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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

anyone being consultant lead or HAS BEEN? just need a bit of Help please.

50 replies

Rebecca1608 · 15/02/2015 10:13

Just over 20 weeks pregnant and I'm due to meet my consultant on Thursday for the first time. I'm really nervous as I'll be going on my own.

What will they want to speak to me about in my first appointment and how long will it last?!

Sorry if these are daft questions just hoping for some info. Thanks in advance.

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MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 15/02/2015 10:17

Depends why you're consultant led - I was in the UK due to BMI just over the limit - one largely pointless apt for about 3 mins (after a long wait) and I was signed back to midwife led care. In my case it wasn't even the consultant I saw (I suspect it rarely is the first time unless you have a more complex medical history).

applecore0317 · 15/02/2015 10:18

Have you not been told why you have been referred to a consultant? I was referred for a couple of things that have caused complications. So I am not under the consultant only and have weekly appointments. Some people see the consultant once and get put back to the midwife. My first appointment was 20 mins and was just asking questions but again it depends what you have been referred for.

When I was called back for another apointment for something else it was longer as I had to have an internal scan but even then only 45 mins

applecore0317 · 15/02/2015 10:19

meant to say am now under consultant only not not under

unlucky83 · 15/02/2015 10:25

Was for both pregnancies but from early days - DD2 from 5 weeks!
So I don't know any different -but it was just like seeing any consultant - I had to bring/provide a wee sample, weighed, blood pressure done- all by nurse than 10-15 mins with consultant depending what was being discussed. For both I had frequent growth scans - for DD1 weekly from 28 weeks -so 5 mins with consultant, scan, consultant with results. I think you need to allow an hour tops for first one ...
Guess it does depend why they are seeing you too...just standard higher risk - overweight, age, etc might be quicker....and definitely less scans...
(I wanted less for DD2 - the weekly ones made me anxious - once they said she had stopped growing - really serious - had a panic stricken overnight wait for another the next day -where she had grown a remarkable amount...also told me a week before induction day she was going to be 5-6kg - tiny - when in fact she was just under 7kg... )

GrouchyKiwi · 15/02/2015 10:26

Mine was because of existing conditions that can cause complications, but I was only consultant lead for my first pregnancy.

She asked questions about my conditions, talked through the possible complications, we discussed any worries I had and what they thought I shouldn't do, and that was that.

2015isgoingtobeBIG · 15/02/2015 10:26

I'm a twin pregnancy so officially high risk and consultant led. I met a doctor at 16 weeks who went through the risks associated with the pregnancy, answered any questions I had and hat was it. I then see th midwife every four weeks until 32 weeks when I see the doctor again to discuss birth options. It's my first pregnancy but I can't reLly see much different between this and a friend who is a Singleton pregnancy. Good luck

ShadowSpiral · 15/02/2015 10:30

It really does depend on why you're consultant led.

I was switched to consultant led with DS1 after blood tests at 12 weeks were abnormal. The first consultant appointment (at about 16 weeks) consisted of a growth scan, a talk about what the abnormal results might mean for baby, and making a plan of care for the rest of my pregnancy, which involved seeing the consultant every 3 weeks.

I was consultant led for DS2 because of the problems with my first pregnancy. The appointment there was basically talking about what happened with DS1, and looking at how likely the same thing was to happen again. Plus a GTT and a lecture when the consultant noticed I was obese. I was passed off into Midwest led care pretty quickly with DS2.

ShadowSpiral · 15/02/2015 10:32

Midwest? Should have been midwife led care, obviously

unlucky83 · 15/02/2015 10:35

I should say in some ways I felt sometimes I (and they) had to find something to say - and they did take everything really seriously...maybe too much sometimes.
I remember with DD1 mentioning indigestion in later stages - which is really really common...got asked lots of questions etc Probably really wasn't necessary. I doubt anyone gets to discuss it in so much detail with a MW, probably just get told - yep everyone does - here's some gaviscon ...

TarkaTheOtter · 15/02/2015 10:37

I was consultant led for gd.
Each appt I was weighed and urine checked by a healthcare assistant, then midwife used Doppler, checked blood pressure and fundal height and asked if I was having any problems. She made notes.
Finally I saw an obstetrician and endocrinologist. They reviewed my notes and discussed what extra treatment I needed. As I got further along they discussed my birth options, booked my induction etc.
The consultant part was only ever 10mins and the rest was just like a typical midwife appt.

Doodlekitty · 15/02/2015 10:38

Im consultant led due to bmi. Was with last pregnancy too. Our appointments take ages. We had 5 mins with midwife; urine test, weight etc. Then a 15 min wait. Then a student doc asked usual medical history questions (pretty much the same as midwife at bokking in app) which took about 20 mins, then a 20 min wait, then about 10 mins with consultant clarifying a few things, discussing risks such as increased risk of diabetes, booked blood sugar test etc. Then 10 mins with midwife listening to heart beat (but this was because i was concerned ive had no movement).

Orangeisthenewbanana · 15/02/2015 10:39

I was consultant led due to my medical history. They saw me every 4-6 weeks or so (I did have less mw appointments because of this). They checked blood pressure, urine and baby position and heart rate, just like the mw would have. They just had specific recommendations for the delivery - e.g being monitored from early labour which was a waste of time even writing in my notes, as the midwives on labour ward had no access to them when I phoned in labour and did the usual try to keep you at home as long as possible I also had extra scans which was quite nice.

Original poster

Rebecca1608 · 15/02/2015 11:42

I'm consultant lead because I'm expecting identical twins so sharing a placenta. Just wanted to know whether it'll be about the Labour etc my first appointment or not?! I'm healthy. Not overweight or anything?

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luckythirteen · 15/02/2015 12:43

I am consultant led with DCDA twins (also 20 weeks). Met consultant at 16 weeks but it was very basic - went through notes and at the end she listened to the heartbeats. I am booked into see her again at 24 weeks, don't have any midwife appointments at all, in between or otherwise!

Original poster

Rebecca1608 · 15/02/2015 14:43

Ah ok atleast I've got a bit more of an idea what to expect. Thanks. I'll look forward to the appointment.

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claracluck1978 · 15/02/2015 15:45

I have ID twins which classified me as high risk, and with a high BMI I was likely to have been referred anyway even with a single pregnancy. I actually really enjoyed the experience - my consultant met with me after every scan ( I had them fortnightly after 12 weeks until I delivered at 35+1). He also helped me with difficult community midwife who made me dread appointments. When I was admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia he came to see me every day and was the force I needed on side to be transferred from one awful hospital to another brilliant hospital to finally have my twins delivered when 2 nicu cots became available (after several cancellations).

neversleepagain · 15/02/2015 19:50

I was consultant led during my friend win pregnancy. My first appointment with the consultant was at 16 weeks.

lmb21010 · 16/02/2015 21:02

I too have appointment with consultant at 21 weeks. High bmi. Had high bmi with dd and just had 1 appointment with the anaesthetic to make sure they could do a epidural. Well that's all I remember anyway. Although my weight is very high I'm actually really healthy. Yes I had forceps with Dr but that's cos she was facing up rather than down, not cos of my weight.
Also attending appt alone as we can't afford for dh to take another day off work.

LittleBairn · 16/02/2015 21:10

I'm consultant lead for a very high risk Pregnancy. It's been a really Postive expereince for me especially because he can insit on a certain treatment etc and it must be followed so once I was admitted (for 5 very long weeks) no other Dr or midwife could interfer. This was an issue I had in my previous pregnancy when I was admitted and didn't have a lead consultant every other Dr seemed to have a different opinion it was frustrating.

At 20 weeks its unlikely they would go into much detail about the birth more likely to be dealing with what currently needs to be done for you and your babies. I would take a note pad with any question you have written down it can be an overwhelming experience so its easy to forget things. And note down anything the Dr said that you would like to remember.

LittleBairn · 16/02/2015 21:13

Sorry forgot to add I had appointments every 2 weeks from 14 weeks. I would have a transvaginal scan, abdominal scan and a quick chat with the Dr appointments usually lasted 20 minutes.

Original poster

Rebecca1608 · 16/02/2015 21:14

Yeah that's true, I'll definitely take a notepad with me. I'm nervous now that my bp has rocketed and I've been put off for a week from work as I'm as healthy as I can be but Dr kept stressing make sure you tell your consultant Which is worrying me more as I don't know what more I can do to try and bring it down. Even at 20 weeks I'm still not really overweight and I don't want there to be any complications for my already high risk pregnancy.

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Original poster

Rebecca1608 · 16/02/2015 21:16

Got my 20 week scan tomorrow and don't know whether to tell the sonographer too. My gp has really put the shits up me because I'm doing what I can to be as healthy as I can.

OP posts:

LittleBairn · 16/02/2015 21:21

Try not worry to much about the GP the consultant will be able to give you a more realistic opinion based on your medical facts not a generalised one.
My GP offered me commiserations when she found out I was pregnant and reminded me that my chances weren't good.

LittleBairn · 16/02/2015 21:29

Could your BP have been raised because of visiting the GP and being stressed? I've heard of people being given BP monitors at home to get a more accurate reading.

dayslikethis · 16/02/2015 21:32

I was consultant led with DCDA twins (which actually turned out to be identical, but that's another story!).

I didn't particularly like it if I'm honest. First appointment with the consultant was booked for 20 weeks but after finding out we were having twins at 12 weeks, we asked for a consultant appointment earlier as we felt completely lost and wanted some more info on what to expect. (we already had 2 singletons with totally normal pregnancies so twins was a huge shock and we went from feeling like we knew what was going on, to feeling like we knew nothing!)

My named consultant was the top obs/gynae consultant in the hospital and one of the top ones in Scotland - medically amazing, but no concept of people skills! The questions I was asking about c-sections, aftercare, recovery period, driving, prematurity etc... he just didn't seem to care about. We had no family around us and 2 other kids so we were understandably concerned about the impact on the rest of the family, but he just didn't seem to get that. I had a million and one questions and he just wasn't interested in answering any of them. It was very definitely a case of "I know best and I'll fill you in on what I think you need to know".

I saw him and one other consultant (they alternated for the twin clinic so that you saw, and got to know, both of them) every 4 weeks up until 32 weeks and then every 2 weeks after that. I liked the other consultant a lot, but I felt like her time was rushed so didn't really have time to spend with me. With the main guy I just felt like I was a medical statistic to him and not a person.

I ended up being referred to the consultant midwife at the hospital, thanks to my wonderful community midwife, and she was a lot more personable, and answered the questions I was most bothered by. Perhaps I found it harder because my community midwives who had cared for me in my 2 previous pregnancies had been amazing and so maybe I just had high standards because I had been spoilt before - I don't know!

I felt like my consultant appointments were all about getting the scan done, checking to make sure the babies were OK and my BP etc was fine, and nothing else. The consultant midwife was the one who spoke about aftercare, c-sections, whether it was wise to go on holiday while 26wks pregnant (the consultant had just said no outright - VERY risk-averse - but we had booked it before we knew it was twins and stood to lose a lot of money, as well as a chance to have a final holiday as a family of 4 - the midwife saw all that, whereas the consultant just said no), and so much more.

When I went into labour at 35 weeks, when both girls were still breech, it was the consultant midwife who came to see me and talk me through my options and not the consultant. Similarly, she came to see me in the ward 2 days later, whereas I never saw him again. She explained to me that the consultant's job is to simply deliver the babies safely - nothing more, nothing less - so that is what they are focused on - nothing more, nothing less.

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