Mid-wife or consultant-led labour

I just had a positive phone call!

Because of our infertility treatment I was classed as consultant-led pregnancy. I kind off understand it especially as ICSI has a higher risk of low-birth weight and early labour. However, my pregnancy so far went without any complications whatsoever. I am 39 weeks pregnant today, so early labour is out of the question. And low-birth weight? Well, unlikely. I am massive and the baby is marked on the 90% line of the average growth chart based on my belly measurements. I also had a growth scan and everything was just fine.

Anyway, I wasn't too bothered either way - in some respect it is positive because you get additional scans - until I did the labour ward tour recently. There are different labour and delivery rooms for consultant versus midwife led labour. As consultant led patient I could not use the birthing pool and the rooms are much smaller, so there is less space to walk around. At the hospital they recommended to speak to the midwife about if it is possible to be recommended to be mid-wife led for the rest of the pregnancy or at least labour.

I raised this last Wednesday at my midwife appointment and she agreed to discuss it with my consultant. And she just called me and advised that the consultant has no concerns whatsoever and they make a note in my hospital file that I can have midwife led care for the rest of pregnancy and labour.

I'm really pleased about that! It's always worth asking I guess.