Do i have to be consultant led

[Mandyland85]

My 12 year old was 31+2 with no ryme or reason to why i was 24
My 2nd was 3 days late but told me she was 6lb and was 7.6 born i was 32
My 3rd 1 day late again told was small and she too was 7.6 i was 34

Do i really need the consultant when ive no healt issues or any pregnancy issues. All my girls have been healthy babies including the oldest as was only in NICU 5 week so home way before due date!!
Its really bothering me this time around

Ime take all the extra care you are offered!!

What's bothering you, exactly?

It's good if they're just keeping an eye on things.

@30degreesandmeltinghere

Ime take all the extra care you are offered!!

This was my view. I was consultant-led both times and it actually gave me comfort that I had that back-up.

You don’t HAVE to do anything you’re not comfortable with. As long as you have all the information you need you can make the decisions about your own care x

What’s the downside?

No you don’t have to see a consultant if you dont want to. Just say you only want the midwives appointments and that you will see the consultant if you feel you need to.

I had to have a certain consultant because I was on thyroxine. I never actually saw him so it didn’t bother me.

I guess its more the constant same questions and can guarantee i don't see the same consultant each time either. I end up feeling like im just spending all my pregnancy from 20 weeks at the hospital and with covid etc its hard with younger children as i have to ship them off while im hours for a 2 minute sit down chat to end with see you in x weeks!!
Yes its lovely seeing baby so many times but honestly its stressful and draining too, especially when there are most certainly women who are in need of extra care far more than i am

Does being consultant led mean you are not allowed access to your chosen place of birth i.e birth centre? That would be a concern.

No you don't have to be consultant led. I've declined it with Ds2 and DS3. It was "offered" because ds1 was unidentified breech and ended up as an emcs.

I didn't want the extra monitoring/fuss but I had to be very firm about not wanting it (I got very pissed off at the refusal of midwifery staff to accept my saying "no I don't want that").

Remember that YOU are the person being cared for and it is for YOU to decide what - if any - involvement you want from midwives, consultants and so on. I had to remind a lot of staff, I hope you don't

@Mandyland85

I guess its more the constant same questions and can guarantee i don't see the same consultant each time either. I end up feeling like im just spending all my pregnancy from 20 weeks at the hospital and with covid etc its hard with younger children as i have to ship them off while im hours for a 2 minute sit down chat to end with see you in x weeks!! Yes its lovely seeing baby so many times but honestly its stressful and draining too, especially when there are most certainly women who are in need of extra care far more than i am

How many consultant appointments are you anticipating? You really won't be there every week...

My "consultant led care" was a phone call at 16 weeks. Other than that it's been identical to #1. You can decline any appointments you want.

As others have said it’s your choice how you want to be cared for.

Every experience is different, I am consultant led and from 32 weeks I’ve been in for scans every 2 weeks & to see the consultant and also seeing a midwife so it does become a lot of faff when you have other children, so I completely understand where you are coming from.

Just do what your most comfortable with and as you say you can always change to consultant led if and when you feel you need to xx

I've been consultant led from our 2nd onwards (4 pregnancies, inc twins), it is really irritating that you wait so long for a brief chat with a doctor (I've had over 3 hour waits before). Think is it's better to have the extra care already on hand if you have risk factors, extra nice if you get more scans and can see how well baby is doing.