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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Moving soon - how go about sorting out new midwifes, ante-natal classes, birth options etc?

25 replies

LilyToTheB · 25/03/2008 10:01

Hi all, am hopefully moving house soon (been going on longer than hoped) to a new area, and am getting a bit anxious about what to do about getting a new midwife, sorting out ante-natal classes, birth options etc..
Would really like a home birth too if possible, and don't know if you need to book this in?

I'm 24 weeks pregnant btw

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Anna8888 · 25/03/2008 10:10

You have to sign up with a new GP first and foremost. Once you are on the GP's register, he/she will put you in touch with the MW, and she will sort antenatal classes and birth options.

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 25/03/2008 10:26

Aah yes, that makes sense, thanks Anna. My brains a bit slushy today, & seem to be worrying alot!

OP posts:

Anna8888 · 25/03/2008 10:27

You should sign up with a new GP just as soon as your house purchase is finalised.

MrsTittleMouse · 25/03/2008 10:50

I moved when I was just in the third trimester too. I had checked out GPs in the new area, and before I'd even unpacked I was down there getting registered with the midwife!
It was all OK, by the way. The MW's first question for me was whether I wanted a home birth, and I was able to get into all the antenatal classes that I wanted (except the NCT, but they seem to be booked up as soon as you conceive in some areas!).

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 25/03/2008 11:01

Oh thanks MrsTittleMouse, that makes me feel better. So as long as I register with a GP as soon as we move, then sort out a midwife, t should be ok?
Was getting a bit worried as antenatal classes can book up early, but I'm sure there'll be one I can get into!

OP posts:

PetitFilou1 · 25/03/2008 11:29

Lily
I am in the same boat (with dc3). If you want a home birth you don't need to involve the GP at all - you can just ring up the community midwives but what they will probably say is to contact them as soon as you move. You will still need to be registered with a GP though (find one on www.nhs.uk). I generally go for a big practice where they do extra things like minor surgery etc. Those are usually training practices which are good because they a mixture of Drs training to be GPs with recent hospital experience who are up to date with things as well as the older GPs.

I want a homebirth this time so I looked up some information on the NCT site and found that very helpful. I have also contacted the local NCT and booked myself in for a refresher class. No reason you can't do that now. They do book up very quickly.

MrsTittleMouse · 25/03/2008 11:31

I think that it helped me that I wasn't working, so I was able to go to some of the extra antenatal classes that were held during normal working hours. These were the classes about birth positions, breathing, massage etc. I wasn't allowed to sign up for the regular antenatal classes, tour of the hospital etc. though, as it was still too early!

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 25/03/2008 11:42

Thanks petitfilou, have looked and found lots of GPs in the area I'm moving to, but need to wait til moved to register. So as soon as possible I'll register there and arrange to see a midwife too.

I'll have a look at the NCT website too. Would really like a home birth even though it's my first, so not sure if possible, but need to find out about it asap.

OP posts:

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 25/03/2008 11:44

I'm not working either, so hopefully should be ok to do daytime antenatal classes MrsTM.

OP posts:

baffledmum · 25/03/2008 11:57

I moved 2 weeks before I gave birth. The midwifery team were excellent and came over (albeit unexpectedly) on a Sunday afternoon to see me. I found that the NHS was excellent at caring for someone in this situation.

PotPourri · 25/03/2008 12:03

As soon as your house sale is through, phone the GP surgery adn explain you are really pregnant. they will probably give you a booking in appointmnet really quickly with hte surgery and the midwife. I moved when 8 months pregnant with DD2 and found them to be ok. I did miss not knowing the midwives - but pregnant again and they remember me - they have been just as nice second time around.

Main thing is to talk to someone in GP surgery to get the relevant appointments fast tracked.

Good luck

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 25/03/2008 12:06

Thanks girls, I will contact the local GP's as soon as I'm moved, and arrange an apointment asap. Feel much more reassured now thanks

OP posts:

PetitFilou1 · 25/03/2008 12:12

Lily
Of course it is possible! I presume you are not a high risk pregnancy or you wouldn't be asking. The only thing I would say is don't assume anything about your first birth. If you did plan a homebirth you would also have to plan that you MIGHT have to go into hospital in an emergency. My advice would be to have some general ideas about what you'd like but to allow some flexibility for yourself. Everyone's birth experience is different and whilst you can plan for it to some extent you also have to allow for the unexpected to happen.

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 25/03/2008 12:24

I hope so! I really don't like hospitals and love the idea of having the baby at home in my own surroundings, with my own comforts.
Having a good first pregnancy so far, and low risk, but I do understand that anything can happen and might have to go to hospital if complications. Thanks

OP posts:

Flamesparrow · 25/03/2008 19:52

@ homebirth!!!

The others have told you all really. Have you got somewhere sorted yet? Are you gonna be by me or further across towards P? (Don't wanna out your location!!)

It will be fine. I have done a homebirth here, and my friend has done several in the other area and we both had very supportive midwives.

We need to get this meeting up thing sorted

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 26/03/2008 10:35

Hey Flamesparrow!
Would love the idea of a homebirth yeah! Hospitals make me too stressed out, and I can relax & go with it at home.
Although, no 'home' to go to yet! Don't know if 'man' told you we're going to rent? Not sure where yet, in B though, but need to look at places soon!
We're over that way Mon/Tues next week?

OP posts:

bigmouthstrikesagain · 26/03/2008 10:46

Lily - congrats on pg.

I moved house at 32 weeks pregnant and had all your concerns about changing midwives etc.

I phoned the gp and midwifes in the new town in advance and explained my situation - i found it reassuring to actually speak to them and they were happy to go through the process with me and send me info in the post.

I also had a homebirth which went very well and I am preg again and plan to have a homebirth this time as well.

Good luck with the move and the birth (also if you can get the removal firm to do the packing as well as the moving it really helped take stres out of our housemove!)

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 26/03/2008 10:58

Hi bigmouth!

Thanks, it's good to know other people have been through it as well.
Not really sure where moving to yet, as will be renting and haven't found anywhere, although have sold flat and should all be going ahead soon! When I know for sure I can contact GPs in that area & midwives too.

Was your homebirth your first baby?
It's my first pregnancy, just hope it'll be ok for me to have it at home, people keep putting me off!

Will def get removals in to move all the stuff though, can't really carry much in my condition!

OP posts:

bigmouthstrikesagain · 26/03/2008 12:39

Hi Lily - I had a homebirth for my second pregnancy (and hopefully will do for no. 3).

I hated my hospital experience with no. 1 but nerves (and living in a rather cramped one bed victorian flat) meant I thougt it would not be possible to homebirth first time round. Our new house had ample space for a birthing pool etc. so I had a much more positive and less traumatic second delivery. And the luxury of one to one care throughout the labour (additional midwifes turned up for the 3rd stage). But even if you are booked in for a homebirth you can always transfer to hospital - if you change your mind (apart from when the baby is about to pop out iykwim). Not so easy the other way around!

Good luck with finding the right house - if you are wanting a homebirth and a pool (very good pain relief though I opted for delivering 'on land') - then look at the plumbing and heating in the potential houses as plentiful hot water at all times is very helpful if your DH needs to fill a pool at 3am

Flamesparrow · 26/03/2008 19:45

I volunteer DH to help with moving too

We're about Monday, not Tuesday though if you wanna visit?

To my mind, all the people who and say "Oooooooooh first baby, you don't know what is going to happen, you'll want hospital" - the amount of birth stories I read on here where one birth is completely different to the next, you will never know what will happen. You just need to be comfortable.

If there is a problem then you will be bundled into an ambulance and whizzed off sirens blaring. If you do a search for flamesparrow and birth you should be able to find my homebirth story in birth announcements.

I still keep at the idea of Man and a baby - he appeared on our doorstep all excited when DS was born, and he is just so lovely in general. It makes me all happy

I have had two good births - one at home and one in hospital... even though the home one took much longer, I would definitely choose home over hospital again.

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 27/03/2008 09:34

Aaah thanks, that makes me feel better about it, am def going to go with the home birth idea! Might even see if we can get a birth pool. My cousin had a home birth recently and had one, said it really helped!

I agree it's better to be relaxed (as much as poss) and comfortable so you're less stressed out, better environment for the baby to be born in.

He is lovely isn't he? I feel so lucky!
He's so excited about the baby too, talks to my belly every night!

OP posts:

Flamesparrow · 27/03/2008 09:41

We had a pool - never got to use the bloody thing, but it whiled away time filling it between contractions (my choice, not just an evil husband!!).

I think DH used to get a bit concerned with how passionate I get about what a nice guy Man is and that he was being wasted and needed to find a lovely lady , then he got even more concerned because as soon as I met you I started muttering about settling down and having babies

Original poster

LilyToTheB · 27/03/2008 15:18

I've read your birth story, wow! Sounds amazing! I hope I can have as good a home birth as that (maybe not as long though!) love the idea of a pool too, will have to look into it..

Ahh that's really nice He is lovely yeah, we feel so lucky, can't wait to start our new family!

We're pretty busy Monday apparently as man's sisters b.day, hopefully going to put deposit on pram!
How about Sunday?

OP posts:

Flamesparrow · 27/03/2008 16:11

ooh yes - sunday works!

Ekka · 27/03/2008 17:55

Hi, just read the OP. We moved when I was about 26 weeks pg with my 1st and registering with the mw was fine (though they had to do all the booking in stuff again (except scans) as apparently they couldn't use the blood test results I'd had in London

As for antenatal classes I was told that the nhs 'had' to find room for you, but I booked NCT ones before we moved so didn't go to the nhs ones (btw DO book NCT ones asap if you want them - we were very lucky to get on as they had just added another course in the area we moved to)

Also had a hb - although I mentioned I wanted a hb at my 1st appt the mws don't actually book it till you are around 36/7 weeks when they can assess whether you are still low risk & they'd be happy to have you as hb (we had a little scare when they thought dd was breech, but she either moved back or they got it wrong ). HB was fine for me and mw were not fussed that it was my first, though I've heard that some areas are less open to hb with 1st babies so you need to be more demanding

Hope this helps - we're now expecting no2 and definitely going to try for a hb this time round as well!

Good luck with the move! And enjoy the rest of your pg....

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