A little unsure

Hi all,

I'm sorry if this info is somewhere else but I haven't been able to find it.

I'm a little frustrated at the moment because I feel like I have no idea what I should be doing and what should be happening.

My GP confirmed the pregnancy with another urine test (I did 3 myself), took my blood pressure, suggested I lose some weight (ty :doh:) and gave me a referral to my local hospital.

She then said I should have a blood test at 10 weeks and a scan at 12 weeks, so if the hospital hadn't called me by then to come back and see her.

Is this right?! Is that it?! I feel like I'm completely in the dark here.

Yep, that's pretty much it! I felt exactly the same way when pg with DS1, no one really sits you down and explains how it all works.

Hopefully your hospital will contact you before then, but if not, definitely go and see your GP for those blood tests, the results can be forwarded on to your hospital at some stage.

Congratulations and best of luck :D

Thank you Trish! :-)

You've really set my mind at ease! I'll wait for them to call now without worrying lol.

congratulation on your PG! :D

i found it so surreal at the start of my PG. onc the initial celebration was over i felt like i was in the dark until my first hospital appt!

did your GP give you an info sheet on the blood test & scan? or explain what they're for etc?

Thank you sloane :-) I think I was riding the shock wave all week until yesterday when I suddenly realised I had no idea what was going on! lol

She did say they were both tests for down syndrome, but I didn't receive any written info.

Congratulations!!

The first trimester screening tests (blood test and ultrasound) are organised through your GP or private obstetrician. If you are going to a public hospital, you will need to get the referral through the GP.

these tests are optional, so it is important to get some information on what they are testing for, and what the results might mean to you so you can decide whether to go ahead.

You can download a brochure (Combined first trimester screening) that explains what the tests are looking for.

VCGS Pathology

ah, ok. my GP gave me a fact sheet that i found helpful. there's lots of threads/info on here if you search for NT scan & then there's also informtation on the vic clinical genetics services website relating to the combined first trimester screening.

eta - what kate said!

Thank you so much Kate! That link had some great information. DH and I certainly have some thinking to do.

Thats alot more than what i was told. I went to the doctor saying i had 2 faint positive home pregnancy tests and i wanted it confirmed. It was confirmed and that was it sent me on my way.... Then i had really bad cramping at 6 weeks and went to the hospital where i had my first ultrasound, told everything was fine and was sent on my way again... i was completely left in the dark. i then had really bad morning sickness so i went to my GP and got prescribed maxalon.. nothing was said again.. then i had a bleed and saw the GP AGAIN and thats when i got annoyed and just said flat out what am i supposed to what is the procedure and he said that i have to call the clinic at the hospital to work out antenatal that they dont do referals... well i would have liked to be TOLD that GRRR :wall: and he gave me a referral for my NT scan..

SO i almost had to beat it out of him.. its like he assumed i would already know even though i said at the start its my first baby...

But i say thank the lord for BB i would be so lost without it :)

Me too 1stTime! I've spent the last week going between elation and panic... I don't know what I'd be doing if I didn't find BB!

Hi Mskara, sounds like your GP isn't being very helpful so I hope the Hospital rings you soon. I'm doing shared care between my GP and the hospital which means that the majority of my antenatal appointments are at the GP's. They run an antenatal clinic with a midwife. Then I think I go tot he the hospital about half way through then again a few timew towards the end.

If you haven't heard from the hospital yet maybe you could give them a call?

I'm not sure about the other states, but in SA, there is a pregnancy helpline that you call and from memory, I think they book you in for the first appointment or give you a booking number to give to the hospital they send you to.

Although this is a new thing - with DD, the dr who confirmed it gave me a referral letter and I think I called the hospital myself. It might be worth you calling the hospital yourself to see what their procedure is. And I suppose it also depends on what mode of care you go for.

Thanks Ladies :-)

Well I have been contacted by the hospital and have my first appointment on 19/2. I saw a GP today (different GP, same office) who gave me a blood test and heaps of information on what to do next.
I'm feeling much more relaxed now.