Advice please

[EllaSW]

I am currently under NHS midwife-led care and think I should be being seen by a consultant due to concerns as to growth. What is the best way to approach requesting this?

How far along are you? Have you been given scans for growth or just the tape measure? Is your midwife concerned about growth?

Second trimester and had a private scan confirming a reduction in growth.

You need to speak to your midwife with your concerns.
Growth scans can be way out so try not to panic until you see a midwife and an NHS scan that confirms growth is reduced.
With my first my bump was off the scale small on the measurement- the growth scans then said baby was over 90th centile for two weeks later it was below 50th centile. The variation was wild and obviously not possible.
She was born 7lb at 42 weeks.

How did the private scan confirm a reduction in growth? Did they map it on your personalized NHS grow chart?

As far as I know, NHS don't tend to take private scans into account. Your midwife will take fundal measurements as part of your regular appointments from about 26 weeks and map them on your chart, that's what triggers extra scans if required and would then trigger a consultant appointment if required.

Yes this. The private scan company should contact your maternity triage line directly if they had concerns about foetal wellbeing but growth isn't tracked usually until 24 weeks- not clear if you are this far into second trimester or not.

@Gonnaeatalotofpeaches that’s v interesting, how did they explain the variation? Congratulations btw :)

@Flyingdolphins@Nursemumma92 I wasn’t aware there is a personalised growth chart. This was a second private scan at the private clinic so they had one previous scan (from 21 weeks) to compare it to. They didn’t contact my NHS hospital but told me to return in a couple of weeks.

You should request a Doppler scan of the placenta arteries so they can check all is ok there (increased resistance or pressure can be linked to growth restriction).

Keep track of the fundal measurements but these as notoriously unreliable and scans are generally more accurate. I would mention it to your midwife and see if they can book you in for the additional growth scan / doppler on the NHS and then go from there.

thanks @Worriedallthetime123. I think they checked those at the private scan and they were ok but will double-check.