High risk?

[Casuallydresseddeepinconversation]

Just been looking at my online notes, loads has been added since I filled in the booking information, im just over 15 weeks only seen midwife for booking and it appears I've been classed as high risk with recommendation for obstetric lead care,yet this had not been mentioned to me or discussed,not very happy tbh and worried about how this will impact my choices moving forward, giving birth for eg
Anyone else in the same boat? Not due to see midwife for next appt will I'm just past 19 weeks

@Casuallydresseddeepinconversation there should be some indication somewhere for the reason e.g being an older mum or health conditions or BMI or IVF. I know having something like asthma can lead to consultant care. Depending on what the reason is will depend on how it impacts what birth you can have. I was under consultation care for combo of being older and IVF and they wanted me to be induced by 40 weeks - but they did say that was their recommendation and I could choose to decline.

I am fit and well no health condition, no problems with either of my 2 previous pregnancies and births, bmi 20, no ivf, I'm 39 but I was 38 with my last pregnancy and wasn't high risk then, fail to see how being a year older would make my pregnancy or birth risky, just worried what the implications of this would be and how do I get put back down to low risk 🤣

Is this on badger notes? If so if you go to my key details and scroll to the bottom there’s a bit which says my current management plan, and that lists any risks they’ve identified and what they would offer to mitigate the risks eg extra growth scans or whatever. Should help give you an idea of what the concern is.

No it's on a wellbeing app personal health record,I'll have another dig later see if I've missed anything

You should be able to call your midwife and ask.

When was your booking appointment? Did you have your 12 week scan?

I don't have direct details to contact her, booking was at 11 weeks and 12 week scan was at 13 weeks, midwife appt after 19 weeks

On the first page of my blue folder (maternity notes) I have a contact number for community midwives. I call any time I have a question, if "my" midwife is not available they let her know so she can call me back. Don't you have a similar option?

I'm 39 too and not classed as high risk but maybe your trust is different. Really weird she didn't explain it to you, I would not be happy either.

@Casuallydresseddeepinconversation I was put as high risk for being 39 and partly due to IVF but mainly the 39.

What size was your previous baby? I assumed my high risk was because of my age but it was actually because my first was 6lb 2oz and therefore classed as 'small for gestational age'? I therefore got allocated a consultant and had growth scans which I didn't have the first time

Usually being deemed to be a higher risk means more monitoring and growth scans. I wouldn't say that's a bad thing? I was under joint care with a consultant and had additional scans with my daughter due to assisted conception. One of the later growth scans found my fluid had dropped from a higher than average percentile down to 2%, so I had to be induced straight away. Without those additional scans who knows what would have happened.

I haven't got any maternity notes,just the print out of my 13 week scan and the information I added for the booking on appointment on the online notes

First was 9lb second was 7lb 14oz

I wonder what's so significant with the age,I was 38 in my last pregnancy and wasn't high risk then as far as I know, seems weird for it to change Over just a year, did they say what specifically about your age?

I'm worried it'll impact my birth choices, also I have very limited childcare so extra scans I don't REALLY need would be awkward, by which i mean no clinical indicators other then just my age being a year older than my last healthy straight forward pregnancy

Fair enough. I think it's a discussion to have with your medical team and you can always decline what they offer. I would have anticipated a pregnancy in late thirties to be deemed a higher risk from what I've had mentioned to me by midwives in my local trust before and also some risks increase with future pregnancies, which may also be a factor. Nobody really knows they need THAT scan until the scan finds something, so I would happily find a way to attend an appointment for such peace of mind for my baby. I bring my daughter with me to all of my appointments due to a lack of childcare options, although I can appreciate with more than one that may be difficult.

Well like i say I was 38 in my last pregnancy so not much younger, in my trust babies/children aren't allowed to come to scans, with my first you only had routine 12 and 20 weeks scans unless something was picked up then, I think a routine growth scan was introduced by the time I had my second tho, so obviously if something bad is found at 20 weeks and I need another scan fair enough and I'd figure out childcare like i will for my 20 week scan,but like I say i cant fathom why I'd be classed as high risk as 1st scan was all fine

@Casuallydresseddeepinconversation they said as I was nearly 40 they were treating me as higher risk. It was mainly them not wanting me to go over my due date as your placenta starts to deteriorate quicker when older - but if you chose to go over your due date I think they just scan you more to check all is looking ok. I had a couple of extra scans as well.

OP you don't have to agree to any scans.
Just say you don't want them.

I don't think anyone on here can guess - you should have a number for the midwives in your area, how did you get booked in for your appointment? If you really have no way to contact them, can you pop in to where you had the appt and ask them for contact details? Or ask your GP? You need to be able to contact your MW team between appointments in case you need help with something!

Oh I see, seems odd a year would make such a difference, both my pregnancies ran late so I expect this one will too so I'm guessing they'll be heavy on the induction again 🙄

When I did the self referral I got an email from the main area office that the midwives cover, wasn't given any telephone numbers or anything or maternity notes, maybe at the 19 week appointment

Ok so I've had another look, there is reference to an operation to remove an ovarian cyst,ovary and fallopian tube in 2011, but I fell pregnant 8 weeks after that operation which wasn't classed high risk and I've had another straight forward pregnancy and birth too, seems odd to be high risk due to that now

Just because two previous pregnancies have been straightforward doesn't necessarily guarantee every one after that will be too. Every year you age adds another layer of risk too. Knowing all that, it's hard to imagine anyone would opt out of all the scans and appointments offered, but if you really feel you want to go it alone, that is your right. But if I were a lone parent as you are, I honestly don't think I'd take the risk.