Consultant led care - how many appointments?

[caulkheaded]

I had ovarian cancer in 2017 and various surgeries. I also have many fibroids - largest is 10cm.

My gynae consultant has said when I become pregnant it’ll be consultant led care, with regular check ups. Has anyone any idea how many is regular?! I work pt and study ft so trying to identify if I need to cut something out when pregnant!

Totally depends on the situation. I was consultant led in my last (twin) pregnancy and saw the consultant weekly or even twice a week from 16-34 weeks.

This time I saw her at 16 weeks, then will be 20, 28,32,36 weeks along with a couple of other specialist appts.

I’m pregnant with consultant led care. Not the same medical history as you though. During your first midwife appointment - the booking appointment. The midwife collects your medical history and some of your partners. Based on all of that they place you on a path such as a green path which is a normal healthy pregnancy and red is high risk. It is not always high risk due to the baby and can be high risk for your own health reasons. With this I’ve had regular midwife appointments. More than friends my age. I’ve had consultant phon calls in the first trimester and then once I hit the later stages of the second trimester Ive met with many consultants which have checked the baby and looked after me.
I’ve had growth scans throughout which became 2 weekly in the last few weeks.

It really depends on your health trust I guess and what care the midwife, consultants and your gp feel you may need.
You’ll only know if you need to cut something out once you become pregnant and see how your body is affected by it. My body has been exhausted throughout and I’ve needed to rest far more than expected.

That’s so helpful- thank you both.

I'm consultant led and have seen them 3 times for growth scans, so I guess it really depends on the circumstances.

It's not just if you are consultant led. I haven't actually seen my consultant that many times (4, I think?!) but I am at the hospital all the time because baby is small for gestational age. Being pregnant has honestly been a full time job!

I am consultant led and have seen them in clinic after each of my scans. I'm having growth scans for various reasons, so that's at 12, 20, 28, 32, 36 and 40 weeks. I also had an extra one at 34 weeks at my request to talk about birthing choices.

All has been well for me and none of my risks have actually occured so it's been a bit of a formality for me, but basically it's just extra monitoring that allows them to spot issues and react if needed.

Keep in mind that you can also decline consultant led care if you want to.

I also get all the regular midwife appointments with the usual monitoring.

I think it totally depends on the reason. I saw my consultant every two weeks but I didn’t go to regular midwife appointments because that was considered to be duplications. Saw her for my booking appointments, whooping cough vaccine and then to do my birth plan.

Different reasons here, but saw consultant at 15 weeks, 20 weeks, 28 and 36 weeks in first pregnancy.

As with pp above there were no actual problems in my pregnancy, just extra monitoring to be in the safe side.

I’m consultant led for health reasons.
I first saw her at 8 weeks then 16, had an extra scan at 22 weeks to check the placenta blood flow and will have growth scans and see her at 32,36,40.

It’s nice having the extra reassurance!

Similar to you I was also consultant led. Had one extra scan and one appt with consultant. That was the only difference

Not so experienced on being consultant led (although I did see my consultant instead of the midwife so it was just longer appointments that week instead of additional ones, I was having growth scans in third trimester) but just wanted to remind that you are allowed time off for antenatal appointments (you'll prob have hospital letters or maybe just the app you can screenshot for proof). Personally I don't think I'd have been able to work FT and study with either pregnancy but that wasn't so much the appointments as just not having enough ooomph in me to do both, although people do!

Just jumping on to see if anyone can advise me as to when you usually see the consultant for the first time ? I've been told I'll be consultant led but not quite sure why (either pcos or a blood clotting disorder)
But heard nothing so far ! I'm 12+4 btw

@thunderonlyhappenswhenits the day before I gave birth!

I was consultant led due to a previous heart condition. I saw them at 12 weeks and they made appointment there and then for 36 weeks. I only had to have more because I ended up needing a few growth scans then ended up with pre-eclampsia so had it not been for them it would just have been 2 but the consultant at my 12 week told me when he'd need to see me so hopefully you'll get the same

I was consultant led with both pregnancies. First baby I saw the consultant in clinic after most scans (I was scanned every few weeks from 20 weeks) with my second I was still scanned every few weeks but barely saw the consultant. Think I saw someone 4 times and it wasn't the same consultant everytime.