Consultant appointment cancelled.

[cheesybeano]

I had my 20wk scan appointment sent out in the post with my consultant appointment attached to it and then I got a rescheduled appointment which didnt mention the consultant part so I went to my scan yesterday and asked if I had to see anyone after and they said no and I can go home.

So I've called the midwives today and they checked and said the consultant said they reviewed my appointment and didn't deem it necessary to see me. Cue me bursting into tears on the phone.

Back story- I'm from Scotland, 1st pregnancy I had a haemorrhage of over a litre at delivery, 2nd I had active management and still had a brisk bleed and also seen a consultant after my 20wk scan to discuss how to deal with the birth. Then I moved down to England being pregnant with my 3rd and it seems so different here.

Anyway, I was panicking and she said I'm still delivering in the labour ward and if I was under her care then she would re refer me so I've to talk to my midwife in 5 weeks about it at my appointment.

I feel so panicked now, and I know theres people with more health concerns than me in pregnancy but not being from around here and not knowing how these things are managed down here and not being told what's going on unless I phone to find out is worrying and also I've just to go about worrying about having another haemorrhage for the next 5 weeks. I don't really know why I'm posting this, just feeling worried

Also the fact that the two nhs systems for Scotland and England are different so when I moved here I had no NHS number and they had no access to my file in Scotland so I've had to tell them all this from memory and I don't know if they've even got my file from previous pregnancies yet

They've moved the vast majority of consultant appointments to phone appointments now where I am and only the very urgent ones are going ahead in person (even if you're already there for a scan). The usually full waiting room was practically empty yesterday when I went in. Try not to worry, I'm sure your midwife wouldn't be so laid back about it if it was a major concern you not being seen.

Don't really know much about heamorraging etc but presuming even if you saw the consultant, there would still be a risk of it happening anyway?

Yeah that's true, my waiting room was quite empty too now I'm thinking about it. It's just that if I saw the consultant or spoke to one then I'd have an idea of if they're aware I need the active management to stop the chance of hemorrhaging. My second birth I had the consultant in with me from the very start of when I went into labour and it was all very clear from about 8 weeks that I would be with the consultant

I guess I just need to wait until 25 weeks to find out, I know that's plenty of time for my plan to be put in place but with the added worry of them perhaps not knowing exactly how my previous deliveries have went and at that point needing to be referred and then setting up an appointment to talk with them, I just don't know how this is going to play out. What if they say it's not deemed necessary again? I just want to know what's happening

As far as I know they discuss labour management a bit later on in pregnancy.
I expect to discuss mine at my 36 week's appointment when I also have a growth scan. Usually they discuss it towards the end as things that are happening in pregnancy might need to do taken in consideration so no point discussing too early.

I live in England too and this is my 4th baby, so I know how the policy of my hospital is. The only early thing I was asked is if I want another VBAC, and they wrote down that that's my plan. But was told we'll discuss details at 36 weeks.

Hope it helps.

You've got about 18 weeks before this (possibly) becomes an issue, right?

What's happening is that many NHS staff are/will be required to work outside of their specialism to support the effort against covid-19. People are dying of it now. Appointments to discuss treatment that may be required in another 4 months are not yet a priority.

I suggest phoning your midwife and talk through your concerns with her. If you want to be doing something concrete now, write your birth plan. Put your PPH history in bold at the top.

@R2D2abc that's actually very helpful in easing my worries a bit, I feel like it's my first pregnancy again with the different area I'm in now. Thank you

@Tableclothing I do understand that completely and I know there are people very much more in need than me. It's just having anxiety and all this not knowing what's happening since moving and nothing being connected within the nhs England to nhs Scotland causing me problems not just with myself but also my son who has special needs getting all his care and schooling set up down here. I know it's not as big a deal as my anxiety is making me think nevermind pregnancy hormones being thrown in the mix but I've calmed down a bit and can see more clearly now

Going to just wait until my 25 week appointment to talk about it as I know realistically I have plenty of time, thanks you all