FTM- how important is the 31 week GP appointment?

[bluemonday2020]

Hello lovely ladies. At my 28 week appointment, my midwife said that I need to book an appointment with my GP at 31 weeks, this is apparently standard with first time pregnancies. What actually happens at this appointment and how important is it? I am a bit weary to go to my GP these days with the covid situation, and also it is tiring to get there. Thanks for your input in advance!

Should include bump measure , heartbeat , urine dip blood pressure check and general how are things/questions etc. Helps screen for pre eclampsia, growth issues etc

Never heard of needing a GP appointment as routine. I only saw GP during pregnancy when I needed antibiotics for a UTI. Is this instead of a routine midwife appt because of Covid?

I'm 37+6 and have not seen my GP once through my pregnancy! I've not been told to book an appointment with her either. To be honest, I'm not sure they would even agree to see me.

Where are you located? I've never heard of a GP appointment being needed. Your midwife is the specialist in this area, so they are in a much better place to do the appointment. If there are any concerns, they should refer you to the obs/gynae doctors at the hospital, not a general practitioner.

I agree that the GP probably won't see you anyway, they are almost all only doing phone consultations at the moment anyway.

Can you call/text your community midwife to clarify?

Pre covid midwifery care is split between gps and midwifery ( they receive funding for this but it also to build a relationship etc in theory) first time mums would ideally see them 25, 31, 38 weeks. Subsequent pregnancies are usually offered 38 week appt with go. This may vary slightly between trusts. They do a full physical check bump , heartbeat urine and bp. Ideally would do a how are you chat but a gp appt generally a lot shorter .

In covid times a lot of gp practices have requested midwifery take over all appointments to minimise contact.

So I would check with your maternity who currently is seeing you but generally a first time mum is 8-10, 16, 25, 28, 31 , 34, 36, 38 40 and 41 weeks

Uncomplicated second onward 8-10, 28 34 35 38 41

Sorry toddlers - second onward 8-10 16 28 34 36 38 41

Pre covid midwifery care is split between gps and midwifery
Interesting. Do you know how widespread this approach is? Definitely wasn't the case in either of my pregnancies in the last few years that there was any GP involvement. Is it quite area specific maybe?

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg62/chapter/1-Guidance

I do suspect may be decided on a area basis ( funding etc may differ or area preference/ caseloads etc) but Nice state midwife and GP models for low risk women .

I had all the appointments you listed but all with midwives. The wording from NICE is interestingly ambiguous there. Talks about midwife and GP but only as opposed to routine obstetrician involvement. So whether midwife only or midwife/GP split is better isn't clear.

But my experience was in a large London trust with a big team of midwives in their own building at the hospital. When people talk about their community midwife or their own midwife I don't really know what that is either. I saw whoever was free to be booked in with on the day I was due an appointment.

Sorry OP, gone off on a bit of a tangent but I had never heard of GP appts as expected in pregnancy so this is really interesting to me.

@Honeydukesmum

Should include bump measure , heartbeat , urine dip blood pressure check and general how are things/questions etc. Helps screen for pre eclampsia, growth issues etc

This was all done by my midwife at our routine appointments with the exception of bump measurement, which she would have done but due to a scan after reduced movements showing a huge growth in a couple of weeks I had a month of growth scans to check nothing untoward. It was never mentioned to me that I should book a GP appointment.

Oh yes I think it will depend on area and what works best in that trust. As long as checks are done by someone trained properly and you can get help when needed it’s all good :)

Op I would say try go to the appointment as these checks do help screen any issues that may arise x I would also be reassured that where ever it takes place they will be doing everything to minimise risk and are often very quiet and quick ( less waiting etc) at the moment

Posters above don’t worry if gp or midwife as long as the checks are done by trained person at correct timing that is all good.

I'm 38 weeks tomorrow. Have had literally zero interaction with the GP. Only 2 midwife appointments face to face, due to covid.

Just had mine last week. As well as the usual fundal height, blood pressure, urine protein and foetal heartbeat measurements the midwife also took blood to check iron levels.

I would go if you can. It's an opportunity for any problems to be identified nice and early, and personally I find the appointments reassuring.

Sounds add this was with midwife, not GP. I tend to conflate the two because I see the midwife at the GP's surgery. I don't think it matters whether it's a midwife or Dr doing these things.

*should add

Im 30 weeks and won’t see a GP the whole pregnancy. Can’t see the point! Tbh have barely seen the midwife!

Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful. I am at Chelsea & Westminster in London. I just called my midwives team who said that GP check ups are actually not happening now for pregnant ladies and I should just come in to see them at my 34 week appointment with the midwives, which is already scheduled. I was hoping they would tell me to go see them now at 31 weeks regardless, as you say it is better to have more checks than less. Sadly with covid it seems like everything is different.