antenatal care

[PurpleishDahlia]

Hello all,

May I please ask you, does any of you have an obstetrician following your pregnancy? I am from a different country, it's my first pregnancy, I have so many doubts and questions and I find it quite hard to navigate through the system. I feel so tired of googling and trying to make medical decisions for myself.

I don't want a midwife, or a sonographer, I'm talking about an actual medical doctor. How do I find one? Would it be insanely expensive - do people do that? Please help! (PS I'm in Edinburgh).

Thank you so much

Hi there. Once you let your GP and local midwifery service (NHS) know that you're pregnant, you'll be given a "booking appointment", where a midwife will go through your history and do some screening tests (blood tests, height, weight, etc) - if there's a clinical need for you to have a consultant obstetrician or other doctors involved early on or throughout the rest of your pregnancy, the midwife will refer you for this input and explain it at the appointment. You'll also get an appointment for a 12-week ultrasound scan.

If you're wanting dedicated medical input throughout but don't meet the various referral criteria at the booking appointment, then you'd probably need to contact a private healthcare provider such as Nuffield/BUPA.

Thank you so much.
I've spent a few days making myself familiar with all this, also got my letter for the appointment and scan which was very reassuring.
I still find it odd there's no gynecologist attached to each case, but I guess now more than ever doctors' time is precious.

If someone discovers an issue through a private scan, does the NHS follow up?

Has anyone had a NIPT privately before their 12 week scan? Do you disclose that and does it affect the NT scan offered by the NHS?

Midwives are the experts in normal pregnancy in this country- doctors are used for where something is more complicated. So if you conceived without help and have no medical problems or a high BMI the most competent person for you to see is your midwife.

Also private sonographers aren’t qualified or trained in detecting abnormality so what usually happens is they’ve caused unnecessary worry. The NHS will usually end up having to resolve the issue that just caused a waste of time and resources.
And regarding NIPT- it is more accurate than the Combined Screening offered at the NHS appointment so you should disclose it so they know you don’t need to have it done.

I don't know about Edinburgh but I'm in London and I had a private consultant obstetrician for my pregnancy and the birth of my son last year. DM me if you want the cost breakdown but generally in the UK NHS births are midwife led unless there is a problem then they will call in a consultant x

My best advise: if you can afford it go private.

Although not sure as to why you want an “actual doctor” as midwifes are experts on pregnant women and their unborn babies.

If you wish to see a doctor in pregnancy then you have a right to see one - just ask your midwife at your first appointment .

As mentioned if you meet criteria then you may be consultant led for pregnancy in nhs, otherwise midwife.

If you want dedicated obstetrician, then probably have to go private. There are private options where you can be consultant or midwife led . I am doing this. I very much like the NHS but am nervous and with twins , so I know I have to manage expectations nhs route, hence have gone private. My consultant does all my scans , seems me each month etc.

You can get private scans too, not by sonographers but doctors / consultants alongside nhs. A lot of my friends did that and cheaper than Private. For example my consultant does private scans and there are many other places led by doctors / obstetricians who carry out private scans which you can do alongside nhs.

Wish you all the best x

Midwives are brilliant here and if you need an obstetrician for any issues then you’ll get one. Don’t worry about it ☺️

I’m from Poland where we also have assigned doctor that is with you through the whole pregnancy so I was a bit surprised finding out how it works here in UK. So far I find it a bit confusing as there is so many different phone numbers I was given to contact in case of any questions and I don’t have a direct number to my midwife that I spoke to only once so far and I’m over 13 weeks. I do go to private clinic for scans only because my partner is not allowed to go to the NHS once and I did have NIPT done privately but at 13 weeks, currently awaiting results.