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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Ladies how early did you/should you go to the Gp after learning you were pregnant?

24 replies

santabringmeababy · 04/01/2010 11:22

I am asking as I am currently five weeks, I wanted to book in with my own Gp as she knows my medical history etc, but she is not back now until the 16th Jan.
I will be 6.5 weeks if I leave it til then.

Will this make me 'alet' for my midwife appt etc or is this pretty standard?

Thanks in anticipation

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Original poster

santabringmeababy · 04/01/2010 11:23

Sorry for 'alet' please read 'late' lol!

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 04/01/2010 11:26

unless you have anything specific you need to see gp for, i'd just make a MW appt. 6.5 weeks is fine. i think they like to see you about 8-10 weeks.
Congratulations

RockBird · 04/01/2010 11:26

I was 7 weeks when I saw the gp and after that, the next I heard was a nuchal scan at 12 weeks and booking in at 14 weeks.

sonsmum · 04/01/2010 11:27

Not sure if this is the samne for everyone but i had to see a gp first to get a referral to a hospital for a midwife appt to be set up.
Any dr at your practise should be able to do this.
I would recommend you do this as soon as possible really because if you want the nuchal scan at approx 12 weeks you will need an appt to be booked for this at your hospital......as with all appts you have to wait and may be unlikely to get an appt at short notice....will just depend on availability.
With my 1st Pg I didn't see the Dr until I was 8wks thinking i had all the time in the world....but my referral went astray and my scan was delayed so I missed out on the nuchal scan as was scanned at 14wks which was too late for nuchal measurements.

RockBird · 04/01/2010 11:27

Oh yes, sorry, congratulations I was too busy being jealous

Joolsiam · 04/01/2010 11:30

Where I am, you have to see a GP first and they refer you to the midwives - apparently new guidelines in this area require them to see first time mums for booking in at 8 weeks.

I saw the GP once at 4.5 weeks - made it to booking in, then mc'ed at 12 weeks.

The next time, I saw the GP at 5.5 weeks and MC'ed 2 days later.

Twice now I've had to cancel scan and MW appointments and send back my maternity exemption card. Next time, I think I'll leave it till I've had an early scan with the recurrent MC clinic - feels like tempting fate otherwise

Original poster

santabringmeababy · 04/01/2010 11:32

Thanks ladies,
where I live you have to go via Gp to set the whole process in motion so no option of booking direct with mW unfortunately.

With DS, I saw Gp at about 6 weeks but like you sonsmum, they lost my scan referral so I didnt get an appt through til I (would have) been 16 weeks!! In the end we had a private scan just for my opwn reassurance that there was actually a baby in there lol!!

Just dont want the GP to look at me and think 'oh my god she is only five weeks what is she doing here!!'

OP posts:

StealthPolarBear · 04/01/2010 11:33

sorry Jools
didn't realise you tend to have to see GP first. First time, I made a GP appt which was a complete waste of time. With DC2 I called to make a MW appt first and the receptionist booked me in at the right time based on how far along i thought i was. At 6 weeks I was still waiting for AF!

JulesJules · 04/01/2010 11:40

Congratulations! I also went to see the GP early - just to get a MW appt and get in the system really; the GP had to refer you to the MWs and the MW clinic was always booked up, in fact I never got all the appts I should have. Also for the hospital booking in appt and scans etc.

Of course if you mc, you then have to cancel everything - so sorry Jools, this must have been awful for you.

bratnav · 04/01/2010 11:45

I made a GP appointment as soon as the HPT gave me 2 lines He asked me how many weeks I thought I was, snorted when I said about 5-6 weeks and told me that I should make a booking in appt with MW, nothing to do with him

I really think it depends on the PCT that you live in as their procedures vary, I don't think it would hurt to wait for your Dr if you would prefer to see them.

birdofthenorth · 04/01/2010 12:07

I saw my GP at 5 weeks, he was nice, but it was completely pointless ('don't drink or smoke' was the only advice, which I'd figured for myself!). The surgery than booked me in to see the midwife at 6.5 weeks, the main point of which turned out to be to check my prev medical history and refer me to (my choice) of hospital for my 12 week scan (but you can do this up until 10 weeks).

I also got my swine flu jab at 6.5 weeks (and then had horrendous flu symptoms, not nice when you can't take medicines, but very possibly a coincidence... or a different flu caught in the GP's waiting room!).

Basically CONGRATS and don't worry too much, there's nothing essential they need to do or say for now.

Mayandbump23 · 04/01/2010 14:44

It depends on where you live - where we are you just make an appointment with the midwife at 8 weeks and it all rolls on from there. Speak to the receptionist at your GP practice, they normally know who you need to see and when. Unless you have specific concerns you want to discuss you shouldn't need to see the GP - I have never seen mine!

mama2moo · 04/01/2010 15:07

I didnt bother going to my GP. I just phoned my doctors to find out how I let the midwife and book my appointment with her!

FlightAttendant · 04/01/2010 15:19

Oh my Goodness. I really ought to apply myself to that 'no buying clothes' thread, because I was convinced for almost 2 seconds that your title said 'how early did you go to the GAP when you fouund out you were pregnant'

Sorry there was a similar one the other day..I was in there almost straight away I'm afraid.

As for the GP they didn't want to see me till I was 11 weeks...felt very silly trying to get an appointment.

Jayfer · 04/01/2010 15:48

Congratulations!
My GP knew before I did as pg tests were neg initially but blood tests were positive!

Pineapplechunks · 04/01/2010 15:55

I spoke to the GP at around 6 weeks and he asked if I'd done a test, I said yes and he said "Well what do you want to see me for? You know you're pregnant now". Charming bedside manner.

I booked in with my community based midwives at about 8 weeks.

I think all surgeries/areas are a little different. Best to call and ask, can't hurt.

Stickhasgrownup · 04/01/2010 18:04

Apparently I need to see my GP first as I have a choice in hospitals... although why I can't just tell them my preference over the phone is beyond me!
When I was preg with DS I made a dr appointment only to get there (with DH - as first preg) and be told that only a particular dr dealt with preg women and had to go back again!

LittleSilver · 04/01/2010 19:43

GPs get funding for pg women, I believe, even when it's the midwifery team that sees them. I've always avoided my GP in pregnancy since he mistook the maternal heartbeat for a fetal one, commented that it sounded a bit slow, the practice nurse pointed out that it was actually the maternal heartbeat he was listening to, he moved the doppler around a bit more and said, well, can't find it but am sure it's OK.

I kid you not. I'd rather see someone who knows what they are talking about, ie, a midwife.

LittleSilver · 04/01/2010 19:44

Oh yes, have always booked straight in with midwife.

Missus84 · 04/01/2010 19:49

I saw my GP at 7 weeks, midwives where I am don't want to see you til 10 weeks for booking.

Doodleydoo · 04/01/2010 22:01

I have just moved area and know only which hospital I don't want to give birth at, due to Xmas will be 8 +1 when going to discuss for first time. Have no idea of there policies or where the nearest midwife led surgery is. Doesn't make for the most relaxing of times and may well go to private midwife if unhelpful but would't have a clue where to start. At least so far I haven't been told to get list but does worry me as want my nuchal scan due to my age but haven't got my medical notes here or my previous maternity notes which
may never arrive. Actually am going to stop thinking about it until later or will just panic!!!!

Bellebauble · 04/01/2010 22:26

In my area you contact the GP from any time after you know you are pg but all they do is refer you the midwife for booking in, ie they let the MW service know for you.

Then you get a booking in appointment through the post (in my area this appointment usually happens at 10 weeks) which is generally a half hour appointment where they take your details, start you off on your green notes which contains all your medical details and info collected throughout the pregnancy such as scan details, any test results, urine/blood results, then later on things like the position of the baby, baby's heartrate, your bump measurements to check you are growing at the right rate etc. (note - do NOT lose your green notes during the pg!!! no copies are made). You keep your green notes throughout the pg then once you have had the baby it gets kept at the hospital to be filed in their records for future reference.

After the booking in appt, the MW then arranges your 12 week scan which again comes through the post.

It probably varies from area to area but this is generally what to expect.

Congratulations!

scgd · 04/06/2010 18:50

I went to see the doctor the day we got a positive test. My husband and I had already had a few tests at the hospital because my periods had stopped (at that point hadnt had a period for 7 months) and the day we were due to see the fertility consultant for the results and next steps, I found out i was pregnant! I only did a test as a precaution incase the consultant started prodding me about so no one was more shocked at the positive test than me! I was only 3 weeks preg at the time. Our GP system seems to work the same as Bellebauble but seeing that it's my first pregnancy I never knew i could go straight to the MW!!!

nunnie · 04/06/2010 19:03

Here I was told I had to see GP and bring urine sample for them to test. Once pregnancy was confirmed by GP, I was sent to receptionist to make an appointment with visiting midwife. Gp I went just under 5 weeks, appt with midwife was just 6 weeks. The midwife then referred me to my local hospital.

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