It's starting to sink in that I'm really having a baby Now I have a problem. We live in London, but I'm not from the UK, so I can't just book an appointment at the NHS and going private is soooooooooo expensive. We are moving back home in June, and I have full medical cover there, but I'll be 11 weeks pregnant at that stage. Can my first appointment wait until then? I'm taking pre-natal vitamins, and eating healthy. Someone told me that your first appointment is just paperwork, making sure you're healthy and getting you on their books for later. I had a full gynea checkup in December, so there shouldn't be any problems. Any advice?

I would think thats thats ok as long as you have no problems (i.e. bleeding, pain etc)...your first scan is a dating one to find out how far you are and the baby is in the right place (not ectopic) and teh first midwife appt was all talking so you should be ok. Some people dont realise they are pregnant until a lot later than 11 weeks and wouldnt have their first check-ups until late....im not a doctor though so dont take my word for it!! Good luck x

Congrats on ur pregnancy!

I think it'd be ok to wait - as long as ur not having any problems. I had my scan at 11 +3 (thought I was 12 +3) and my midwife appointment was just taking blood and chatting.

If I were you I'd see if you can sort things out a bit before you get back. Maybe call your doctor and they can make sure you get booked in for your 12 week scan - I don't know if you'd have to wait or if they're busy or not? I would probably do that just so I can get the scan asap - it's really amazing to see your baby for the first time.

The only issue I can think of is if you want a NT scan and there is a delay getting an appointment back home. These have to be done before 14 weeks (ish I think) so if you wanted to have one you would have to book in sharpish when you got back. other than that I dont see any issue waiting, my mum didnt go to the midwife til she was about 5 months pregnant with me she said people just never used to bother before then!

Thanks for your replies I'm going to show my pregnancy noobishness now... what's an NT scan???

I'm going to make my appointments in a few days for as soon as I get home... there shouldn't be a wait because I have private health care insurance, but maybe the doctor I want to go to is really popular. I think I'm going to phone up my old doctor and ask if it's ok to wait, just to be on the safe side. hee hee... I'm already a worrying mother

I think thats fine, if you can schedule your appointments for as soon as you get back. Also, if you did have any emergency problems, god forbid, they'd treat you free here anyway.

A NT scan is used to calculate your risk of Downs. It involves taking several measurements of the collection of fluid at the back of your babies neck between 11 and 14 weeks. If you miss the dates for that you can always have a blood test instead looking at various blood markers known to be elevated in Downs such as alphafetoprotein.

Hope that helps, and CONGRATUALATIONS

It should be fine to wait until then.. with my first pregnancy I didn't have my first appointment until I was 16 weeks.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

I agree with the others, there should be no problem booking your first appointment later, as the first appointment is generally just paperwork. If I were you though I'd go ahead and call doctors in your home area (where you are moving back too) and get recommendations and also go ahead and try to get an appointment--that way you don't have to wait to get in