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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Feeling really low- what does consultant led care really mean?

17 replies

Doodlekitty · 09/05/2012 17:35

Just been for my 16 week midwife app, which is my first with my names mw. First app at 10 wks was a mw from hospital.

At 10 wks I was told I was low risk and midwife led care. Mw today was horrified by this as I have a high bmi and said I needed to be consultant led care as I am so overweight. She rang hospital and got me an emergency app for Friday.

So, what does this actually mean? I feel like crying right now. I know I'm overweight (bmi39) as I was trying to lose when I fell pregnant. It all seems a bit scary having an emergency app

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Graciescotland · 09/05/2012 17:51

I'm pretty sure consultant led care just means a bit of extra monitoring/ appointments at hospital rather than at local midwife.

I know when I was pregnant there were special clinics run by Tommy's for those with higher bmis and you'll probably see a nutritionist. I think the goal is not for you to lose weight but to maintain your current weight through the pregnancy lowering your bmi.

It'd normally take a while for the referral to come through so the emergency appointment is just to bump you up the queue.

FutureNannyOgg · 09/05/2012 17:55

Don't panic!
It just means that the person in charge of your care will be a doctor, not a midwife.
You will see your consultant at about 20 weeks and they will explain their concerns to you. Be aware that their opinion isn't an iron clad instruction you have to follow. They will give recommendations and the information you need to help decide how to manage your pregnancy and birth. I would suggest you do some research into obesity and pregnancy, you will probably be relieved to find that most of their concerns revolve around conditions that you may be more likely to suffer from, but if you don't, aren't an issue.

igggi · 09/05/2012 18:04

I have consultant led care and have seen my consultant for one appointment, and she spoke to me once in the corridor. Rest has been with midwife. Try not to worry, getting more checks or whatever is a good thing.

PoppyS34wantssleep · 09/05/2012 18:27

It just means you'll be extra-looked after and monitored, don't worry, at least they're seeing you quickly, and you're getting to see the consultant instead of having to wait for ages.

AThingInYourLife · 09/05/2012 18:30

I'm having consultant-led care this time (3rd DC) because of thyroid issues.

It just means you are in a high-risk category (doesn't mean you are at high risk personally) and they want to see you at the hospital instead of you going to the community midwife.

It's no big deal, really :)

StateofConfusion · 09/05/2012 18:30

doodle my bmi is the same, its just extra scans and a doctor over seeing things, I still see my mw xx

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 09/05/2012 18:32

Extra scans, mainly, IME.

Don't stress.

Community midwives make a big fuss about it, but actually it is far better to have the opportunity to discuss your issues and birth plans with people who are actually at the hospital.

KikiRC · 09/05/2012 18:45

Hello- like people have said above, it's nothing to worry about at all. I was consultant-led and saw my consultant twice, then he said he wasn't worried about me & I'd only need to see him again if I experienced any particular problems, so I just saw the MW after that.

Dinosaurdrip · 09/05/2012 19:08

I was consultant led with both DS and will be again this time around. I saw him twice with both DS once at 16 weeks and then again at 32 weeks he asked if I was ok scanned me listened to heartbeat and then said ok I will see you again only if you go lots over your due date. I didn't go over by much so never saw him again (shame as he was quite hot) .good luck with everything.

AnEcumenicalMatter · 09/05/2012 19:14

For me it has meant....well, not a lot really.

I have seen the consultant twice...once at my booking in appointment and again this week (at 34 weeks). I don't have to see him again until my due date (assuming I don't go into labout before that) as there is no reason to. My BMI is a bit higher than yours but I have had no complications, all tests have come back clear and baby is average size for gestation.

I also have to see an anaesthetist soon to make sure they can easily site an epidural if required. But apart from that, my consultant hasn't expressed any concern with me attempting a natural delivery.

Original poster

Doodlekitty · 09/05/2012 20:40

Thanks a lot guys, feeling a lot better about it now. It was just such a shock as the mw at first app knew my bmi and said I did not need it.

Thanks again

OP posts:

KatyS36 · 09/05/2012 20:42

If I get pregnant again I would be delighted with consultant lead care.

I had horrendous problems with PGP and carpel tunnel, and just got community midwives saying 'I don't know much about this but I think it will go away after giving birth'. they were also insisting I ate extra in the final trimester, even though I was house bound and ended up enormous.

Several years later I'm almost recovered after taking myself out of the NHS to a private physio and hours of rehab, but my pregnancy could have been managed so much better and a lot of the problems minimised.

I've got very little faith in midwives if anything is outside the ordinary. Being under consultant case doesn't mean you'll have problems, but if you do they will be dealt with and managed.

Good luck

Katy

bonzo77 · 09/05/2012 21:08

i would also love consultant lead care. MW were bloody hopeless with antenatal care, missing intra uterine growth restriction (suspected by GP, confirmed by seeing consultant at hospital), misdiagnosing a headache as pre-eclampsia (in the absence of high BP or anything else) resulting in an unnecessary but very very stressful hospital admission. Very much hoping to be consultant lead this time. Hoping for an ELCS too, not sure who is the better bet with this, but I guess it would have to be consultant approved whatever.

AlpinePony · 09/05/2012 21:16

I too have loved my consultant led care.

It also proved a useful tool to bludgeon them with when they asked me to go for a VBAC - I was able to counter with "really? But I'm here because I am high risk am I not!?". ;)

FutureNannyOgg · 10/05/2012 06:45

I should add, for interest, that CC doesn't mean you have to give birth in hospital either, I am booked for an HBAC, I just saw her to discuss it.

mangomadness · 10/05/2012 08:05

I'm under consultant led care and it's been brilliant. Extra scans, every 2/3 weeks for me. Saw the consultants at the same time. Nothing to worry about, just loads more support and getting to hear the baby's heartbeat more often etc. Now I've got to see my midwife who, to be frank, terrifies me! Plus when you give birth you'll be on the consultant unit, which with my condition I couldn't be happier with.

theressomethingaboutmarie · 10/05/2012 08:27

Don't panic! I too now have consultant-led care as I had pre-eclampsia with DD. I saw them at 18 weeks and will do so again at 28 weeks.

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