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Pregnancy

Consultant led.... ?

15 replies

kri5ty · 31/05/2011 10:46

Hi guys, i just wanted to hear from you who have been consultant led... i know in theory what it means

but i just wanted to know what to expect from my appointments with the consultant, i have my first in 2 weeks, will it just be like my booking in appoitment?

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ToTheWeddingIShallNotGo · 31/05/2011 10:50

I'm technically consultant led due to a previous cs.

Why are you consultant led, this might change the care provided?

I saw the cons at my NT scan and we had a quick chat, he asked me some questions, checked I had his email/mobile for anything I needed and then said he's happy for me to have midwife led care until 36 weeks when he'll see me for a final decision on vbac vs elcs.

I suppose it depends whether you need to see a cons for a specific reason or whether it's routine and actually your pregnancy in itself isn't high risk (mine isn't so I don't need to see a cons regularly).

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apple99 · 31/05/2011 10:54

It probably depends on why you are being consultant led as to what will happen at your appointments. I am consultant led due to having hypothyroid.

At my appointments he just checks my bloods, blood pressure, listen's to baby's heartbeat and ask's me how I am, if I have any questions etc. Much the same as seeing the midwife but with much more waiting around as always running late!!

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nunnie · 31/05/2011 10:56

I was Consultant led with number one, due to previous cervical procedure, cyst on ovary, I saw the consultant/registrar a few times can't remember exactly how many, had all the midwife checks before I got seen in hospital, so some appointments replaced community midwife but still got to see my midwife regularly.
With 2nd I was midwife led.
With this one I am Consultant led again I am currently 23 weeks and have seen Consultant once for chat, and if all is well, will not have to see again till scan at 34 weeks.
Some of my community midwife appointments have been replaced with hospital midwife appointments so still have to go there for checks.

As poster above said, it is dependant on reason why you are consultant led as to how often or how many appointments etc you will have. You should find out more at your first appointment.

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silverangel · 31/05/2011 11:12

I'm consultant led due to twins, see her every two weeks - blood presure and urine check, scan and that's it. They wont talk about delivery options etc until nearer the time - but I think it really will depend on why you are consultant led.

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kri5ty · 31/05/2011 11:23

Hi

I have ME, so as a result nearly all of my "have you ever suffered from..." questions were a yes!

Thanks for the replys girlies, hopefully it will be just a case of a chat and take it fromt here, although even my cmw was not impressed as i could not get to see the consultant for 3 weeks!

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kri5ty · 31/05/2011 12:45

PS do you think there is any hope of me being allowed to give birth in a birth centre if im high risk?? I knid fo know the answer but i hold on to a little bit of hope, as i really want to try water!

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WiiUnfit · 31/05/2011 13:11

Hi kri5ty,

I was going to not reply as the others have covered it so well but I just saw your question regarding birth centres. I'm Consultant-led due to pre-existing renal hypertension, as with the others, I'm seen quite regularly by the Consultant but also by Community Midwives, they're keeping a very close eye on me as there is a lot higher risk of me developing pre-eclampsia.

In my case, my Consultant has okay'd a water birth in the Midwife-led unit but this is only because I've been okay and the Midwife-led unit is literally across the corridor from the Consultant-led unit so I think it depends how far away your birth centre is from the Consultant-led unit if you were to need medical intervention from them. Your best bet will be to ask your Consultant. :) Also, it might be useful to ask later in pregnancy - they thought I wouldn't be able to but [touches wood] my blood pressure / proteinurea has been behaving so they have changed their mind!

Hope this helps!

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KatyN · 31/05/2011 15:39

Ohhh can I jump in too?? My midwife put consultant lead on my notes at my booking in appointment because I suffer from depression AND I have fyroids (how troublsom I am!)
However I've not heard anything from my consultant. I'm currently 16 + 5

I'll chase up with my MW this week but it doesn't seem very led at the minute!

katy

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kri5ty · 31/05/2011 18:20

It's all very confusing isn't it! Fingers crossed your consultant ap comes through soon x

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clairefromsteps · 31/05/2011 18:48

I was consultant-led the first time round because I was carrying twins. All the appointments consisted of was a BP check, heartbeat monitor and an examination of how the twins were presenting. All exactly what the midwives were doing. This time round, I'm only carrying one but I'm considered high risk as I had an EMCS. Consultant appointments have been the same as last time. They've veto'd a midwife-led birth both times for me unfortunately, but I think it's up to the consultant so maybe you'll get lucky!

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kri5ty · 01/06/2011 07:36

thanks claire :) i just wanted to know what to expect from them, i thought it would just be like midwife appointments xx

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KatyN · 01/06/2011 16:06

Just back for an update. the MW seemed a bit suprised I hadn't an appointment yet. So she phoned the hospital and I do have an appointment for next wednesday,.. they'd just not bothered telling me!

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AxyMum · 01/06/2011 16:41

Hi kri5ty, I have M.E. too (although I've been in a really good remission for about 18 months now) so just thought I'd say hello.

I'm consultant-led due to epilepsy and I see the consultant at every scan, but I do have to have extra ones so it might be because of the monitoring of baby's spine etc due to my meds.

I'm now going in twice weekly which is a real pain as my consultant is in Nottingham and it's an hour away - might not be so bad if epilepsy wasn't a no-driving situation :s

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kri5ty · 01/06/2011 18:15

Aww hi AxyMum

Thanks so much for saying hello! I was improving before I fell pregnant due to sleeping tablets/ graded exercise etc... I still got really tired, but its been about 4 months since I had a really bad day :-) and since I fell preg most of my symtons have disappeared! Just fatigue

Worrying the birth will cause a relapse though :(

Aww hun I feel for you, I don't have epilepsy, but I used to faint and have fits so often I have only just got the all clear to drive... such a pain especially if you're there every 2 days!!

Saying that I used to love flashing my bus pass and watching the driver try to figure out what was wrong with me!! X

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kri5ty · 01/06/2011 18:18

katy that's awful! And kind of worrying that the nhs is so poop sometimes! I'll be thinking about you, my scan is next wed lol x