Worried about first appointment

[Katie12346]

So I'm almost 8 weeks with my first baby and I'm a little worried about going to my first GP appointment, especially as you have to go alone now
Can anyone tell me what to expect?
Is there anything I need to take with me?
Are they able to tell you if everything is going well with the pregnancy or do you have to wait for the 12 week scan for this?
Any advice or information is appreciated x

Are you in the UK op? Surgery said I didn't need to see the GP and I had my first appointment over the phone with a midwife. It's fairly boring, they take your medical history and ask some questions about your partners medical history as well. They do ask about domestic violence which they have to ask so just be prepared for that. Then I went in separately to have height, weight, blood taken and urine sample and that was it! They wont be able to tell you anything about the health of the baby without scanning equipment.

The booking in appointment is pretty straight forward.

The midwife will ask you a ton of questions about you, your situation and your health. Be prepared they ask you if your partner is the father of the baby. They will ask some questions about baby's father's family medical history but it's ok if you don't know.

They do your BMI and take some blood. The blood is for your blood group, rhubella immunity, HIV and some other STIs and some blood conditions.

They will talk through the appointments and tests you can have.

There isn't much they can do to check the actual pregnancy that is the 12 week scan.

You can ask any questions you have too.

For a first baby expect to be there 45 mins - an hour

@adogisforlife91
Thank you for replying
Yeah I'm in the uk.
When I rang the gp to say that I was pregnant they just said okay we'll book for you to come in to see a midwife at 8 weeks
Do they book you in for the next scan at this appointment or do you do that separately?

@Katie12346 there's nothing to worry about. This appointment is a little underwhelming if anything in my experience!

The appointments can vary a little bit from what I've seen, especially during COVID. First - they won't be able to tell you anything about the baby at the appointment. It is too small for them to know anything without an ultrasound (which you will get at the 12 week scan). They won't even give you a pregnancy test - they rely on you having done that!

I've had 3 of these at the same NHS trust and consistent things were:

• They take lots of details about you, partner and medical history to fill in a book that you then carry around during your pregnancy and to ID any risks. This includes questions around your physical and mental health.
• They measure your height and weight (assuming in person).
• They take a urine sample and blood sample. (Some places are doing these separately due to COVID but many have in the same appointment).

Other things that have come up at some of my appointments but not all were around where I wanted to give birth, what to take to the hospital with me when I did (a bit early for that really!) and advice on pelvic floor exercises etc. It differed by midwife.

You can also ask any questions you have - it's worth writing them down so you remember.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck at the appointment!

@Twizbe
@Mimba1
That's really helpful, thank you both so much x

The booking appointment is literally a bunch of family history questions to determine if you could be high risk and if you're in a safe environment during pregnancy. I had mine on the phone. The strangest question they ask is if you are in any way related to the father by blood 😂 but I guess they have to make sure. They also ask if you want to have the scans and screening tests offered by the NHS eg. for Downs syndrome.

Then a few days later I went in for bloods, blood pressure check and urine sample. They then hand you a big folder of your pregnancy notes and lots of leaflets about screening tests etc. Also repeat all the advice about foods to avoid etc, it's exactly the same as what you probably have already read on the NHS site.

Both of these were done by a midwife not GP for me. I'm assuming if you're going in person you'll have the bloods and questionnaire all done at once. It's also a good chance to ask all the questions you have.

It won't take long at all, will be quite chatty and pleasant. You'll be asked a few questions and GP will make notes.

Don't worry about it, it really is nothing and I imagine most people would go alone.