Got a BFP...now what?! (advice needed)

[Danani]

Good morning lovely people!

First time posting on the Pregnancy page, I was on the Conception one for the past couple of months. I had completely counted myself out for this cycle and was not expecting absolutely anything when I tested on the weekend, but lo and behold I saw those 2 pink lines for the first time in my life!

I'm 11 DPO today; a CB digital tells me 1-2 weeks, and if I work out from day 1 of last period, I am 4 weeks 2 days today (which sounds absolutely insane and surreal).

It's my first baby and my first pregnancy, and I really know that it's very very early days and sh*t can go wrong at any minute, but I am wondering...what do I do now? (other than take prenatal vits which I am. Yay me!)

Do I just...wait this week out to make sure AF doesn't come (it's predicted for Thu/Fri), do a few more tests to see if the line is getting darker and then call my GP? Do I call the GP now? Do I need to call the GP at all, or do I just self-refer to one of the nearby hospitals? How does one even pick their hospital?

My closest one is Northwick Park which I've seen horrid stuff about (is that true? does one pick based on reviews or convenience?). Another potential option could be the Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea - it is not very far, I think it's about 30-40 min drive in traffic, maybe 20ish min if it's off-peak - is that too far/too long? How far is too far? It doesn't sound far to me now, but Idk...I have a million questions in my head, and I don't want to get too ahead of myself but equally, I want to educate myself on these things as I don't have a clue.

Any help, advice, tips - would be insanely appreciated.

Don't worry too much about what hospital your going to give birth in. :P

Midwives often don't want to see you dirt your initial booking appointment until about 8wks but no harm in finding out who your local mw team are. May have to call gps to get their number because heaven forbid these make this information easily accessible via the internet!

Otherwise yeah... More tests, vitamins and try to relax.

Hi, congratulations

I waited until week 6 then called my GP who told me how to refer myself to our community midwives. I wouldnt worry about the hospital yet.

I don't think there's much else you need to to, just have a look at the NHS pages about diet in pregnancy and look after yourself

Congratulations 🎉 ring your gp and they will refer you to the midwife , who will see you around 9 weeks. The earlier the better. Speak to the gp about pregnancy supplements too.

Thanks ladies!!! Oh, that makes me feel better!

So...how does it work in practice? The GP puts me in touch with the midwife...and they do the booking app, and scans and all of that jazz, and they're whatever's local to me? But then you pick your hospital later on? Like, the two are not related? Is that correct? I can go to a midwife service nearby for all appointments and then pick a place for the actual birth?

I'm really sorry if these are absolutely daft silly questions, I just have no clue (can you tell, LOL).
I thought that you have to pick a place first, for example, Hospital A, and that's where you see a midwife, and where you go for all of your appointments and then you have your baby there? But I guess not? Am I confusing things?

Don't worry, I had no clue either. So for me I got a number from the GP, registered with the midwife. They booked me in for two appointments one on the phone, one in person at a local children's centre (which is where i always meet her) before 12w. They asked that I download Badger notes in the interim. I think at one of my midwife appointments they asked about the hospital but it wasn't a big issue for me so struggling to remember timings. But you could ask the midwife when you get in touch.

For me scans and birth will be at the same hospital but others might have had a different experience if they stated a preference...

At my booking appt (around 10 weeks) my midwife asked which hospital is like to be registered at (I live between 2) so that's where I go for scans and where I'll be delivering but I see my midwife in the community at a local childrens type centre.
I'll call my gp at 5 weeks they referred me to the midwife's and they called me at 9 weeks to schedule the booking. Every areas slightly different so I'm give it maybe a week or so (whichever youre comfortable with) give them a call and they'll point you in the right direction.

And congratulations 😊

First time mum to be here as well. currently 38 weeks.

When i got my positive I filled in an e-consult form for my GP saying I was pregnant and needed an appointment to discuss this. I didnt even try calling them as you can be on hold for 45mins plus!
They replied and told me to self refer to the midwife via the NHS site for your local borough.
I did this and heard a few weeks later about my 'booking' appointment which was scheduled for when I was 9 weeks pregnant at a local childrens centre.
At this appointment they literally discuss your medical history, partners medical history, weigh and take your height and take some blood tests.
They then write off to the local hospital for an appointment for your first scan at 12 weeks. Your scan may not be at the hospital you want to give birth in just FYI.
They did ask me what hospital I wanted to birth in and to be honest, i opted for the closest one.
Unfortunately due to one local hospital moving all of their maternity facilities to another local hospital, i had to go for scans at one place and bloods at another which has been a pain in the arse to be honest.
All other bookings have been arranged by the midwife.
If you are unwell or concerned about anything between now and 12 weeks, I would say speak to your GP as my midwife didnt want to know. Until i had my 12 week scan the midwives wouldnt class the pregnancy as viable and therefore when i called up worried about abdomen pains, they told me to speak to my GP and not them.
Sounds harsh and may just have been my midwife but ive found when i have been worried (before 12 weeks) the GP has been able to refer me to the EPU whereas the midwife hasnt.

There isnt anything you need to worry anout for now anyway. Just relax and enjoy.

Thank you so much @Flutterby8, @JuneySunshine, @Teaandcrumpets95!

Hello,

Congratulations!! I did things slightly differently and I self-referred to the hospital immediately, but that was because I knew exactly which one I wanted to be at (UCLH) and that they get quite busy. Once I sent that form off and received a phone call to arrange my booking appointment and 12 week scan, I had a telephone appointment with the GP. I told her I had self-referred and she said that was great (saved her a job!) and then she went through the routine stuff about prenatals etc. So I only see the midwives at the hospital, I don't have a community midwife. But then, I am classed high rish and have thousands of appointments with the hospital so I'm not sure I could deal with any more!

Hope it all goes ok for you!

Z

Congratulations. Just a small note to say if your BMI is a bit higher - 35+ possibly? - you'll need to ask for prescription strength folic acid from the GP.