Hi ladies,
I have not gone to see my GP yet and I don't think I will until I am 8 weeks (currently just 4).
I have lots of questions about antenatal care so hoping that some of you will be able to help!
I got pregnant in October 2014 and my lovely baby was diagnosed with a severe heart condition at the 20 week scan. From then on, I had appointments at the hospital every month with a cardiologist for the baby but the rest of my normal midwife checks were done at my local midwifery unit next door to my GP. Baby was breech and it ended being an emergency c-section due to heart rate dropping at hospital. Baby's condition is not proved to be genetic and doctors just said that I was a a slightly higher risk of having another child with a heart defects (5% instead of 1%). My lovely boy had 2 open heart surgeries, 4 cardiac catheters, we only had a month at home in between surgeries and when it was obvious they could not help his heart, he was not a candidate for heart transplant so my husband and I had to turn off support when he was about to turn 6 months old. Understandably, I am extra worried for this pregnancy and really want to make good decisions for my care.
Here are my list of questions :
- Would I be considered high risk with my new pregnancy?
- Would my care be consultant led? I am expecting extra checks on the heart after 20 weeks scan but not sure if I will see a consultant before they are able to see the heart in detail.
- Am I able to chose to have all my antenatal care at the hospital and have nothing to do with the midwifery unit near my GP (I felt that as soon as my boy was diagnosed and it was obvious I was not going to give birth there, they had lost interest when frankly I really needed my midwife to show extra care and compassion).
- Am I likely to see the same midwife at the hospital if all my care is there? I am more than happy to work around that person's annual leave etc I just really feel I want them to get to know me and baby's patterns to be able to note any changes.
- My c section with my first son was in June 2015 and this baby is due on 16th October 2016 so 16 months difference. Do you know if I am able to do VBAC or would it need to be a c section again?
Thank you xxxxxxx