Hi Ladies.
I am in adelaide. I am currently 6 weeks pregnant my EDD is 28th january!
My GP faxed a referal to the high risk pregnancy clinic at flinders medical centre so they could make me my first appointment, my doctor said my appointment will be in the next 2 weeks. i got a call yesterday letting me know that my first appointment is on the 19th august and it is with a midwife. I will be 16 weeks pregnant at this stage the lady on the phone said that they never see anyone before 12 weeks and they dont do ultra sounds before 19 weeks so i wont be having an ultra sound at this appointment. i am just kinda wondering when everyone else in adelaide is having there first appointments high risk or not.
And what happens at a first appointment at flinders medical centre.
Also when i went to my gp to confirm my pregnancy and all that she did not do a check up or anything she just checked my blood results discussed with me that i should stop taking my metformin medication (for insulin resistance, i have PCOS) and shiped me out. i always kinda thought she was supposed to discuss more with me at that appointment. she didnt even check if i was taking folate! i am of course but how was she supposed to know that if she didnt ask.
i feel like i am being ripped off or something!
The point to me seeing someone at the high risk pregnancy clinic was to discuss with them the possibility of miscarrige if i was to stop taking my medication like my doctor suggested to me, i am keeping on taking it untill i get throught the first trimester and i dont see the midwife untill a month after so she should of just refered me to the normal pregnancy clinic!
so so confusing!
Hi Sarah,
That seems quite late to me. What if you want a referral for the nucal fold scan at 12 weeks? Perhaps ring and speak to someone at the hospital. I made an appointment at Flinders (after lots of trouble getting someone to speak to me) and I'm sure it was at 12 weeks. I ended up deciding to go private before then. I'm not high risk.
If you get no luck with the hospital I would perhaps go to another GP for advice. Perhaps you could find a GP who does shared care?
Good luck. I would certainly push for an earlier appointment though
It seems to vary so much depending on gp and who you are referred to.
Do you have private health? If so, my suggestion would be to go back to your GP (or another one. I am not sure where you are in Adelaide, but I can recommend a couple of good ones in the eastern/north eastern suburbs). Then get a referral to an OB, explaining to the OB that you are "high risk".
Most OB's see women at around 11 weeks, or earlier if you want to/feel the need to, if only to get referred for an early scan (around 8 weeks) to put your mind at rest.
If you are going public, I suggest calling the Women and Childrens and asking them directly.
I am going through Flinders and am not high risk, but I had proteinuria at 6 weeks and my GP sent me to the Womens Health Clinic with a letter saying can someone check it out, so I got in early. They saw me at about 7weeks. It sucks, but you really have to stand up for yourself as a public patient otherwise things can get missed. Often its an admin person who just makes appointments that you have to get past who isn't medically trained. If I were you I would ring up and just say I HAVE to see someone, and say your doctor backs you up and they will most likely make an appointment for you. Don't let people fob you off.
I am trying to go through the birth centre to have my baby (I'm 23 weeks now) and I was booked in from my first visit but then they lost my form would you believe, and I only found that out after I rang up because a midwife had not been in touch with me yet. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't rung up!! So now I just have to wait to see if a gap opens up and in the meantime go through the health clinic.
I know these things happen, but I was pretty diappointed! I will keep ringing them to make sure they don't forget I want a spot!! Luckily I have a good friend who is a midwife and she is keeping a friendly eye on me as well.
At my first vsit at Flinders they did a basic health assessment, height, weight, blood pressure, urine sample, bloods, social history and give you lots of information and a showbag!
Hope this helps you and congrats on your pregnancy, I hope you get the care you deserve!!
Hi there HG,
My SIL is going through Flinders as a public patient and was told the same as you - she only got booked in for a 12 week scan after she kept ringing them and hassling them for one, otherwise she would have had to wait until she was 16 weeks which is way too long if you ask me - there is no way i could wait that long!
I agree with the other girls make sure you keep on their backs, goodluck i hope everything goes well for you
Hi there,
I had ICSI ivf treatment so I went back to the Repromed clinic to have a scan done at 6wk5days which is quite normal for them. It was done with a consulting GP and I think you dont have to be a repromed patient to get one done there. It is an internal unltasound and I dont think all the scan places do that one.... maybe you could get in there for an early scan??? You could ring them direct to see about referrals. It is partly covered by medicare... hope that helps a little.
Sazz
How frustrating!
I'm with you on this one I really am!
I'm 12 weeks pregnant myself and only after changing gp's have i finally got a scan booked this week.
My previous at my initial appointment ordered me to get bloods done, and only at my insistance checked as to if my skin medication was ok for pregnancy.
Without changing doctor's i would have had no chance at getting any information or care. Actually, my gp was so bad that she told me as little as yours did.
I reckon your peace of mind is worth it, so definitely follow up with a new gp.
yep, that does seem a long time to wait .......... I too like Sazz went through Repromed (icsi) and am 10 weeks on Saturday. They did a 7 week and 8 week scan before passing me over to the Womens and Childrens.
It maywell pay to call them as they have been SO helpfull, I'm sure you just want your mind being put at ease ( especially if high risk).
My first Antenatal was last Monday at the Womens & Childrens and it was for about an hour (going through deatailed history of previous ectopics & m/c). They seemed very thorough, but as I had had 2 recent scans, they were not going to do one. They just did a urine sample and blood pressure. Offered me the Nuchal scan (now booked for 9th Jul as 36 yrs old) and put me at slighty higher risk because of epilepsy.
I think you need to push for earlier scan and also ask to be advised about some early screening procedures. If no good, then looks like you are gonna have to pay private. If you get a Dr at Flinders called Jenny Cook she is lovely !!!! She basically saved my life after a 13 week ectopic pregnancy ruptured my tube, also ....................... she recently was in the news for delivering a baby mid flight on way to New Zealand !!!!
Anyone in adelaide first prenatal appointment?
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