midwife led care vs consultant led care?

[Rachey1969]

I'm 21 wks pregnant with my fourth baby. It's been 7 years since my third so I am a little out of touch. My midwife said she had put me down for midwife led care because I had had 3 normal pregnancies and relatively normal births. However after my scan yesterday the midwife told me I was down for consultant led care because I had asthma! (this has never been a problem for me during labour and I have only had one or two flare ups during pregnancy that have been well controlled). Can somebody tell me what the difference is? Is it just more appointments?

I was under consultant led care from 22 weeks, and it basically means you see the consultant (or in my case, usually one of her/his registrars) rather than the midwife/gp. Which for me meant sitting up the hospital for ages waiting rather than my doctors surgery which would have been quicker !! In my case, it was necessary to be under a consultant but can't see that being asthmatic would mean you had to be under a consultant (and I am asthmatic but certainly wasn't the reason I saw the consultant !).

I'm having consultant led care which I prefer. This is due to many previous gynae problems and the fact the consultant is also my surgeon. I find appointments wiht my midwife fairly pointless as she has never actually answered a single question I have asked her My previous problems have her sighing and saying you really should ask your consultant about that.

I'm pleased with my care being done at the hospital as it is only 5 mins from work and home but imagine i am the exception to the rule and most people prefer midlwife led care.

I have had consultant led care, last time it meant I saw the consultant for virtually every appointment where as this time I am only seeing her once (if everything goes to plan) at 20 weeks. Depends on how high risk you are I think.

i had midwife care for my last two pgs, just meant i only went to hospital for a scan and was in and out really quickly instead of waiting around to be asked daft questions by a stuffy doctor (sorry, but that was my experience 1st time!)
so I would recommend it if no probs in pg/delivery previously.

Thanks guys, think hospital overreacting as usual will discuss with my midwife on Tuesday whether it is worth arguing with.