High Risk pregnancy - when do you see Consultant?

[ParksAndRecreation]

Ladies,

I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant with my first baby.

I'm 42, I've a high BMI and a genetic risk of Pre-Eclampsia along with a history of back troubles (degenerative disc disease etc).

Currently having a not very good experience at UCLH and wondering what to do about it. I've obviously never done this before!

I was classed high risk in my booking appointment and told that I would be Consultant led. I've never seen the same Midwife twice, and I've still not seen a Consultant. Is this what is normal? I thought I would have seen the Consultant by now?

I had a call about a month ago from the Consultant Midwife (after she cancelled my appointment with her) and who then fucked up my recent 25 week appointment in a number of different ways (too boring to list here) she was rude, dismissive and completely unapologetic for her own mistakes and left me feeling more anxious than I think I should feel!

She implied I should have known to be making appointments with the Consultant via my original midwife (who I've never seen in the hospital at any point since I've been back). She said she would submit the request for an appointment (although she didn't know how to use the computer system to do that) and I'm still left with no idea when I might get to see anyone.

I feel like I've fallen through a huge crack - and that if I didn't have an obvious pregnant belly that they really wouldn't know why I was even there. No-one seems to read my notes prior to an appointment, I've had to ask for blood tests to check my thyroid levels (I'm on thyroxine) which I sort of think they should be doing automatically and the general vibe is that no-one really knows what the fuck is going on!

I've not been left filled with confidence after this recent experience and given that I'm unlikely to have any more children after this one, I really can't cope with the thought of things going wrong.

DP was with me during this total car crash appointment this week and so furious about it that we are genuinely considering changing hospitals.

If anyone has recent experience of UCLH or information about when is normal to see a Consultant during a high risk pregnancy it would be good to know.

Thank you!

High risk and saw consultant at 20, 28, 32, 36, 37 weeks and then induced at 38 weeks.

Midwife at my booking in appointment referred me.

Thanks! Doesn't look like I'm going to get to see anyone before 32 weeks....so if they aren't the right person, I've no real time to change. I'm totally disheartened by the whole experience at UCLH so far.

I'm 17 weeks and saw my consultant at 14 weeks and this week booked to see them at 20weeks and 25 weeks then every 2 weeks from 32 xx

Wow - really sounds like I'm getting the thin end of the wedge! I think they've genuinely fucked up and clearly sounds like I should have been seen already at least once, if not more.
I've emailed the Manager of the Maternity Unit and the Head of Midwifery today to make my concerns known. If I don't hear back this week I think I might just turn up and stage a sit-in until they sort it out 😐

I'm consultant led and saw her at 22 weeks for the first time.

I think it depends why your consultant led if it's for things like pre eclampsia and stuff that happens later in pregnancy then you may not be seen until later. This is my 4th pregnancy and I've had various issues in each one so have always seen consultant just after my 12 week scan then gone from there

I am high risk. Previous pre eclampia and dd1 died from a complications related to a genetic condition. Midwife at Kings referred me to see a consultant at 34 weeks. I was questioned this and was very upset so changed hospitals to St Thomas’ and saw a consultant at 14 weeks and will see her again at 16 weeks. She been absolutely fantastic.

I saw my Consultant after every scan so 12w, 20w, 34w, 37w and 38w and at 38+5 when I had my sweep. I was only high risk due to being age 43. I would query this with your midwife.

Thank you everyone - this is very interesting!

I saw the consultant every 4 weeks at the same time as my scan when I was pregnant in 2017 with my DTs. Think my first appointment with them was when I was 14 weeks gone.

I would speak to PALS (patient liaison service) at UCLH and ask for their assistance.

@HDReady thanks for this!

Along with the total lack of information I feel I've been given along the way, I didn't even know there was such a thing. I'll be onto them first thing Monday!!

Following this as I'm wondering the same. Have a number of risk factors (high BMI, DVT in previous pregnancy and a previous C section) and thought I would have had an appointment through by now I'm 12 weeks. But I've heard absolutely nothing. I should be on Clexane injections from the beginning and I found out I was pregnant 6 weeks ago. Very anxious about getting another DVT but they don't seem too concerned about the risk which isn't too reassuring. I'm not even going to see my midwife again until 8th Jan which is 2 weeks late because of Xmas.

@PaddingtonBrown Are you also at UCLH? These other replies are making me think it's a bit of shit show there!!

What is the genetic risk of preclampsia? Is it that a close relative had it? If so I would call or visit your Labour Ward / ADAU directly and let them know. They might book you in there and then to the consultant. The treatment is baby aspirin and potentially heparin too.

If it’s because you had a genetic test during IVF or similar then the NHS doesn’t recognise those results yet; so unless you have another risk factor for it (eg race, obese or above bmi, an autoimmune disease) the consultant won’t be interested until it actually happens.

However I believe at your age you should have seen the consultant at least once. Try and get put through to the fetal consultant / obstetrician’s office via the hospital switchboard on Monday and explain the situation to the secretary; mentioning your age and any other risk factors and that you are really worried - they may be able to get you added onto the next clinic day .

I'm on the red path (Scotland) I saw them at 17w and 34w.

@GrumpyHoonMain My mum had it (with me).

At my 20 week scan the sonographer picked up that there was some blood flow issue to my placenta which meant I'm definitely at risk so has asked for extra scans going forward. I have found the sonographers to be brilliant so far - it's just the rest of the care system there that seems to have failed me somewhat.

My age alone should have meant that I was seen earlier in the process, so I really do feel I've been let down.

I'll get in touch with them on Monday and see what they suggest. Hopefully, they'll be hugely proactive towards rectifying the situation - although after my experience with the shitty Consultant Midwife this week, I'm not confident!

Why not just call the labour ward / adau tonight and ask them? Let them know a problem was identified with your placenta during the ultrasound but the midwife hasn’t booked you in to see a consultant yet and whether the on call consultant can see you tonight if you bring your notes?

Make something up about fewer movements if you have to

I'm high risk for BMI and only saw consultant at 30 weeks, however he highlighted that he would have expected to see me sooner. Although I received the appointment letter way back at 13 ish weeks. He put the fear of God in me, but really there is little that he had actually done. I don't have any issues but do have a big baby.

I see my midwife at the local GP and I always see the same one. She's amazing. If it wasn't for her, I think I'd be a complete nervous wreck.... so I think having a good community midwife makes a huge difference. Do you only see someone at the hospital?

Different hospital but same shitty treatment.

Took me until about 22wks to get to see the consultant. Out of the blue a letter arrived on a Friday with the appointment on the Monday which is bloody ridiculous.
He had no idea why I was there to see him, never mentioned the high bmi, age issue or genetic issues I was also supposed to be seen about. The tests I needed have to be done within a couple of months (3mths max) and it was 5mths before we could get them done so the result is totally meaningless.

Finally saw my midwife at 25wks and she's managed to get me another consultant appointment but they told her it's all my own fault because I should have told them the issues in the first place - it's in my booking notes and we've been constantly chasing up for 26wks now. They're absolutely bloody useless.

We now have absolutely no idea if our baby has a severe genetic disorder and carrying on the pregnancy could all be for nothing as it wouldn't likely survive.

I hope you manage to get some help from them but it sounds like you're having similar issues to me.

I am not high risk but have had a previous section so have been booked in to see the consultant at 16 weeks. I think you should definitely have had an appointment by now. Ring the hospital antenatal clinic direct x

@Doormat247 that sounds absolutely shit. I'm sorry. I really hope you can get to see someone and get some information and peace of mind.

Thanks OP.
I noticed you said the sonographers were good - that was also my experience at my hospital. They were the only ones that seem to have read my notes and questioned why I hadn't been seen about the tests I needed.

I've been up half the night reading a thread on issues women have had with the nhs during/after birth and now I feel even worse about care going forward!

I hope you make some headway soon, and make sure your DP is with you when you do get an appointment with your consultant as in my experience, they'll listen to him far more than they'll listen to you. I would have just been fobbed off if my DP hadn't dug his heels in and insisted we were listened to properly.

OP that doesn't sound right at all and it should be the midwife that is booking your consultant referrals. I'm high risk due to previous tear (and resulting pelvic floor issues) and age (40) and my consultant appointment is booked for 14w.