What to expect from my first consultant appointment?

[Bobbin92]

Hello fellow mums! I am currently 11 weeks pregnant with my second child, and as my son was born prematurely I’ve been told my pregnancy will be consultant led this time (no other risk factors) I’ve just got an appointment through for the appointment, and it says it could take up to 2 hours but doesn’t detail what to expect. I was just wondering if anyone else has been consultant led for this reason and could share their experience please? I’ll be about 15 weeks by the time I have the appointment if that matters!
Thanks for reading 🥰

They will do a risk assessment calculator to determine the percentage chance of your new baby being born prem too. They ask things like..
Do you smoke
Drink
Heavy exercise
Overweight/obese
The reason why 1st baby was prem
They might do blood test to check your hormone levels
They might offer medication to help prevent prem baby
They might check your cervix, a shorter cervix can cause preterm labour but you can only find out if you have a short cervix while pregnant 🤦🏻‍♀️
If you get further along in pregnancy and start to leak fluid or have strong braxton hicks they might offer to stitch your cervix closed.
Depending on your percentage chance of a preterm baby this time, they will either discharge you that day from the service and back to regular pregnancy checks. Or you will remain with the consultant team and have more regular appointments than a low risk pregnancy.

Reading that back and it's like word salad, I hope it makes sense to you, I'm currently breastfeeding LO and my toddler is playing the same song on repeat 😅

I recently had my 1st consultant appointment.
This is my 2nd pregnancy and I am consultant lead because I had pre-eclampsia and a retained placenta in pregnancy 1. Also because of my age (over 40) and higher BMI.

At my appointment I had a meeting with the midwife first. You need to provide a urine sample on the day. She did my blood pressure.
Talked through the previous pregnancy and the many issues I had.
What medication I was on.
How I was feeling etc.
I then saw the consultant. My BP had been high at the check so he immediately ordered me to go to a different hospital to triage for monitoring of BP and bloods.
He tried to find babys heart beat but couldnt so asked for the other hospital to do this too.
He basically said I would have a managed 3rd trimester due to previous complicatuons and to go back in 8 weeks.
It was all a bit rushed but i think my high BP threw it all off.
Just take your notes and some urine and it will be fine.

They go through your previous pregnancy and discuss your risk factors.
I'm consultant led and under 2 obstetricians one at the cottage hospital where I'm having my antenatal care and a second at the hospital I'll give birth at who's specialist in my reason for high risk.
I have now had both first appointment and I think they were both 20-30 minutes but covered slightly different things so would have been 45-60 minutes if I was solely under one. The first at the cottage hospital arranged the blood tests and extra scans I will need in pregnancy due to my risk factors and the hospital one was more focused on the plan for birth and afterwards. I'm high risk for pregnancy and post birth but not the birth itself so this plan includes that I need to give birth in the hospital but as the midwife led unit is a short lift rid away from the maternity ward I can give birth there if I want but will need a 1-2 day stay on the ward afterwards. They discussed support for post birth and referral to other agencies to get support in place before I need it.

Hi @Bobbin92this is really encouraging as my first was also premature and I was wondering whether I would have any extra care/considerations this time. I hope I’m the same as you! What area are you from if I can ask? Please do report back if that’s ok, I hope all goes well in your current pregnancy

Congratulations on your pregnancy! How many weeks are you? I’m in the York area. Will let you know how it goes!

Thank you for replying, I hope everything goes well for you!

Thank you this is so helpful to know!

@Bobbin92I’ve only just found out so I’m very early. And I’m in London so not near you! But here’s hoping London hospitals are like Yorks