Getting the most out of your 6 – 8 week check with Dr Janks
Dr Janks is a Postpartum Plan expert and GP, helping mums to feel themselves and stronger than ever.
How can I make the most out of my 6-8 week check?
You’re still in a postpartum haze, probably haven’t showered for a day, covered in milk spit up, have no idea what day it is or when you last slept. You then get a text reminder that it’s your 6-8 week check with your GP the next day and you start to panic about how you’re going to get you both out of the house to be on time for the appointment, can you time it around feeds, nap times, showering? What even IS a 6-8 week check and is this my only chance to get any of my questions answered?
The 6-8 week postnatal check is a great opportunity for you to have a routine health check postnatally, and address any concerns you might have. The tricky part is – you are only allocated a 10 minute appointment to sit down with your GP to discuss this enormous transitional change in your life, so you want to make the most out of it.
I’ve been an NHS doctor for 12 years and have seen hundreds of women & babies for their 6-8 week checks, and I’m here to shed some light so that you go into it a bit more prepared and know what to expect.
What is covered in the 6-8 week postnatal check?
For the purpose of this article we will be focusing on the postnatal mother check. You will also be invited for a 6-8 week baby check which is a separate appointment, but can be offered to them at the same time. Generally the GP will have a set list of topics they need to address. So my first tip would be to try and be prepared on where you are, so that you
don’t spend too much time thinking about it or even say the wrong answer in a rush! The main thing to remember is that the GP is there to make sure that you are medically well & recovered post birth. You may have many other questions that can be answered by other healthcare professionals.
Some topics that are likely to be covered are:
- Physical health:
They want to ensure that you have recovered as expected from C-section or vaginal delivery – do you have any ongoing pain? Do you have any redness around your scar or any tears? Do you have any smelly vaginal discharge? Do you have any oozing from your wound?
Do you have any ongoing health conditions of concern – gestational diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, high blood pressure, low iron. It would be prudent to ask if you need to have any routine follow up or blood tests for this.
- Mental health
The GP should ask you general open questions to review your mental health. These could be something like, how has your mood been? Is being a mother how you expected it to be?
You could try and reflect on how you are feeling before your appointment. Remember that is a huge life transition therefore we would expect you to feel different, however some signs that might signify something more serious going on could be constantly crying over small things, not feeling attached to your baby, little interest in doing things you
enjoy, difficulty concentrating, feeling hopeless for the future. If you are feeling any of these then please do voice these early, as getting help earlier can be transformational in your maternal journey. The GP will either book in a follow up to review, or can refer you to the perinatal mental health team.
- Pelvic health
The GP will want to know if you are having any ongoing symptoms of pelvic dysfunction to refer you to a pelvic health physio. Do you have any leakage of urine when you cough or sneeze? Can you sometimes not make it to the toilet on time? Do you have any leakage from your bowels or find that you can’t control your wind? Do you have a sensation of
heaviness or dragging in the vagina? If you have any of these it should prompt a referral to a pelvic health physio.
- Feeding
You will be asked how feeding is going, and whether you have any specific concerns related to this whether this be breast or bottle feeding. The GP may address any concerns or refer you to further advice from the local breastfeeding team.
- Safeguarding
Please don’t be alarmed about being asked questions about safeguarding and domestic violence. They are completely routine and help us to pick up that one concerning case, therefore we have to ask every single mother we see. The GP may ask if you or your partner have had any involvement with social services, or if there is any risk of domestic violence. They may even ask your partner to leave the room so that this can be asked to you in confidence.
- Health promotion
Other topics that could be covered are nutrition & weight management, smoking cessation, physical activity, cervical screening & contraception. I know many women are really surprised to even be thinking about sex and contraception at this point, however it is really important to address this early to avoid any unwanted pregnancies and ensure that you have made planned choices.
As you can see, this is an absolute mammoth task to cover in 10 minutes so please make sure that you request a follow up if all your questions aren’t answered! You may also be better off seeking help from another healthcare professional such a physio, lactation consultant, nutritionist, trainer or mental health specialist. But if in doubt, please always ask and be an advocate for you and your baby if you need to be.
