'll book the 12 week scan etc.

Like I say though this varies massively from place to place and in covid times a lot of the community ones have either been cancelled or are done on the phone.

Good luck x

Thank you so much, you've been very helpful! I've made a note of all those appts! Have a lovely weekend x

Just to say my experience has been different from the above post, so don’t take it as gospel. Wait until your booking appointment and ask the midwife how it works at your hospital. Eg I haven’t had to book community myself, I didn’t book my 12 week scan, it came through from the hospital, etc.