What happens in a consultant appointment?

[JammyLittleDodger]

16 weeks pregnant, have my first consultant appointment today and have absolutely no idea what it's for. I phoned the midwifery unit where it is and they said it was someone at my scan who decided I needed to see a consultant today. Baby wouldn't stay still at the scan and they weren't able to do the nuchal translucency but I had the quad test and came back as low risk. What could they have seen/not seen at the scan which would make them decide I needed a consultant appointment? It's not come from my notes or my midwife, they said it was my scan specifically. Really concerned. Any ideas?

If there were any concerns at the scan they should have told you there and then. Very odd.

@Oysterbabe exactly what I thought. The only thing I can think of is that they couldn't get a proper look at baby as he/she was so active that they want to have another look, but no mention of needing a scan today (they usually tell you to have a full bladder and to wear appropriate clothes). I'm sick with worry as none of my friends have had this happen before. Hopefully an error somewhere...

Completely weird that they didn’t tell you why. You’d see one normally for having certain risk factors (pcos, high bmi, family history or certain things, complicated previous delivery).

@Grandmaswagsbag normal BMI but I have had 3 miscarriages previously (although all very early) and had to have minor surgery to remove abnormal cells from my cervix a few years ago. Unless the department doing the scan had access to this information and referred me but I'm fairly sure they just did the scan and sent me away!

I'm a midwife - every trust is slightly different but at mine the ladies see a midwife after the scan who takes bloods for screening and also checks the notes to make sure you've been referred correctly (to midwife or consultant care) - I'd hazard a guess it's due to the procedure on your cervix, at our trust we refer just for a consultant opinion so they can review the gynae notes and check what sort of procedure it was and if it affects anything. Will usually just be this one appt and then they'll refer back to midwife. However someone should have informed you that they were referring and why!

@PhoenixDown I've asked my midwife, the antenatal Dept who did my scan, and the midwife unit I'm going to today and none of them can tell me. Out of my mind here!

I had this with my last pregnancy it was terrifying. Turns out I had been put under consultant care because I had a (treated) chlamydia infection 10 years previously!

@SickOfTheMansplainers great! So I'm presuming this is probably going to be a waste of my time... so fed up. The whole of the last 16 weeks has been like this!

Id say its probably for having abnormal cells removed as I have an appointment for the same reason next week. I think when you've had some of your cervix removed they just check that you wont need a Stitch (or so I've read anyway! Don't quote me on that as I haven't yet had my appointment)

Except I must have slipped through the cracks as I have only just got my appointment through and il be 33+1 by the time I have the appointment, so hardly seems worth it for me!

That's pretty rubbish of them Jammy! They should have recorded in your notes (both handheld and your hospital ones) the reason for referral. Hoping you get it sorted today - I'm sure it won't be anything serious but it's not good to make you worry x

@PhoenixDown unfortunately my notes are all online and only half of the people I see have access to the system. They're pretty incomplete at the moment!

I've just looked on my online notes and seen this and wonder if that could be it? I'm pretty pissed off. I categorically do not drink and haven't had a drink for months. I've never been a drinker and stopped drinking at all even socially before ttc

3 miscarriages and surgery on your cervix would have you seeing a consultant here. My midwife showed me the list of criteria when she told me I'd be seeing one at booking. In my case it's age and the fact that pregnancy doesn't doesn't agree with my mental health.

Are you in Scotland by any chance? My online notes have been "interesting" so far.

They wouldn't make you consultant led for drinking a unit of alcohol a week.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils I'm in the midlands in England (though lived in Scotland for years - beautiful part of the world). I don't really see the point in my notes as they never get filled in...

@Oysterbabe hopefully not! I'm not consultant led however I'm just required to have an appointment with one. I'm stumped. Guess I'll know in an hour...

It will be the three miscarriages and the cervix issue. You will probably be referred straight back to the midwives after the appointment today.

Although I'm in NI so might be different it's very probably the miscarriages, that automatically puts you to consultant led in my trust. Good luck with your appointment

Hi lass

Scotland here but also consultant led.

3x miscarriages plus cervix procedure is classed as VHR in our area and normally a stitch would be required for safety.

Also it means you would be consultant led care right through and if you declined it's a waiver to sign etc.

Thanks everyone. Nervously waiting in the waiting room now

It should be fine. Mine is lovely and I've only seen her 3 times during the whole pregnancy, everything else has been the midwife (37 weeks now). I think it would only have been once if it wasn't for the fact that I want an elective c-section.

They should also explain why you are there although I think it's awful that no one has told you before hand.

Hope everything was ok op

How did it go lass?

Hopefully just in and out in regard to previous issues.

Thanks both. She said she was worried because I had had bleeding and have had a significant amount proportion of my cervix removed. I'm now classed as high risk for premature delivery. Going back this afternoon for them to have a look properly then having a cervical scan next week. Probable that I'll need a stitch in my cervix due to how much they removed

It's great that they're keeping an extra eye on you - do you feel reassured?