Postnatal check up - over phone?

[lusciousmix]

I'm 5 weeks post partum and I have been really struggling with my GP (who are often useless but no others in the area unfortunately) to get in the 6 week check up I was told I'm supposed to have.

I called up 4 times already and each time they seem to not understand what I'm asking for, as if i'm the first person in the area to have a baby... but finally spoke to someone today who said they now do postnatal check ups over the phone and have booked me in.

I had an episiotomy and stitches so i was under the impression they would need to actually have a look, or is that wrong? I feel like they're fobbing me off a bit, whats the point in a call for them to just ask if i feel ok, I might as well just call them if I don't feel ok - but maybe i'm being grumpy haha

My 6 week check was in person but was more aimed towards the baby (including first vaccinations). I think the GP just asked if I was ok and that was pretty much it.
I also had an episiotomy and it wasn't checked by anyone, at all (LO is nearly 18 months now so doubt anyone will ask now 🤣)

can you ask when on the phone with the dr if you can go in for your stitches to be checked? I had to book my check as a phone call but when they rang I immediately asked for it to be in person so my stitches could be checked. I’d had some discomfort and stressed that I wanted to be sure there was no infection (which was true!) Depends how your GP works but my dr was then able to book me an in person appt for later in the day

My GP practice combined the 6 week check with the 8 week check/vaccinations for baby. It was useless. They did DS first, who was screaming at the top of his lungs after the vaccines. The (male) GP just asked me at the end of the appointment, “is everything ok, you know, down there” (with vague waving of his hand towards the region). I just nodded and left. But no, it wasn’t ok. I’d had a traumatic birth ending in theatre and had pph, third degree tear, and episiotomy… Aftercare is really lacking, so do push to be seen if you feel you need it. In fact, for me, a separate phone call with a sympathetic GP would have been preferable, with the option to come in if they need to look at anything.

Sorry, that’s more of a general moan from me!

They don't do 6 week checks for mums in my area anymore, I had a traumatic first birth and no-one even asked about it once I was discharged, nevermind checked my stitches!

I was given details of a health visitor midwife type person who came at 5 days/10 days and then after that I had to book in at the Drs surgery (which wasn't my usual one) to check stitches, post baby health and baby health/weight/feeding etc

Ours was all grouped in with the 8 week baby check and jabs too. Though thankfully they did me first so we didn't have a sad baby. (Though honestly she couldn't have cared less what was happening. She napped the entire time, woke briefly to glare at the nurse doing the jabs then went off back to sleep..). Could you potentially ask to have your stitches reviewed at the baby check appt? Unless of course there is concern. It's absolutely rubbish that you're having to fight for this with a 5 week old!! (And congratulations by the way)