Antenatal care UK

[Habibi87]

I was officially ‘discharged’ by my IVF clinic on Friday at 9 weeks pregnant as all is looking good ❤️ I have now done a self referral to the maternity unity of my hospital in London and they said they’ll get in touch within 10 days. After being so closely followed by my IVF clinic, I really feel a bit lost and scared. Did any of you integrate the NHS care with private care? Did you have a gynaecologist/clinic that looked after you for the entire length of your pregnancy? If you have any recommendations in London please could you DM them to me ? I got even more stressed last night after speaking to my sister. She lives in Italy and has had monthly extensive blood tests and scans during her pregnancy and seemed very surprised I had only had Hcg measured by this stage? The 2 scans with the NHS seem too little? Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences xxx

[Hidden]

So, my clinic has said to keep in touch. They gave me a consultation recently as we had 2 gestational sacs and I was worried.

I felt very supported - but now I am happy to progress to NHS care.

Tbh I cannot afford to have anymore private consultations - but if anything serious happened and I needed a 2nd opinion they seem open to it - for a price 😅.

X

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Also forgot to say, I also had some private scans - but not at the fertility clinic due to price. X

[Habibi87 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Eb20, it’s great that your clinic is still willing to consult! Mine said that it’s not something they do and it sent me into stress mode. Did you have any blood tests done and how often did you have ultrasounds? Xx

[Hidden in reply to Habibi87]

I had an ultrasound at 7 weeks at the clinic and then private places just via google 9 weeks and then again at 11 due to the 2nd empty sac. Now I am doing NHS ones - did one at 13 weeks....and 20 weeks.

I would prefer less scans tbh, but we had something we needed to check so did get extra.

No blood tests since that first HCG at the clinic.

I feel like I am ready to let the NHS take over now.

Are you consultant led for your NHS maternity? This might help make you feel more supported....

X

[Purpledoggy]

Clinic scanned me at 8+1 for viability and that was the last I saw or heard from them. For a natural pregnancy you’d get a booking in appt at 8-10 weeks then nothing til 12 week scan. On the one hand, I completely understand the anxiety following IVF but on the other there’s really nothing anyone can do if something isn’t right so extra scans don’t do much other than temporarily reduce anxiety and occasionally pick up a MMC. You can get private scans for £100 or often less if you want to check in on the little one. If it’s the mental/emotional side you feel you need more support for you could look into a fertility counsellor or discuss with your midwife Xx

[HollyT7]

I never had hcg bloods done by my clinic and was discharged following the viability scan. With the NHS we were placed as consultant led due to being ivf, we had extra growth scans due to being bigger babies both times. If they weren't then we wouldn't of had any extra scans.

[Sarakht]

hi, I know that feeling! Had treatment abroad and then was looking online that I would be having only 2 scans! But when I had my booking appointment because it was an ivf pregnancy I am under the care of consultant and midwife lead and have had extra growth scans and lots of midwife appointments. So it’s all very reassuring and I’m sure it will be same or similar if it’s a London hospital.

[Habibi87]

Thank you all for your replies. My sister is 25 weeks pregnant and my anxiety increases when I see how many tests and checks she is having. Have any of you been offered routine toxoplasmosis screening ?

[WaitingTee]

Hi, I was also quite worried because I moved to London from abroad at 10 weeks and transitioned from private care to NHS. I’m at the Whittington hospital in North London and I am super reassured, I feel really supported. Midwives know me by name, I have many appointments including bloods - perhaps because I am high risk (older and some health problems), but I’ve found that the team really follows up on my care.

I also rushed to maternity triage (there’s a phone number you can call) when I felt ill and anxious once, they saw me immediately and scanned me too. So far I’m happy in the hands of the NHS. i also understand you can change team or hospital too if you’re not happy with it for some reason.

[XOXO13]

Hello,

I went private for my entire pregnancy as I was just so incredibly anxious and it was a high risk pregnancy. I was closely monitored, scans every two weeks throughout my entire pregnancy. I was really reassured and any time I had sort of “scare”, I was seen immediately. For me personally, it was the right route. It was expensive, and I know I’m lucky to have been able to go down that route, but it was worth my expense. You can combine the care as well, we tried on a few occasions as my consultant said he can still see me via the NHS but I found (again, my experience) that the NHS were funny about seeing me when I had a private consultant so they always sent me back to him on a different floor which frustrated me as I’m obviously entitled to the NHS care too.

You can have private care from 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 24 weeks or even just the final stretch (36 weeks). Totally up to you as and when you feel you need extra support, and whatever you’re able to do to bring yourself some peace of mind. One of my friends invested in a private midwife but had all her treatment via NHS and that worked well for her.

Sending you so much luck and love for the rest of your pregnancy xxx