How soon did you see a GP/nurse?

[LizzyB03]

Just wondering, now I know I’m pregnant...I have no idea when to schedule an appt with the doctor.

Is COVID-19 changing these types of appointments?

Depends where you are? I’m Scotland and I called the doctors surgery who advised I self referred to the maternity unit. Which I did and then I never heard anything until the booking in appointment which was at 8 weeks. Then never seen anyone till my 12 week scan.

I went to see the GP and got told off for wasting her time. She referred me to the midwife who didn’t see me till 12 weeks. Personally I think this is disgraceful! I was shitting myself, no idea what to do, and was just left with no support. When I saw the midwife at 12 weeks she told me don’t eat blue cheese or liver etc, which was far too late - I should have been given that info from day 1.

I had to self refer at 7 weeks, had my booking in app face to face at 9 weeks and then had my 12 week scan. I'm in the south east x

I’m south east.
First midwife appointment over the phone at 8 weeks, they then booked me in for the following day for urine, bloods, blood pressure etc.

Then scan at 10-12 weeks

Then another scan at 20 weeks

Then midwife said she’ll call me at 25 weeks (but warned I won’t hear from her again until then)

Midwife appointment in person at 28 weeks

Another scan at 36 weeks

This was the plan I was given this week at my first appointment :)

I'm in the south east and notified my gp, they sent me a link to register online with the midwives in my area.

You self refer usually and have a telephone appointment at 8 weeks

the expectation is that we do a lot preparing and reading ourselves - they aren't there to hold our hands/spoon feed us information - things to do and not to do in early pregnancy is easily found on google

I think there is a bit of a misconception about how much support you get - the reality is very little

Usually you ring your GP to get the midwives number. Call them to arrange booking appointment which is at 9 weeks usually and by telephone atm in most areas followed by an appointment for blood test, BP, weight and height. Then you'll have a dating scan at 12 weeks.

@BluSpider

I went to see the GP and got told off for wasting her time. She referred me to the midwife who didn’t see me till 12 weeks. Personally I think this is disgraceful! I was shitting myself, no idea what to do, and was just left with no support. When I saw the midwife at 12 weeks she told me don’t eat blue cheese or liver etc, which was far too late - I should have been given that info from day 1.

Surely if you are adult enough to get pregnant, you are able to go onto the nhs website for basic information.

I called my GP's surgery about a week after I found out, told the receptionist I'm pregnant and she booked me in for a telephone appointment with the GP.

GP gave me some initial advice and told me to choose a hospital and self refer.

@BluSpider

A lot of the information on what you can and can't eat is freely available all over the internet. To be fair support is generally limited as it's speak to GP, have your booking appt and then 12 week scan, but that's it. But that's why the internet is useful...

In glasgow scotland you just call a midwife line and never talk to a GP. The first time you actually speak to someone is about 9-10 weeks via a booking appt (currently a call)

Like other posters, I think the UK is really missing their early pregnancy care - to tell people to not drink alcohol, take folic acid and vitamin D NOW if you arent already, what foods to avoid, how to exercise etc.

Check your GP surgery website. Mine tells you exactly what to do in my area (self refer to midwives). You don’t have contact with a GP at all unless you have any other medical condition or concern - everything is done through antenatal care here

@MsHedgehog for many people info online is adequate but lots of people have limited literacy, limited internet use etc and these people are exactly who would most benefit from early pregnancy intervention.

Phone the receptionist and ask or check your surgery website.

I think it really depends on your NHS trust. I’m in London and all my appts have been face to face including the booking appt at 10 weeks where basic checks like BP, bloods and urine were done. I had to self refer to the maternity service but called my GP survey to check what the process was.

[quote TheDaydreamBelievers]@MsHedgehog for many people info online is adequate but lots of people have limited literacy, limited internet use etc and these people are exactly who would most benefit from early pregnancy intervention.[/quote]
This may be the case for some people - and those people can explain they need the extra support when they ring to speak to their GP and they will be referred for the necessary support. The vast majority of people don’t need to have an appointment to explain to them the basics which are found on the NHS website.

I never saw a GP or nurse, just rang the surgery and booked in with the midwife. Had a booking in appointment around 8 weeks both times.

I dont want to pull the thread off track @Turtleturtle81 but I would say that part of the difficulty is that people in that position (for example who have a learning disability, additional learning needs, are not literate etc) may also struggle to advocate for themselves the way someone with a more advantaged background might find easy to do. I'm not being mindlessly critical of NHS maternity - I am an NHS clinician- I understand why the care is planned as it is, but I also know many fall through those gaps.

@TheDaydreamBelievers

I dont want to pull the thread off track *@Turtleturtle81* but I would say that part of the difficulty is that people in that position (for example who have a learning disability, additional learning needs, are not literate etc) may also struggle to advocate for themselves the way someone with a more advantaged background might find easy to do. I'm not being mindlessly critical of NHS maternity - I am an NHS clinician- I understand why the care is planned as it is, but I also know many fall through those gaps.

I totally get this. I’m not sure what the solution would be, but I don’t think we can just give every pregnant person a GP appointment just to go through those basics.

Yeah absolutely @Turtleturtle81! A difficult issue and the issue of helping people who may be more vulnerable access care applies across all nhs services. Hope your pregnancy is going well if that's the stage you are at atm

I hope you worked out how to get into the maternity system in your area @LizzyB03 !

Thanks for your replies everyone!

I called the surgery and they gave me the link to register online, then I have to call for an appt at 8 weeks.

Considering a private scan when we are able as DH is a mega worrier and needs to know ASAP that all is ok! I heard you can usually see baby from 8 weeks....is that right do you think?

I'm in the SW and saw my GP initially who was a bit nonplussed that I'd made an appointment but was very kind and reminded me about folic acid, foods to avoid etc. She referred me to the midwives (I think this is something I should have done myself, but I was clueless) and I had my booking appointment at around 9 weeks, with a schedule of regular appointments until my due date. Congratulations!

@LizzyB03

Thanks for your replies everyone!

I called the surgery and they gave me the link to register online, then I have to call for an appt at 8 weeks.

Considering a private scan when we are able as DH is a mega worrier and needs to know ASAP that all is ok! I heard you can usually see baby from 8 weeks....is that right do you think?

I had 2 early scans due to previous ectopic... 5 weeks + 4 saw sac and faint yolk 6 weeks + 4 saw little blobby bean and could see heart flickering. So you should definitely see something at 8 weeks

To add these were both transvaginal

@LizzyB03

Thanks for your replies everyone!

I called the surgery and they gave me the link to register online, then I have to call for an appt at 8 weeks.

Considering a private scan when we are able as DH is a mega worrier and needs to know ASAP that all is ok! I heard you can usually see baby from 8 weeks....is that right do you think?

You should be able to see a baby (more like a blob tbh) at 8 weeks. Don’t want to scare you, but that doesn’t necessarily mean everything will be okay. I would personally wait (based on personal experience) for the 12 week scan for more reassurance.