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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

I lost it in the hospital today...can they MAKE me see a consultant?

93 replies

Enid · 26/10/2005 13:52

I have been 'forced' to see a consultant (apparently because of my age - i am 39). Anyway I thought I'd go along today and hopefully that would be the end of it. I had to wait for an hour and a quarter (I had the dds with me too) then when they finally saw me the consultant was away and I saw the Senior House officer who just filled in yet more forms, asked some questions that my midwife had already asked, took bp then told me I would have to come back to see the consultant when he was back in in a month.

I am afraid I lost it, said this is pointless, I don't even want to see a consultant and just forget it. Then we left.

I really DO NOT want to see a consultant. I am healthy, my weight/bp/iron levels are all fine. I have had two healthy babies. I had complications with dd1's birth but dont see how seeing a consultant could have prevented it. They aren't magic are they? I mean why can't I just see the midwife??

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Original poster

Enid · 27/10/2005 12:25

ooh who are AIMS

OP posts:

RosiePosie · 27/10/2005 12:26

Hold on, I'll find the website. . .

RosiePosie · 27/10/2005 12:27

www.aims.org.uk/

RosiePosie · 27/10/2005 12:29

Basically, they know exactly what's what with antenatal care and will be able to inform you exactly what your legal rights are. You need to remember that it's your body, your baby and they should be providing you with a service. Any decision about your care is entirely up to you.

Original poster

Enid · 27/10/2005 12:33

thanks rosie

I have almost completely decided that I will refuse to see the consultant again unless my midwife genuinely thinks it is warranted. Also I am going to refuse to sign the disclaimer form. I'll see what happens then . I presume I'll still be allowed to be pg so the baby will come out somehow.

OP posts:

RosiePosie · 27/10/2005 12:39

Good for you, would love to know how it goes! I'm certain they will provide you with midwifery care, because of the legal implications of them refusing you ANY antenatal care.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti consultants - they have their place in the care system, but I don't think a woman with a normal, healthy pregnancy need see one - what a waste of resources! A midwife who is performing all the usual pg checks regularly will be able to assess if you need to see a consultant. The lady at AIMS is called Beverley and I've heard she is very helpful.

Original poster

Enid · 27/10/2005 12:43

I am not anti-consultants either. I just think its ridiculous that a healthy pg woman has to see one if she is 39!

OP posts:

RosiePosie · 27/10/2005 12:53

Well, you don't have to do anything - what are they going to do? Send some men around to bundle you down to the hospital?

Just don't turn up - I wouldn't.

aloha · 27/10/2005 15:00

I think they are used to elderly pregnant women tottering in on their zimmer frames in Kings. Nobody batted an eyelid at me. Kept talking about 'next time'!

lfm · 27/10/2005 21:31

I can understand if someone doesnt like someone personally, or doesnt like what they have to say, but to dislike someone for being a consultant or for being a midwife seems a bit judgemental and not based on fact.

ruty · 27/10/2005 22:22

i did have a much worse experience with midwives [not all of them] than consultants. I had to wait a long time to see them every couple of months, but they were thorough and caring - i had a wonderful professor who looked after me the neurotic wreck with calmness and kindness. I was in a special higher risk unit tho, tho all turned out to be fine. i had a horrific experience with one midwife just after the birth - i would avoid the hospital just to not run into her again.

jabberwitchy · 27/10/2005 22:36

Here in the states it is more common to see an Ob rather than a midwife. I went the midwife route and ds almost died. Therefore, am prejudiced against going with the consultant if I were you. Also, I was 38 when pregnant with ds and unfortunately, there are greater risks when you are pregnant at that age.

princesspeahead · 27/10/2005 22:36

enid, you don't have to see the consultant, and you don't have to sign a disclaimer form.
what you DO need is good, supportive, continuous care. I'm a bit concerned that your midwives are insisting on all of this - ie I'm not sure you have the support in place you need to buck your local system. All you need is ONE good midwife who sees you regularly all the way through and supports your decision to be treated as a normal healthy pregnant person until proven or suspected otherwise. But it needs to be someone you trust - if you don't trust your midwives who are currently forcing you into pointless consultant appointments now, will you trust them if they say "actually we think there is a good clinical reason for you to need to see the consultant" later?
If you possibly can check out your local midwives, see if there is one that clicks with you, and request that she look after you consistently that would be GREAT. Otherwise is there any chance of you finding the £2000 or so for an independent midwife? It is a lot of money, but god is it a different experience. You could also tell her that you are thinking of a home birth but not sure, and you and dh could discuss all the options with her right up to the last moment and see how you feel. If you didn't have a home birth she could come to hospital with you as a birth partner.

And re your DD1s birth - there is NO WAY a good independent midwife would have missed a transverse lie. A good (or even OK) midwife is MUCH better at working out what position the baby is in than any GP or consultant (they do it SO much more often - practice makes perfect). so if you'd had a good MW giving you consistent care, then you wouldn't have had a home birth, but you'd have gone into hospital with "TRANSVERSE LIE" tattooed on your forehead and had a nice, untraumatic, caesar.

Just worth thinking about.

I met with my Ind MW before deciding on a home birth last time and within a couple of meetings trusted her so implicitly that going to hosp seemed like madness. And I'd had 2 induced, epiduraled births previously (one with high forceps etc etc).... god that home birth was a complete dream. Not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that it all would have been so relaxed, calm, stress free and easy. Hardly believe it typing it now - all down to having a single, great MW looking after me throughout....

jabberwitchy · 27/10/2005 22:38

Oh, dear, am trying to multitask. Meant to say I would go with the consultant but now realize it came out a bit muddled.

jabberwitchy · 27/10/2005 22:39

Just read PPH's post and unfortunately three midwives missed the fact that ds was breech. Pediatrician said for at least 4 - 6 weeks in utero from leg positioning after birth.

QueenVictoria · 27/10/2005 22:51

You lucky lucky thing PPH.

I found consultants a waste of time. I had to wait 2 hours past appt time usually coz they were so busy. I wouldnt actually get to see my named consultant but one of his many underlings who had to go off and double check with him anyway - more time wasting. They all told me something different on each visit and tried bullsht me about why they have to induce x many days after EDD. Made worse when one jumped up little sht who was barely out of nappies himself said "your baby's weight may be estimated at 9lb but it wont hurt any more than an average sized baby". WTF?

They are very good when they are needed im sure................

princesspeahead · 27/10/2005 22:53

that's why you need a good one jabberwitchy! Sorry, not meaning to be facetious. It is much easier to spot a transverse lie than a breech, she shouldn't have been missed.

Enid if you are interested you have a fab Ind MW that covers you (I think she is based near Blandford). Tricia Anderson - lectures in midwifery at Bournmouth as well. 01258 451026 if you think it would be worth a phone call to suss her out.

Original poster

Enid · 28/10/2005 09:28

wow pph that is fantastic I think I might have to name my baby after you (Enid Peahead X)

I have been looking for an independent midwife who covers my area and the only ones I could find were near Bristol - as dd2 was only 2 hours from start to finish I doubt she would have got here in time, I will ring her and put the new car on hold x E

OP posts:

GhostofNatt · 28/10/2005 09:51

Slight hijack, sorry. What is the best way to go about finding an independent midwife (London-based)? Are they allowed to help you out if you end up in hospital?

princesspeahead · 28/10/2005 15:52

oh good, I hesitated before posting because I thought you might feel a bit pushed into something! She works with two other midwives under the name "Wessex Midwives", whichis great because that means she always has backup... I'd love to hear how you get on...

I gratefully accept your offer to name your child after me. My RL name is Dolores Berengaria Twatt.

princesspeahead · 28/10/2005 15:55

natt, look at independentmidwives.org.uk which lists all of them by area, then go in and look at all of their websites and phone a few up that you like the look of (you are spoilt for choice in london!)

PeachyClair · 28/10/2005 16:02

How can they FORCE you, either to write a disclaimer or see anyone? What are they gonna do, sew the baby in there until you give in?

sunchowder · 28/10/2005 16:04

Congratulations Enid! I had my DD when I was 38 with no problems at all...I hope everything works out beautifully for you then.

bossykate · 28/10/2005 20:36

pph, totally agree with your comments re independent midwives - it's a completely different (better) experience.

also - aaaahhh! - another person who knows that berengaria of navarre was the wife of richard i (the lionheart - or, irl, a contender for possible england's worst ever kings)...

...or alternatively berengaria is just a cherished family name in the peahead household

mears · 28/10/2005 21:03

Enid - there are changes afoot about midwife led care but in some areas there are still visits to consultants because that is the policy within the hospital. The consultant will review your notes and then decide whether midwifery care is OK. It is being changed to say in many areas that the midwife decided whether the woman sees the consultant instead of the other way round. Until recently that is what happened in my area.
The consultant would probably see you and pass you to the midwives.
In your situation I would make an appointment with the consultant and explain you do not wish that type of care and that you want to see the midwife.
The consultant will probably say 'fine'.

As you have seen by other posts, some women prefer to see the consultant at some point. The midwives have probably referred you because that is the hospital policy. They probably will be quite happy for you not to see the consultant either - I know I would

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