When to call go to say your pregnant ?

[LaurenH0893]

As the title says, when do you call your GP & tell them your pregnant to get in touch with a community midwife ?

I'm not too sure when is "too early" to be calling them & booking an appointment.

Can anyone help ?
Thank you

A lot of the time you self refer directly to the hospital, no need to bother the GP. Google your hospital + maternity and see what you find.

Due to previous miscarriages I waited until id had a viability scan at 7.5 weeks

(Id rung too many times as soon as id seen a BFP that to then have to ring back and explain I'd had another loss was upsetting)

I rang our switchboard at 5 weeks (earliest you can refer). They then book the appointments/scan with your local GP/maternity services. Congratulations x

In my area you book directly with midwife and they won't book you in until at least 6 weeks

You still have to go through the GP here, I think I waited til a few days after my period was due (I got positives before AF was due but I'd had suspected chemicals before so wanted to hang on a little bit) both times.

This time GP just phoned me back and checked my dates and mentioned about folic acid, said she'd do a referral to the community midwife who in turn got in touch to book my booking appointment a couple of weeks later. First time was similar but was a face to face (pre covid) and slightly more info given over as it was my first pregnancy.

Online form directly with the hospital but booking appointment not until 8weeks minimum

@SGChome20

In my area you book directly with midwife and they won't book you in until at least 6 weeks

Same here, my GP knew I was TTC and made a point of saying don't contact us.

Didnt bother until i was 8 weeks or so.. only gotta wait to 12 weeks for any midwife and scan anyway so didnt see the point

Nothing to do with GP here. It's an online form on the hospital website to self refer.
I waited till 7 weeks as I had 2 previous miscarriages at 6 weeks and for the first had already done the referral and had the upsetting experience of them sending me letters about appointments, me ringing and explaining only to have them ring on the day of the appointment to ask why I hadn't attended!

@Munchkinpumpkin

Didnt bother until i was 8 weeks or so.. only gotta wait to 12 weeks for any midwife and scan anyway so didnt see the point

Depends on the area. Booking appointment here was 9 weeks

I told them when I found out at 4 weeks. Self referral to the midwife.

Forgot to say was seen by a midwife at about 8 weeks but got my booking in appointment letter at 6 weeks.

Where I work you self refer via the hospital website.
The midwife will then get in contact with you to book an appointment between 8-10 weeks.

Was through GP here too when I had ds 2 years ago, however halfway through my pregnancy, it changed to community (midwife was based at gp surgery)

I waited until I had missed my 2nd period before I did with ds (was almost 10 weeks before I had my booking in apt), only because I'd dropped my sample off (first pregnancy they requested a sample to test) on the Monday and when I started my period almost 2 weeks late and I called to tell them to disregard on the Friday they had a positive on the system so sent me to epu, early loss, was not a fun experience.

So I've been on the hospital website & filled in the self referral - had an email to say received & fill in a form on an app - done
Email also says "If you haven’t already done so, please book an appointment with your Community Midwife through your GP or local Children’s and Family Centre"
So looks like I need to do both ! I can find any info about a community midwife so will just have to call the GP I guess.

I was with a different council / area / doctors & hospital for my 1st and really can't remember what I did then either ! ... helpful I know

Thank you

Never called the GP.

Both times, I just self referred on my hospital website once I'd missed my first period.