Consultant led care

[HermioneGr]

Hi ladies
Just wondering if anyone else is in a similar boat or has experience of this before, or would just be good to hear about general consultancy led care experiences - the more the merrier!

I'm pregnant with my 2nd baby and just had the booking in appt.

My 1st baby was born naturally at 41+6, she weighed 6lbs9oz (1.5 centile so very small for her gestation). She's now a very healthy 75th centile little 15 month old. But because of her size at birth and the fact it wasn't picked up at the 2 scans or midwife appt, and also due to me bleeding lots, I've been put as consultant led. I've no problem with this, and it means I get 3 extra scans which is fabulous, but not entirely sure what else is involves as the midwife didn't specify and I didn't really think to ask at the time.

What other advantages/disadvantages come with consultancy led care? I'm presuming I won't be able to give birth in a birth centre? But is there anything else I'm missing?

Thanks in advance xx

This is pretty much me I have a very healthy 18 month old who was born 9 days early weighing 5.3lbs it wasn't picked up either and I was only induced 2 weeks early as I wasn't feeling well and went to hospital to be checked over and scan picked up at 38 weeks she was small. I have had my 1st consultant app this time (currently 26 weeks) and this baby is measuring small too, the consultant just keeps in touch with you and reviews the scans and then towards the end a decision will be made as to wether I will be induced 2 weeks early again. Good luck xx

For me it just meant extra antenatal appointments at the hospital on top of the usual community midwife ones. Good luck!

A few years ago now but I had extra appointments (scan and consultant) as said above and also more choice closer to birth. I was able to discuss with the consultant having a c section or induction and what dates. I found it very reassuring.

I have found it reassuring to have the extra scans during this pregnancy but they have picked up ‘issues’ that they wouldn’t have normally and they have now booked an early section for me because of increased risks.

From you’ve said about your first, it’s likely that they will be concerned about small size and you may feel pressured into early induction. Even though, you might just grow small babies. Good luck for your pregnancy x

For me with my DTs I was scanned every 4 weeks and saw the consultant afterwards, and saw the MW every 4 weeks, so I didn’t go longer than 2 weeks without seeing a medical professional.

I'm only 8 weeks, but I've also been told I'm going to be consultant led with extra scans starting at 28 weeks. She said I'll meet with the consultant for the first time at 16 weeks though. I'm just curious as to whether anyone else has been prescribed aspirin in this pregnancy for having a small baby last time?

Also as to a birth centre , it will depend. I'll give birth in a birth centre but it's not your typical birth centre. Whilst my last birth was just with 2 midwives present, the centre always has consultants present, they also preform c-sections and other birth related surgery in the centre and its connected to a NICU. If you were wanting a more traditional birth centre with only midwives and not close to a NICU then unfortunately I doubt that will be possible, but you'd have to check

With my last baby I was consultant led and I met him after my 20 week scan at the hospital and immediately he was booking me in for my induction at 38 weeks I didn’t even get a say in this. Iv just had my booking app I’m 11 weeks and again been told it’s in the high risk so I will get a consultant again and I said immediately I don’t want induced this time and she said that fine I would need to speak to the consultant about that and I can refuse the induction. I didn’t get extra scans last time as the issue was me not baby, I have a heart condition but weather I have baby at 38 weeks or 39/40 my heart condition stays the same and effects me the same so I’d rather hang on an extra week or two and let my baby come when it’s ready.

I’m under a consultant due to a blood disorder and baby measuring on the small side. For me it’s meant a lot of extra appointments but it’s been really reassuring and for the most part they’ve been fab. It did mean for me that I couldn’t do the things that I wanted to do on my birth plan (water birth in a midwife let unit) and would most likely mean you won’t get to go to the birth centre but there are advantages too and I feel well looked after

do they think you had IUGR?

I was under a consultant with my second born as I had had four miscarriages.
Extra scans and meetings with Drs were reassuring, and by about 30 weeks I was signed off and actually had a home birth so it doesn't necessarily rule our a MW led unit, depending on your scans and health of you and baby.

I’m going to be consultant led this time due to pre-eclampsia in my previous pregnancy and severe blood loss during the birth.

Does being consultant led always mean you get extra scans? Or does it depend on the reason you’re consultant led?