NHS pregnancy steps

[Chaboxy]

I've just found out I'm pregnant (very excited!) with my first baby and I contacted the doctors who directed me to self-refer. I now have a log in to 'my pregnancy notes' but I can't really see what the next steps are in terms of the NHS.

I have been warned not a lot happens until the 12(ish) week scan - but does anything happen?

Anything to absolutely confirm pregnancy, check dates, do preliminary blood test etc.

Any advice massively welcomed - TIA xx

I don't think so, though I'm interested too. I got a positive about 5 days ago and have been testing occasionally since, but I haven't called the GP yet because for some reason I feel nervous that it might not stick! Which is a bit silly really. I suppose there's no rush to call for another week or so still though.

Congratulations! Usually you contact your local community midwifery hub yourself and they book you in for an appointment at around 8 weeks to go through your health and take bloods etc. Hope that helps x

Hey!
Massive congrats!
So you self refer when you find out you're pregnant to the local area under the hospital you would fall under (I am in Herts). Then they send you a letter for your first booking appointment which usually takes a few hours - medical/personal paperwork to complete, urine sample, height, weight etc. I've got 3 young kids and this is normally around the 10/11 week mark when they schedule this.

Then they book you in for your scan at around 12-14 weeks (ish) to which you will receive a letter. Then after that they will send you a letter again for your 20 week scan.

Hope that helps!

It will depend on which area you are in and what the local arrangements are. Have a look on the websites for your GP and local hospital trust. Some people will first refer to the GP surgery (although you won’t see a GP, you will see a midwife at around eight weeks for a booking appointment where they will take your history, do blood tests and a urine sample) and some will refer to the hospital. It does feel rather odd, but no one will actually confirm that you are pregnant until you go for the first scan at around 12 weeks.

if you've self referred you should get a booking appt with a midwife where they take your details and do blood tests at around 10 weeks then a scan at 12 weeks. if you haven't heard by about 9 weeks chase them up. not much else to do really

My local trust uses My Pregnancy Notes to self-refer refer too. Just keep checking as an appointment went on there with nothing to alert you to it. It only took a week or two to be updated with the appointment.

I had my booking appointment at 7/8 weeks as first child so may be sooner.

I had a booking appointment at about 10 weeks so it felt ages. Questionnaires and blood test.

The part I wandered about is no-one actually confirms pregnancy. They trust you have done a positive test yourself. I wonder is anyone is delusional and goes to a 12 week scan having never been pregnant.

It's just booking appointment at 8-9 weeks, and scan around 12 weeks. Our NHS uses Badger Notes but nothing is put on there initially. I waited a few weeks to self refer as have been paranoid after previous miscarriage. if you have early bleeding or pain, you contact GP or local early pregnancy unit.

Thank you everyone for all your replies so far!

I'm glad it's not just me who feels a little cautious about not having my pregnancy confirmed apart from by shop-bought tests!

It sounds like I should:

• wait a few weeks to be offered an appointment.
• call my local services by week 6ish if I've still heard nothing through the NHS portal.
• ensure I get a check in booked for around week 7/8, and that's just a chat, no scan until week 12ish.

Thanks so much! This has been super helpful and reassuring xx

Oh wait, sounds like the 1st appointment is more like at about 8-10 weeks! Just putting everyone's feedback together :)

Trusts will do it differently, do you feel comfortable letting us know what city you're in? We may be able to find some better info.

In my trust you self-refer and the midwives contact you to book you in for your booking appointment. This is usually in the diary for 8-10 weeks. That appointment takes around 90 minutes and at the end they phone the scan department to book your 12 week scan. In theory that will be from 11-13 weeks pregnant because you won't be able to fully be accurate with your dates at this point, and there are some tests offered during the scan that you need to be fewer than 14 weeks for so they aim for 11-13. They'll also book your next midwife appointment which I think from memory is 16 weeks with your first baby. You'll have additional midwife appointments with your first compared to subsequent babies, the NHS site has a list of all normal appointments and will specify which ones you're getting as it's your first baby.

That’s right - GP does nothing. First appointment is at 8-10/11 weeks which is known as your booking appointment and it’s done with the midwife. Then you have your 12 weeks scan after. Then another midwife appointment at 16 weeks and then 20 week scan, and then more regular appointments after that.

So it could be that you get a letter at 8 weeks for an appointment at 11 weeks.

I'm pretty sure they check hcg levels in your urine sample during your booking appointment, whilst checking other things

Congrats OP!

You've already been give lots of advice, but I was very surprised that in the UK, you don't speak to any medical professional till 8-12 weeks!

• Start taking folic acid now if not already. Note that if you have a higher BMI, you should be taking the 5mg dose which your GP can prescribe, not just the over the counter 400mcg dose.
• Follow the NHS website for healthy eating https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/
• You might want to join a pregnancy app to follow the progress of sizes and things happening to your body and baby
• If you get any one sided pain pelvic, shoulder tip pain, feeling faint, bleeding etc get it checked out ASAP in A&E
• If you are older, look into having the NIPT done privately. It can be done from 10 weeks, but waiting for the NHS checks etc you'd be much further along. I know first hand how finding the results early, esp with bad news, was much easier than if I'd waited.

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/

Process will vary by trust but your trust should have info online. Mine is on the website for each of their hospitals you can give birth in and gives info on how to self refer etc.

Where I am I self referred to midwives each time and they usually send my booking appointment and 12 week scan dates within a few hours of me emailing them.

Your first contact with midwives will hopefully be the booking appointment. They will ask about your health and family history and take blood pressure, your weight and likely bloods as well.

NHS pregnancy guide gives info on diet, folic acid etc. It also gives advice on common pregnancy issues like heartburn, morning sickness and thrush. I would avoid googling what to eat and just sticking to the NHS advice. Guidance varies country to country depending on food hygiene standards so Google often throws up advice which doesn't apply to the UK.

If you take any prescription medication and didn't have a pre pregnancy meds review you can contact your GP to check you don't need to switch any meds or reduce your dose. As a PP said, you may need prescription folic acid if you have a high BMI, this also applies if you have certain medical conditions in your family e.g. spina bifida or take certain medication e.g. sulfasalazine.

Really appreciate the input everyone! The midwife's called me today and have scheduled a phone appointment on Friday for me to give some info and ask questions. With an in-person appointment at about 6.5 weeks so that's really nice (and early by the sound of things)! 👍 They are also prescribing the higher dosage of folic acid some on this thread have recommended. Much love to all!

Most happens at scan. Pick where you want to give birth. Buy what to expect when you are expecting. Make your partner read it! You will meet your midwife team, usually at your gp's. See how it goes. You might be fine so just bloods, listening to baby, and quick chat about how you are. If unwell, will be different.