Just been to the (UK) doctor's following a positive pregnancy test?

Question

The doctor prescribed my wife folic acid, rushed through some standard allergy/current medication questions, calculated a due date and said that a midwife would contact us at approximately week 10-11 to arrange a scan for week 12.

From other answers I've seen I'm not feeling very confident that we've had the right level of attention. Other people seem to have been prescribed vitamins, had blood and urine tests, pelvic/urethra exams, amongst other things. We were told that the surgery didn't even do pregnancy tests of their own.

- Is there a standard procedure that all UK GPs must follow when a patient visits following a positive home test?

- Is waiting ten to twelve weeks for any contact and tests/examinations sensible? What if there are problems with the baby and its development? Not wishing to start a different subject (and loathe to even think about it) but what if there is a medical reason that an abortion needs to be carried out, but we don't learn this until week twelve?

Answer 1

Hi, congratulations!!

It sounds like your Gp asked you all the relevant/routine questions he should have. Although it sounds as though he could have taken a little more time to explain this to you. Remember he has to send a letter to the hospital asking for a consultation, this can take a few weeks.

It is normal in the UK for women to get their first scan (booking visit) at around 12 weeks as the scan is more accurate at this time of pregnancy. Potential problems with the development of the baby are more likely to be picked up around this time or later due to the limitations of ultrasound.

At the booking visit your wife will have all the blood tests and urine tests that are necessary, these will all be explained to you at the time.

Other than folic acid (which is important to help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida), added vitamins are not required as long as your wife has a balanced diet. Too much of certain vitamins can actually effect the baby.

Pelvic/ urethral exams are not necessary unless there is a pre- existing medical problem that may complicate things. It sounds like you may have been reading some American answers.

Before you go to your booking visit try and think of some questions that you want answers to, write them down if you have to as most people tend to forget what they wanted to ask.

Hope this helps,

rd.

Answer 2

Every place is different. Maybe the other people you have been hearing about have paid privately. I had exactly the same as what you have had with my two pregnancies. I went for my scans around 13 weeks and if there are any problems with your baby then a medical abortion can still be done if that is what you want, after all the baby is still tiny at 12 weeks. The later the scan the more you will see of the baby. You have blood tests later in the pregnancy and you only really get urine tests done if you are having problems in that area.

This is obviously your first baby so I can understand you are over anxious but I would really urge you both to relax, especially your wife and enjoy this time. Believe me the 9 months fly by and you will soon be wondering what you were worried about and wishing you enjoyed it more.

Answer 3

Keep in mind, I'm not in the UK and have only had high risk pregnancies. I would be concerned that they didn't prescribe prenatal vitamins, the lack of a pelvic exam, and no lab work was done. I have never heard of a doctor's office not confirming pregnancy with their own test. How do they even know how far along she is if they didn't do all that. I would find a new doctor. After all that is done, no it's not unusual that you not see your doctor again until the 12th week. They wouldn't do an Ultrasound unless there were some factors they were concerned about predisposing the fetus to abnormalities. If there is something that happens before the 12 weeks, like a miscarriage, there is nothing they will do to stop it anyway because those are usually caused by fetal development problems.

Answer 4

Difficult one.
I hope I can help you out a bit.
The most important vitamins are indeed that folic acid now. If your wife is healthy, then nothing else is necessary at this time. Later you can add iron or other things like cramps in the legs occur (then you need magnesium).
We are used to a lot of tests, but you mustn't forget that pregnancy isn't' a disease. There's not much you can change... You can only wait.
A monthly visit to a doctor and three visits to a specialist should do it. There you can have a full examination.
Something different: if there is a medical reason for abortion, you can always have one, even after the legal period.
But I hope that that won't be necessary and that you and your wife will have a nice baby within 40 weeks.

Answer 5

Don't worry, this is standard. There's really not a lot that they can do or test for before 12 weeks.

If you're worried about the babies development, go to Boots and buy some pro-natal vitamins. Sanatogen make one which includes everything you need.

As for the final part of the question, if there was something seriously wrong, 12 weeks is still within the time limit for your wife to have a termination. At 12 weeks, she would still be able to have a surgical termination, and would not be required to "deliver" the baby, as it the case with later terminations. Not something you want to think about at the moment i'm sure.

In the meantime, just enjoy your happy news. There's no point worrying about all of the possible what-ifs.

Answer 6

First of all many congrats! Secondly, yes it is quite normal to be sent away by the doctor when you're first pregnant. Unless there is a medical reason to do so, there will be little contact with your GP or midwife until your wife is 12 weeks gone.

I found it a bit shocking too when I was sent away with a "Congratulations and see you in three months" when I told my GP that I was pregnant. But in reality, there is little they can "do" at the moment and you really don't want to have your wife prodded and poked too much at this stage as its not really a good idea for the baby. The sad reality is that, until you're 12 weeks pregnant, the risk of miscarriage is relatively high and for that reason the level of care stays negligible until that point.

Answer 7

Iwent to register with a new doctor as soon as i found out i was pregnant and told them i was 5 weeks as i was filling out the forms, i then had to actually ask the receptionist if a midwife did apointments from the surgery or could she point me in the right direction she then proceeded to make an appointment for the 15th November which was 13 weeks away when i made the appointment!!!!it is ridiculous, even though this is my 2nd pregnancy i am more scared now as i didn't need to actually ask the 1st time. I hope everything is fine with your baby and hopefully the midwife will be more helpful!!!

Answer 8

When I got pregnant, went straight to the GP, really excited, expecting the tests, vitamins etc. Not! By the time I set down, I was on the way out of the surgery. The only thing he said was do not take up smoking. Well, thanks, I thought. Needless to say, the midwife didn't contact me till week 14/15. I arranged the scan all by myself and my husband. It was a disgrace really, but thankfully I read lots of books before I got pregnant relating to the issue,, so I made sure if the NHS didn't look after me and advise me, I'll do it my own self. And so I did.

Answer 9

I was the same eleven years ago and luckily everything was ok. Think it stems back to the three month rule as most people don't even announce the pregnancy until the third month. Wish i could have done that but I was showing from the fourth week so had no luck. I had twins though but didn't find out until i was 16 weeks and had the blood tests. Just try to be positive and good luck. Try to enjoy it as well if you can

Answer 10

That is the normal procedure in the UK . At your wifes first scan at around the 12-14 wk stage she will undergo a whole array of tests , she will receive excellent care . Try to relax and enjoy the pregnancy along with ur wife , i have every faith in the wonderful maternity care given in the UK ...