In this article, I will do my best to summarize the pregnancy process in the UK. Since I will be sharing my own experience, there might be differences in practices or institutions in different parts of the country.
You’ve taken the pregnancy test and it’s positive! Congratulations! The first thing you need to do is write to your GP (General Practitioner). They will refer you to the nearest hospital, where you’ll fill out a relatively straightforward form and start waiting for the hospital to get in touch. Like many things, this communication happens via mail 🙂 About a week after I filled out the form, I received a letter of a few pages, congratulating me and providing information about the process, including the dates of my first appointments. Instead of immediately expecting a confirmation through a blood test, I realized that the first appointment, at around 8 weeks, would be with a midwife, and that the system was quite different from what I had expected.
First Appointment: 8-Week Midwife Consultation
This appointment lasts about 1 to 1.5 hours and is a one-on-one session with a midwife. They gather general information, including your medical history and your family’s health history, and inform you about the process. You can also ask any questions you have. In the same appointment, you receive information about the midwife team who will be taking care of you, details about the midwife assigned to your care, and information about your doctor. The hospital I went to had put this entire system into a user-friendly mobile app, through which I manage my appointments and care. I can see everything from my blood test results to information about the baby.
During this appointment, don’t expect to see the baby or hear the heartbeat; since the risk of miscarriage is high until around the 12th week, pregnancy is not considered too seriously. You’ll meet your baby for the first time during the ultrasound at around week 12.
First Meeting and Others: Ultrasound Dates
From what I’ve learned from my friends, in Turkey, you have monthly check-ups where you see the baby through ultrasound each time.
Here, you’ll have a total of 3 ultrasound sessions. One at 12 weeks to check the heartbeat, another at 20 weeks to check for any abnormalities, and a final one at 36 weeks to estimate the baby’s size. Of course, if there are any health concerns or additional monitoring needed, these numbers may increase.
By the way, even if you feel like you’re not getting much attention if there’s no problem, if there’s even a minor issue, they meticulously examine and monitor you. Despite the UK’s reputation for having healthcare issues, they handle pregnancy and childbirth quite well, and I can’t deny that.
Wonderful Midwives: Midwife Appointments at Intervals
You have appointments with your assigned midwife at regular intervals. Due to the pandemic, some appointments are conducted over the phone. These appointments generally include blood and urine tests, listening to the baby’s heartbeat using a Doppler device, as well as assessing how you’re feeling and if you’re experiencing any issues like domestic violence. They also address your psychological well-being.
In addition to the medical aspects, we also chat about everyday life, discuss various topics, and share laughs. I often leave the room feeling much more relaxed and lighter than when I entered, even if I entered with concerns. I am aware that, compared to the system in Turkey, it might seem like a more relaxed pregnancy process, but they believe that it’s a natural process that should be approached with ease, and I agree. During these appointments, you can ask any questions that come to mind. However, let’s say something worried you during the day, like noticing a decrease in the baby’s movements. In that case, your first step should be to call the pregnancy helpline.
Pregnancy Helpline
This is a 24/7 helpline staffed by expert midwives. You can call this helpline for anything that’s on your mind, causing concern, distress, or if you think there’s a problem. They will guide you on what to do next. They might advise you to see certain professionals or direct you to the appropriate resources.
So, where does the doctor come in?
If your pregnancy is progressing healthily, and especially if your childbirth is proceeding naturally, it’s quite normal to complete the process without ever seeing a doctor. In my case, due to a previous health issue, I only saw a doctor once to discuss the outcome of a follow-up.
However, I’ll reiterate that if there’s a need for monitoring, they take the matter seriously. They conduct thorough evaluations and assessments. I find this to be a way of relieving the healthcare system of unnecessary burden, and I agree with the approach.
The same applies during childbirth. If there will be a complicated birth, a cesarean section, or if intervention is required, a doctor will be there. However, if everything is proceeding normally, it’s possible to give birth under the guidance of midwives at a birthing unit. (I’ll discuss the birth part in another article, once I’ve experienced it.)
Speaking of cesarean sections…
In the UK, the cesarean section rate is below the European average of 28%, at 25%. You can’t simply request a cesarean section. There needs to be a health-related reason for you or the baby, and the doctor must deem it necessary after discussing it with you. By the way, the debate about whether the 25% rate is too high and whether it should be around 10% is ongoing. I also believe it’s too high and consider it a global issue. There has been a rapid increase in interventions in childbirth in recent years, which is a topic too extensive to delve into here.
Education is Essential
After the 34th week of your pregnancy, the hospital you’re associated with offers approximately 10-12 hours of education about childbirth and breastfeeding. You can choose to attend these classes if you wish. Your midwife encourages you to register for these classes and attend them with your partner. These classes cover topics from managing labor pain to breastfeeding, coping with pain, and what to expect at the hospital. Of course, due to COVID-19, these classes are conducted entirely online. In general, I find it helpful to know what to expect and to be aware of the possibilities.
Let me conclude this article by discussing the positive and negative aspects of the system here. Initially, I found the system quite relaxed, but after the middle of the pregnancy, I began to appreciate it more. I don’t worry unnecessarily, and I believe I’m experiencing pregnancy naturally. Especially when it’s so easy for a pregnant woman to worry, having caregivers who are cheerful, attentive, and calm is reassuring. The negative side is that, as I mentioned earlier, reaching the pregnancy hotline or your midwife might not always be as quick as you expect. This can be frustrating and create a few hours or even a day of annoyance.
Until the next article,
Sending my love.
Rose