Consultant led..what does that actually mean?

[Lulu2515]

Had booking appointment today.

Due to a number of risk factors mostly being fat my 16 week appointment is with a consultant rather than a midwife. Does this mean I'm consultant-led? What does that even mean?

I think it does mean you are consultant led although you can still be referred back to midwife led in some cases. For me, it meant more frequent scans, extra checks with the consultant. I was glad of those. I didn't realise until later that it also meant delivery on the delivery suite not midwife birthing centre.

It varies depending on trust but for me (high bmi, high blood pressure) It meant I had an appointment at the consultants clinic in between my normal midwife appointments, I also had extra scans. The consultant clinic appointments were no different from regular midwife appointments except they were at hospital and I saw a midwife and a doctor from the team. When I had complications they were able to get the ball rolling very quickly with bloods and meds etc.

For me, it meant that I saw the consultant every 4 weeks (alongside my usual midwife appointments). I was also a bit more limited in respect of the birth (no midwife led unit and more monitoring).

I think it very much depends on why you are referred to the consultant. It's entirely possible that the consultant will decide that you don't need much/any further input from the consultant and refer you back for midwife led care.

Either way I wouldn't stress too much at this point, I found being consultant led quite reassuring!

Oh just to add as I've seen Whatshallichoose post. I was going to be handed back to just the midwife but had some complications (obstetric cholestasis...the joys). I was also still able to go to the birthing centre until they decided to induce me, however the birthing centre is literally next door to the labour ward so obviously might be different in other places.

You might not stay consultant led. I have a meeting with a consultant at 16 weeks due to my BMI. As everything was going well and no additional risk factors, she put me straight back under midwife led care and I haven't seen a consultant since.

Has anyone told you to take a higher dose of folic acid for high BMI? No one told me and my consultant was really unimpressed.

Thanks for all the replies!

Am still hoping to go to midwife unit but that's seeming unlikely. Although bmi is the main concern... apparently a previous mmc already put me in the "specialist midwife " category.

Lemon no! I was told today I needed a higher dose of vitamin D but folic acid levels weren't mentioned! Thank you, I'll look into it.

I'm the same but due to x3 mcs in the past. I have a feeling it's to keep a more 'medical' eye on you. I think they just check you're ok ex and make sure all is going well.

Honestly I'm not sure what the consultant can do that the midwife can't for me but we'll see!

I was consultant led due to pre term labour (27 weeks) and 4 early miscarriages (4 weeks). I was discharged from consultant yesterday at 34+5 weeks back to community midwife and was told that I could now work with them to plan my birth. My next apt with them is early Sept so not discussed it yet but consultant doesn't want anything more to do with me - in the nicest way possible - as he says I'm past his point of concern.

I'm consultant led as I have a few chronic medical conditions. For me, it's great. I tend to see the consultant instead of the community midwife (as you see a midwife at hospital immediately before seeing the consultant). I do have extra scans too which is nice. The only "downside" is not bring able to use the midwife led birth center, but frankly that's not my cup of tea anyway, I would have probably have asked to deliver at hospital if it weren't required.

Oh, and hospital parking gets quite expensive with the extra appointments!