Is this normal?

[MrsG2021]

Hi,

I found out that I’m pregnant with my first baby on Thursday last week. Based on the date of my last period and a 2-3 week result on a Clear Blue digital test, I reckon that I must be about 4-5 weeks. Today, I called my GP and the receptionist booked me a telephone appointment with the GP in 2 weeks time. She didn’t ask me how many weeks I was, what the date of my last period was or anything like that, just said that the GP would call me in two weeks. As this is my first pregnancy, I have no idea whether this is the ‘normal’ procedure. I’d be very grateful for some advice! X

It depends on where you live. Here the GPs don’t get involved at all, you go straight to the community midwife service.
It’s normal not to have first antenatal appointment until around 8-10 weeks but odd that the receptionist didn’t ask you how far along you are, you could be well past that point for all she knows.

Congratulations by the way

Thank you @StruggleStreet . I’ve only told my husband so far so don’t have anyone else to ask at the minute. I thought it was odd that she didn’t ask as well. Just thought it was a bit of tight turnaround for booking the first midwife appointment as I’ll nearly be 7 weeks by the time of the GP’s call but if it’s usually between 8 and 10 weeks that should be fine. Thanks for your help!

Receptionist would never ask that where I am, that's up to the gp, it doesn't matter to the receptionist she's just making the appointments. All sounds normal.

Yep it's normal.

Unless you need advice on any current medication your GP has no reason to see you. You're pregnant, not ill. With any luck you'll get through your entire pregnancy without seeing a single Doctor.

You can self refer for the maternity hospital you want to progress your pregnancy with. Go to their website and complete the form.

It's worth having a look at different ones. Reading reviews and many have Facebook groups. Keep in mind though that in your 3rd trimester you will have multiple midwife appointments so don't choose something so far away it becomes an epic journey every time you have to go. The last month of my pregnancy I was going every 48hrs....so choose the place you want but take distance into account.

Nothing will happen until your 12 week scan, although once you've done your self referral you'll receive some info in the post about diet, healthy habits etc.

Around your 12 week scan you'll have a midwife appointment a longish one for about an hour, they'll likely take bloods, urine. From there you'll have an appointment about once every 3-4 weeks.

20 weeks you'll have a 20 week scan. Your midwife appointments may increase.

About 30 weeks you'll be going every 2 weeks.

You'll only see your GP if you need any meds prescribe - e.g you get an infection.

You'll also need to organise a whooping cough vaccine but your midwife will discuss that with you around your 12 week scan.

Nothing happens during the first 3 months, unless something is going wrong or you are feeling unwell. Best thing you can do is get some pregnancy day-by-day books.

Congratulations!

Have you checked with your local hospital/birth centre to see if you can refer yourself directly? I just filled in a form on the hospital website and got a letter the following week with my booking appt and scan details. Sometimes it can be slower going via GP and they might just ask you to refer yourself anyway so you could potentially cut out the middle man there.

Thanks @Garman. That makes perfect sense, I just assumed they would need to know in order to time the appointment accordingly but as long as 2 weeks seems reasonable then I’m happy to wait.

I'd Google midwife services in your area and see if you're meant to self refer to them, you could see the GP in two weeks and he could say that they don't confirm your pregnancy and you need to be referred to a midwife, so worth checking first in case the GP visit is a waste of time :)

Hi OP,

I too found out I’m pregnant today and similar timescale to you - congratulations!

When I spoke to my surgery, they told me to contact the Midwife Team direct and fill in an online form with the doctors surgery to notify them I’m pregnant.

The receptionist at the Midwife centre was really helpful and mentioned best to get in contact early to get the 8 week appointment booked in as they can get booked up (this could just be my area though!).

Unless there is some reason you need to see the GP like being on medication or having a medical problem which is relevant to pregnancy, there's no need to see the GP. It's extremely rare nowadays for GPs to be commissioned for routine antenatal care. Just look at your local hospital's website and self refer. Take folic acid and vitamin D and wait for your midwife booking appt at 8-10 weeks.