Moving house/moving country while pregnant

[PenguinHuddle]

I currently live abroad because of my job but will be returning to the UK soon. When I return I will be 8 weeks pregnant. It looks like we will need to quarantine for 2 weeks on arrival (moving to Scotland). I will have an early scan here before leaving but I'm stressing about organising my 12 week scan in the UK...
Do I have to register with GP before I can register with midwife?
Is it too late to do this at 10 weeks pregnant?
How quickly between registering with midwife can they book you in for the scan?
Is the system in Scotland different to the system in England?
I'm worried that by the time all the paperwork is completed that I'm going to be too late for the scan. Would appreciate any information/advice/ideas.

Depends which health board in Scotland, but most of them you either self-refer to community midwives, or hospital. They then get in touch for your booking app, and then scan. I think if you self referred at 8 weeks, you would have plenty of time. Not sure about registering with GP first but I’m sure if you were in the process of it, it would be fine. Good luck!

I’m in Scotland, process seems to be the same as England, with the usual local variations.

You can’t register for a GP until you have an address locally. I moved within country at 7 months pregnant and they were very quick to get everything set up.

I somehow managed not to book a scan for one of my pregnancies , can’t remember if it was 12wk or 20wk, but they just did it a couple of weeks later, it wasn’t a problem. So don’t worry if you miss 12 weeks, it isn’t a necessity to have it on time.

I’m in Scotland and in my area (Lothian) you phone a central number and self refer. I suspect they would still let you refer even if you didn’t have a GP. I have previously not phoned up until 8 wks as I have a history of miscarriage and didn’t want to make appointments that would end up cancelled. They have always been able to offer me a 12 wk scan within the timescale. Good luck x

Thanks for the replies and reassurance. Is the booking appointments being done over the phone/computer at the moment or face to face? If its done remotely I could maybe get that done during the quarantine period.

@PenguinHuddle depends on the health board. My booking appointment was in October and was meant to be face to face. It was changed at the last minute to a telephone appointment as covid restrictions changed. You do still need to see them for bloods etc.

www.nhsinform.scot/care-support-and-rights/nhs-services/doctors/registering-with-a-gp-practice

www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/pregnancy/your-antenatal-care/your-booking-appointment-booking-visit

In some areas you can make the appointment yourself.

www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/labour-and-birth/getting-ready-for-the-birth/deciding-where-to-give-birth

The 12 week scan is mostly for confirming your expected due date.

If you're older than 35 there's a significant increase in the risk of your baby having down's which is screened for (along with a couple of other much rarer conditions).

You can find out more about the screening offered on the NHS website and have a conversation with the local midwifery team if you're particularly anxious to have the screening - they will be able to tell you whether it can be screened for at a late gestation.