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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Those of you who are Consultant Led Care, please step this way!!

34 replies

Tiggly · 08/02/2011 19:53

Hi folks,

I am supposed to be having "consultant led care" but when I saw my consultant a few weeks ago she apologised as this wasn't what I had received and she would write a letter of complaint to the head of midwifery services on my behalf. Having only seen a doctor once throughout my pregnancy (now 27 weeks) I am wondering what I have missed? How many times should I have been seen? I think I have been very lucky. Can anyone help or advise?
tia
Tiggly x

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midori1999 · 08/02/2011 19:56

I think how often you see your consultant depends on the reason you are under consultant led care.

In my case, I saw my consultant at my booking appointment (9 weeks) and have seen her since at 14 weeks and will next see her at 20 weeks. After that it will be 4 weekly. I don't see the midwife at all, all my appointments are with the consultant.

In my last pregnancy I saw the consultant weekly, but also saw the midwife twice weekly in between, but that was due to serious complications.

Original poster

Tiggly · 08/02/2011 20:00

Blimey Midori1999. I have a complicated medical history but didn't realise I should perhaps have been seen as regularly as that. The consultant asked me if I had been seen at my booking in appointment, which I didn't, but now realise I should have at least been seen then. I won't see the consultant again until the end of March. I have seen the midwife at regular intervals like yourself, instead of the consultant. Thanks for helping Midori1999 x

OP posts:

Darlingdamsel · 08/02/2011 20:16

I saw the consultant at 14 weeks and will she her again around 23-24 week. Not sure what happens thereafter. However I should have one appointment with a urologist in between ... which reminds me, I haven't heard anything.

WiiUnfit · 08/02/2011 20:16

Hey Tiggly, I too am under consultant-led care due to blood pressure issues, I wouldn't let it worry you too much because the main thing is - you & your baby are fine. Also, it is dependent on your pre-existing medical condition as to how often you are seen so please don't let that scare you.

I saw the consultant at 11 weeks, 19 weeks & will see him again at 30 weeks. All he does is come in, have a look at the notes the midwifes have taken (blood pressure, urine dipstick results .etc) has a quick chat to me to see how I'm feeling, advises me on medication & then scoots off to the next patient. I saw the midwife at 13 weeks, 18 weeks & will next see her at 25.

Please don't panic! :)

Original poster

Tiggly · 08/02/2011 20:23

Thank you all!! Some variation in when people are seen so it would appear I haven't missed too much then! Not to worry! I had thoughts of being seen like yourself Midori1999, but I guess they can't be too worried or the consultant would have sent for me sooner than the end of March for my next follow up appointment! Thank you everyone for helping to put my mind at rest! xx

OP posts:

Phlebas · 08/02/2011 20:31

It really depends on your risk factors - I have shit obstetric history & clotting disorder & I've been seen (& scanned) every two weeks from 8 weeks onwards; I don't see the midwife or GP at all.

TantieTowie · 08/02/2011 20:46

I'm under consultant led care for previous emcs but pregnancy has gone absolutely fine and so far (39+5) have seen consultant twice (first about 14 weeks, second about 36), with another appointment scheduled for 41 weeks if I get that far to discuss what's to be done re delivery.

Sounds like it really depends why you're under a consultant.

TantieTowie · 08/02/2011 20:47

Oh, and have also been seeing the midwife as per usual schedule for second pregnancy.

Sparklies · 08/02/2011 20:54

Currently 27 weeks, I was seen at 14 weeks, 18 weeks, 22 weeks and will be seen at 28 weeks.

My issues are related to both first half of second trimester and later on, third trimester so I'm only really being seen when I need it.

Usually, depending on the condition, they don't see you much in the beginning but will later on.

Have also being seeing midwives as usual - did with my last two pregnancies which had consultants involved as well.

onimolap · 08/02/2011 21:06

It really does depend on why you need consultant-led care. In 1st PG, I was seen by the consultant himself at every appointment.

Owing to that history, I was consultant led care for the subsequent PGs. For each of those, I saw that consultant early on to discuss the management; for both this meant consultant appointments until 24 weeks (plus feral medicine unit appointments), but as both times things went well, after that it was midwife led appointments, except for one final one with the consultant at about 36 weeks (where I made sure I got in large clear red handwriting "suitable for home-from-home unit) - because the extent of the early PG notes might have led the delivery suite to draw other conclusions and I knew I wouldn't have the energy/inclination/temper to negotiate on the nit.

Will you get a chance to clarify with your consultant what is needed and when? And to write it clearly in your notes, so it's easy for everyone to follow the plan?

onimolap · 08/02/2011 21:06

"feral medicine" sounds interesting! "foetal"!!!!!

cameli · 08/02/2011 21:17

I am also under consultant led care and saw her at 14 weeks and seeing her tomorrow (24 weeks). Not sure how often it will be after tomorrow.

I've also had 6 NHS scans and a couple of private ones.

Not sure that my 'problems' are quite as serious as some & I've never lost a pregnancy but I think my complications are unusual & I have quite a few them-plus I had an emcs at 31 weeks with my DS.

stegasaurus · 08/02/2011 21:26

I've seen different drs every time I go to the hospital so am not sure which if any is the consultant. Anyway, I have been seen by a hospital dr of some sort at 9 weeks (after I had my scan), 16 weeks ish, 20 weeks after a fetal medicine scan and next week will be 29 weeks. Not sure how often it will be after that. I am under consultant-led care because I have epilepsy, but so far my pregnancy and my epilepsy do not seem to have really impacted on each other or caused big problems.

WinterLover · 09/02/2011 07:48

I'm under consultant led care but I'm 13w and yet to see one :( I have a large cyst on my ovary that keeps getting bigger.

Had my booking with midwife at 8w and scan on Friday when il be 13w... Feel a bit list really, not sure who's seeing me or when.

Do you usually get a letter with a consultant appointment on it?

rain1014 · 09/02/2011 09:25

Im under care

Was seen at 6,12,16,20,24,28,30,32,34 and going at 36 weeks and induction booked for 37 weeks. I have seen the same consultant each time, who really is excellent.

Im under care at Frimley Park Hospital and believe them to be the top rated Mat unit in the South of England , I can see why they do have such a good rep.

I think Ive had fantastic care by them.

rain1014 · 09/02/2011 09:27

Forgot to add that I see my GP and local midwife inbetween my consultant , they really are making sure that Im being well taken care of!!

lilly13 · 09/02/2011 09:33

i am in central london. i was told that i'd be consultant lead under NHS, but i wasn't offered the 1st appt until 18 wks and was told would be seen every 6-8 weeks. there was too much uncertainty i couldn't face and i decided to go privately. so far care has been great. was seen at 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 22 and 26 wks.

LadyGoneGaga · 09/02/2011 09:40

I'm consultant led and was seen:

Midwife 9 weeks
Consulatant 16 weeks
Midwife 24 weeks
Consultant (and growth scan) 28 weeks)
Consultant (and growth scan) 34 weeks
Provided all is well at growth scans they will prob sign me back to midwife led care at that point (that's what happended last time).

I hae anti-thyroid antibodies and Hypothyridism.

Because I was signed back to midwife led I was allowed to attempt a homebrth etc.

happycamel · 09/02/2011 09:53

I'm the same as Rain, under consultant led care at Frimley Park. Ms Kirkpatrick has been absolutely brilliant. I saw her registrar at my first appt, who couldn't get a handle on my immunology issues, told Ms K that and I saw Ms K two days later and have only seen her ever since.

It does absolutely depend on whether you have a condition that needs actively monitoring or just sorting out. I had a lot of appointments initially to sort out which drugs I'm likely to be allergic to and which I could have. Now that's sorted and they've got a plan in place I wouldn't have any more apart from I've developed GD so now I have regular consultant led care for that.

I see the midwife as any one else would, my consultant appts are in addition.

rain1014 · 09/02/2011 10:12

Im also under Dr Kirkpatrick have to agree with you about her.

How many weeks are you?

WinterLover · 09/02/2011 10:55

Hmmm il maybe give my MW a call and find out when I should be seeing the consultant...

tlise · 09/02/2011 15:29

I have high bp which is under control by tablets, so I assumed would have extra appointments with the mw at least but not had them.

I'm 30+5 now, I had to see consultants underling at 20 weeks, and again at 28 weeks for a growth scan but only cos of my bp, but if I hadn't had a previous baby who refused to co-operate, and so I have to have another scan at 36 weeks, I wouldn't be seeing the consultant at all until I went overdue.

Despite being consultant led, you don't generally see them much. I have been consultant led through all previous pregnancies, and usually only seen them at 20 and 41 weeks. Its really only if there is a problem you see them more, so I wouldn't worry :)

Original poster

Tiggly · 09/02/2011 20:05

Thank you all for responding. I am seriously impressed with care received at Frimley Park! No wonder they get such a good rating!! I think that with my care I perhaps may have been seen once maybe twice more than I have done as my endocrinologist is quite happy with my condition at the moment so that's why?? I am quite relieved that I apparently don't require regular input from any of the doctors! Although there is distinct variation in how often everyone else is seen - some right from the start, others apparently around the same time as me, and infrequently in between. Interesting!
Thank you all for responding! You have helped to put my mind at rest!x

OP posts:

clarabella18 · 09/02/2011 22:12

I'm under consultant led care supposedly because of my weight. I'm
26 weeks today and haven't seen the consultan once! I have an anaesthetic review with him at 32 weeks which is To see if I am able to have an epidural because of a) my weight b) previous surgery in the lower back area (even though I'm Not planning on an epidural)

LoopyLoopsPoopaScoop · 09/02/2011 22:15

I'm in a similar position to you Tiggly, should be consultant led care due to stillbirth of daughter, but consultant wasn't available for my appointment (I've only been offered one so far, 20 weeks), so another doctor (unidentified, I'm assuming registrar but unsure) took the appointment (and was awful, eg. "oh, I don't know why you're so anxious, you're past 12 weeks, babies don't usually die after 12 weeks" FFS , I may complain).

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