Bad Appt with Consultant

[KatieDingus]

Hi All,
I'm 40 and 38weeks pregnant now. Just been for what I thought was a routine check up with the consultant (due to my age apparently, have had no issues through the pregnancy) and now I have to have a scan next Monday and a sweep! They said they couldn't tell if the baby was breech or not (he has been head down for weeks), they couldn't measure baby properly, they said I hadn't had the amnio to check for Downs and then told me that there was a higher risk of stillbirth in older mothers and so I am having a sweep next week which may induce labour.
I have come home and bawled my eyes out as was so shocked, nothing like this has been mentioned before and am very worried about my poor bump (even though heartbeat and movements all fine) - why do they want to induce me at 39weeks? Is this normal as my usual midwife never mentioned it. I couldn't understand what the scan was to check for apart from position and growth (growth is spot on according to usual midwife), do you think there is something they are not telling me? And whats the point of mentioning Downs now at this late stage? The consultant said I was high risk for Downs but given my age the score was not that bad (1:101, same risk as miscarriage from amnio which is why I didn't go ahead with it). Not happy at all, thought everything was normal.

Poor you. Don't panic though! SOme of the obstetricians no matter how good at their job, have the best side manner of Atilla the Hun. I spent a month in hospital with my last baby so have some experience of this.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to. I would get in touch with your midwife and ask her to interpret what the obs. said to you. My interpretation is that this particular consultant favours induction in "older mum's" and so wants to go for it.

You've had a normal pregnancy so far so theres no reason you can't go over-due and wait as long as you can as long as you and the baby are ok. Quite often the mother will just go along with things if they don't question whats going on. There is usually room for your decision making too.

It sounds like a routine scan before a sweep and if you didn't let them know how you felt, they would presumed that was fine. The Downs issue is completely irrelevant. You have as much chance of having a downs baby as another mother who has a 1:101 chance.

I think it sounds like you're going to have a nice and easy delivery personally!

Speak to your midwife and ask for clarification as to why they want to do all this. The amino sounds totally irrelevant, and if the pregnancy has been normal and everything is fine now, there is no reason to start inducing.
A friend of mine was given a C-section at 37 weeks for no other reason than that she was 40 years old (This was not in the UK though) Don't let them just bully you into something you don't want (but obviously do listen to what they have to say).

Thanks ladies, I have made an appt with my usual midwife for tomorrow, hopefully she can explain a bit more and set my mind at rest!

Hi Katie, how did you get on? Midwife managed to interpret the Consultant?

If you are still unhappy after your appointment today, get in touch with the supervisor of widwives at your hospital who will sort out what is needed, and what is just the consultant being bossy!

If they can't tell whether it's breech or not, I'd suggest they give you a bloody scan - that's pretty final!

You can refuse the sweep if you want to.

As for the convo. about Down's - I don't even know where to BEGIN with that one - perhaps you should've suggested getting tested today with a view to termination!

Poor you - sounds stressful and the consultant doesn't seem to be very patient friendly!!
Really surprised no one noticed until now that a Downs test hadn't been done. I thought it was routine at the 12 week scan and I know they look at other markers at 20 weeks too? v odd - I would when everything is calmed down and baby is safely here complain strongly. Didn't your mw's check your scan findings at all either!

I am just over 40 and my hospital has said they won't let me go over my due date but I think it varies by hospital. There is some data which suggests a slight increase in stillbirth over term for 40+. I am happy for them not to let me go over but others have different opinions and it is a personal decision - just don't let anyone push you into anything you haven't researched thoroughly or feel just uncomfortable with.

An extra scan and breech - I discovered mine was breech at my standard 34 week scan last week! The irony is that I had a mw appointment 1 hour before and was told by their touching that it was head down and engaged. personally and probably because DP is scientific we have always been a bit sceptical of the MW really knowing by feel so found this funny. I am having another scan in 2 weeks to see if it has turned. But all I am trying to say is i don't really trust anything but a scan to show babies position.

I know its hard but try and stay calm with good movement etc everything sounds good - best thing is to try and stay relaxed.

I saw another consultant this week, a lady - totally different story and she said if the previous doctor couldn't tell if the baby was breech or not, then maybe he was in the wrong field! She said there was nothing to worry about, everything was completely normal and baby seems happy, and there was no need to start me off early! She also said she didn't think blokes should be obstetricians!! Blimey!
Felt much better after that, had a sweep but it didn't work, am due today but no news yet, think Baby is comfortable where he/she is!
Janeejane I did had a downs test but the risk was lower than the risk of miscarriage with the amnio, so I didn't have an amnio.. Can't think why he brought it up last week!
Thanks for all your replies.