Consultant appointment

[HoneyMum21]

Hi all,
Right, just looking for some info/reassurance. At my booking appointment my midwife (who is not great, but that's another story) told us that because of medication I'm on it automatically means my pregnancy is high risk so I would have to see the consultant. That's all she told us so I'm obviously scared about the implications of being high risk -(high risk of what?) but I'm worried about what the consultant obstetrician appointment will involve. I'm guessing it won't be anything too major as if it was it would be something everyone had. But I'm just wondering what the appointment will involve - American websites all suggest an obstetrics appointment will involve a pelvic/internal exam and I know now is not the time to be shy but I would like to know if this is going to happen. What else will she do?

Thanks

In most places, there are sort of automatic criteria for being labeled high risk, and that triggers automatic referral for consultant led care.

The specifics of what will happen at your consultant appointment will depend on why you are high risk e.g. if you are on thyroid meds they will probably do extra bloods and might arrange to have you seen by an endocrinologist. If you have a family history of particular heart trouble you may be offered detailed cardiac anomaly scans.

I sincerely doubt anyone will do a pelvic exam with a specific reason eg incompetent cervix.

Also, you are most likely to see a doctor in training, who will discuss your case with the consultant. I would look on this referral as a good thing. They are being proactive about potential problems.

I was consultant-led care with my last pregnancy. It might vary between hospitals, but I can tell you what mine involved.

Go for 20 week anomaly scan then see a consultant afterwards. They looked at my scan report, discussed my issues, then decided what they were going to do for the future. I have kypho-scoliosis and an abnormal pelvis, so my medication was discussed and they decided to do growth scans, and referred me to the anaesthetist and a spinal surgeon. However, a friend of mine was "high risk" as her bmi was high, she saw the consultant at 20 weeks who then discharged her back to the midwives.

So basically, it seems it's v unlikely they'll examine you (at 20 weeks anyway), they will just look at your scan and discuss your pregnancy and labour with you, then either keep you on as consultant care or discharge you back to midwives.

So nothing to worry about at all, it's actually v reassuring :)

I am under consultant care, for a pretty minor reason but one that could potentially mean I need a c-section (but probably won't). My first appointment with the consultant just involved her getting my medical history etc, checking heartbeat, urine sample etc - just like normal midwife appointment really except that we also talked about the specifics of my condition. I saw her at 20 weeks and see her again at 36. It seems to be more precautionary than anything else, and I actually felt reassured that it meant I get some extra checks.
As antidote says, certain issues/conditions just trigger it automatically, but it doesn't mean you are literally at 'high risk' of something, as far as I understand it.

When you get the appointment through and the name of the consultant, call the hospital's main switchboard (not the booking office number) and ask to speak to that consultant's secretary. Ask what the appointment will involve. Don't be shy, s/he'll hear this all the time and if can't tell you straight away then they'll ask the consultant and call you back. Then you'll know exactly what to expect

All my consultant led appointments just meant I saw the midwife 1st at the hospital for all the routine checks and then I popped in and saw him for 5 mins just whilst he read over my notes.

There won't be an internal- that's a US thing they don't do them in the UK.

Both my pgs have been 'high risk' consultant led. I ended up having DD1 early but other than that have had no real problems with the baby.

I haven't had an internal from my normal consultant - only when I bled or thought I was having preterm labour (my spd feels like it without contractions). In my experience it is just talking to someone who can refer you to any specialist that they think is necessary which is a bit of a pain really cos you get about six different opinions on how/when you can do this that or the other. However, having said that, it is good that there is someone to keep an eye on you if any problems do develop.

All you really do is chat about your condition and make/update a plan for your care every time you go see them.

Thanks all for your help :)