What are womens thoughts on maternity care when conception assisted?

[Sazzle209]

Hi, Im a student midwife starting my dissertation, I would like to know through a woman perspective who has been through assisted conception, what were your expectations of ante natal care? Did you want to be treated as normal? Did you want consulatnt led care? Did you feel your midwife was sympathetic to maybe an increased anxiety during preganancy due to this much wanted preanancy? Any thoughts and opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Hiya. Mine was assisted and I told my midwife of my anxiety. She advised me to groups and counselling. She did refer me to consultant but I think that was mainly due to me exposed to the parvo virus.
I don't think the after care is great to be honest. There is a midwife phoneline you can ring if you have any worries but I think that's general worries and enquiries.

There is a counsellor with the IVF suite which you can have upto 2 years after yoir live birth but it's 4-6 weeks wait between each appointment and a lot of the time, the counsellor couldn't remember your circumstances and had to spend the season going through everything again.

It's mainly mumsnet and friends that has kept me sane throughout this pregnancy.

that's great, thank you, I'm sorry you felt let down though.
Do you think you was more anxious due to the baby being assisted conception?

Hi,
Conceived with IVF (3rd round). Suffered severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (spent one week in hospital, thankfully didn't need to go to intensive care).

When I switched hospitals for maternity care, it is as if none of the above had happened. What I mean is that the midwives were not interested whatsoever. Never asked anything. Never acknowledged it happened. At the initial midwife appointment where they assess you and your family history, they took my letters of discharge from IVF (with my back story) and put them in my notes. I protested because I wanted to keep them (I hadn't made copies because I didn't think they would be taken) and was told that's just how it works. Was really annoyed.

I was probably treated like everyone else which is right in a way (my child is not more special than other people's children, just the same). However I wasn't like most women who get pregnant (I would say the same about women who have had multiple miscarriages or who have had a stillbirth-we come with more or less traumatic baggage). It took 5 years, 2 failed attempts including 1 ectopic pregnancy followed by miscarriage and finally severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome to get there. All of this seems to have been brushed aside.

No, I didn't like my interactions with the midwives but I haven't met many women who REALLY liked their midwives. Probably a combination of being overworked, coldly following policies (to rightly protect their backs) and individuals with their own agendas.

Maybe counselling shouldn't be added to midwives' workloads but I agree that some conciliation between mental and physical health would be needed.

I'm 4w2d pregnant following IVF, I haven't been discharged from my clinic yet but I have a GP appointment next week. I can keep you updated if you want OP?

DC1 was conceived naturally; had pretty standard midwife etc care.
Now pregnant again through ICSI after struggling to conceive for quite a while. It's been really interesting. The (private) clinic was where I would refer to for early scan etc or any issues up to 12 weeks, then I was passed over to the 'normal' NHS system.
Where I am, the booking in midwife had no clue about dates, process of IVF etc. But I was given my 12-week scan with a consultant who was clued up and had asked me to bring all details of dates etc. They mentioned that IVF babies often measure on the large side early on but normalise out IYSWIM. I have also been booked in two extra growth scans which will be welcome as I have to decide if I want an ELCS.
However I had a different 'consultant' appointment to do with issues from my previous birth. I didn't actually see a consultant but a random doctor who casually said stuff like 'if you have a C-section you don't bond so well with the baby' (which I 100% know is bullshit) and that the extra growth scans are because 'ivf babies can have problems in their development' (also, I am very much hoping, bullshit). I have discarded what he said but am amazed he said it. I really don't think he has any actual knowledge of the IVF process.

I'm definitely more anxious this time round, although less so after the 12-week scan. It's mainly my own issues around it, like I do find it very weird that the embryo has been outside my body. Now i'm in the 'normal' pregnancy system I don't feel like there's anyone to talk to about it.

in answer to your original questions, I don't feel like I need every appointment to be with a consultant, but I was very glad that some are. With midwives I know generally it's the luck of the draw, and they can vary in approach greatly.
I do think there should be more clear information from the start about any extra issues or appointments you will need due to assisted conception, and I think much more training is needed for all midwives to understand the process and potential emotional issues involved. IVF/assisted conception is really not uncommon these days.

Not assisted conception but my MW was very reluctant to let me be consultant led. Despite a preterm birth, PPH and low BMI.

She still asks if I plan on using the birth unit, despite it being further away from my home than the main hospital and I've said I 'plan' to have an epidural.