Declining antenatal care

[Casuallydresseddeepinconversation]

I've declined midwife appts,I had a call last week to try and change my mind and another today,I feel coerced and bullied,patronised and ignored,I'm 20 weeks today and just want to be left alone, considering not going to my 20 week scan now too, the 13 week one wasn't a pleasant experience either and I feel very anti NHS,tho I don't have funds for complete private care, just feeling very emotional atm

I developed gestational diabetes in both pregnancies and only found out because I was attending my antenatal appointments and having the tests that the midwives recommended. I felt completely fine both pregnancies, so I wouldn't have known otherwise. I'm really glad I found out as I was able to manage my blood sugars to prevent the baby getting too big. I personally wouldn't risk not attending antenatal appointments or having the routine checks as they're there to help ensure the best possible outcomes for mum and baby.

I don't believe I should be classed as high risk,that was made based on an operation I had 13 years ago before both of my straightforward pregnancies

What's the number of bedrooms I have got to do with anything?

If the scan didn't pick up problems with he baby how likely is that to then change further down the line,I'm talking congenital or structural abnormalities

At 13w the baby is way too small to pick up any structural abnormalities, nor can they see brain / organ development properly. There are heaps of conditions that would only be picked up past 20w. Do the anatomy scan.

I had preeclampsia with no symptoms whatsoever

And that was my third pregnancy when my previous two had been a breeze

You had no symptoms at all?
Did you have any other risk factors,I've no family history of diabetes,low bmi etc so it's not something I'm particularly worried about and didn't have it on my previous pregnancies

I thought it did cause symptoms

What was the issue with the first Scan that made you not want another

Oh that's so dangerous OP I ended up with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia If I hadn't went to my appointment la I dread to think what could have happened to both of us . Please reconsider you have to think of your baby and not just what you want . I would add I was completely healthy also that means nothing things happen in pregnancy you can’t just assume all will be ok you need to attend your appointments

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn’t. That’s the point.

I had it in my pregnancy and had not one symptom, literally none, only picked up at antenatal appointment.

Because the care you get when u pay for it is vastly Improved

What are you hoping to achieve with this thread?

Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.

Big symptom of it is dying though

Food for thought, what happened after discovery if you don't mind me asking?

OP ~ very very gently, this is good for baby even if it makes you feel uncomfortable. I'd also be aware it will likely flag a Social Services referral if you're not engaging/showing up for appointments, and they will push for it and be far more hard work to manage than just showing up for your appointments! This happened to me (I didn't realise/ignored signs was pregnant til I was 14 weeks and they referred me just for that 😬)

Maybe it causes symptoms sometimes. I had nothing. No idea at all until a urine sample and blood pressure test (of which had been fine all the way through) suddenly showed huge increases. I was admitted to hospital immediately and my caesarean was brought forward by two weeks

I don't think I know anyone who hasn't had something in the third trimester that was picked up during a routine appointment or scan. Most of the time it was nothing at all but was something that need to be checked, even if there were no symptoms at all.

You are obviously well within your rights to decline antenatal care. However, no matter how healthy you are/have been in other pregnancies, the following examples still occur and you'd have no idea until it was too late:

You:

• pre-eclampsia
• placenta previa/accreta/other placenta issues
• gestational diabetes
• cholestasis
• incompetent cervix

Baby

• organ abnormalities (e.g. hole in heart)
• fetal growth restriction
• chorioamnionitis
• vasa previa

Your urine and the baby's heartbeat is tested at every midwife appointment. What if you got to 34 weeks and the baby's heartbeat was suddenly low and needed to come out asap? You'd have no clue of this without the appointment and would be facing the possibility of a stillbirth.

To see if anyone else has not had midwife appointments and how they navigated it,there's lots of women on this forum so thought it would represent a balanced proportion of pregnant women

I had zero symptoms of gestational diabetes, but I had it nonetheless, and the consultant told me that the numbers were sky high. Skinny, practicing yoga, good diet...I was really surprised, didn´t expect it at all.

An anatomy scan is an anatomy scan. A trained professional with scan you and then a doctor will meet you to discuss the results. That's all that happens both privately and publicly. It's quite shocking how little you understand about antenatal care and you've had two children already. Surely you don't think the NHS is paying out for all this care for the craic?

Recently my friend was pregnant with her 6th dc. All fine, bit of morning sickness but nothing else. 20week scan showed significant genetic disorder that meant the baby would not live beyond 2 weeks. She felt healthy. The reason we have such low maternal death rates in Europe is the level of care. I don’t understand why you’d risk your dc losing their mum because you don’t want to accept that healthcare. I’m know it isn’t what you want to hear, but it’s really selfish.

With respect, the appointment are to check the health of the baby, not just yours. You could feel absolutely fine but there could be something abnormal with the baby. You will also have tests for symptomless conditions that can affect both your pregnancy or birth.

Did you have a bad experience or trauma prior to getting pregnant? What happened at the scan that made you feel bad?

I worked with a very healthy young woman, in fact she was a very good amateur athlete, very fit. Still got pre eclampsia which was picked up at her regular anti natal appointment. And another who had gestational diabetes. Again, no warning of that.
I'm not sure why you posted TBH, as you clearly feel regular checks are just unwanted.