"Consultants need to learn how to speak to patients"

I had my first consultant meeting at maternity services and I’ve never felt so unsupported by professionals.

The appointment itself provided no extra information for me and only gave me information I already knew making it feel like a waste of time. I felt unwelcomed and patronised by the consultant even though this is my second pregnancy. I wasn’t asked any of mine or my partners views on the situation and wasn’t even given the opportunity to do so. When discussing my birthing plan we felt we were being pushed towards one option more than others based on how we were presented with the risks of each; even though I am fully aware of them already. I felt my previous complications were pushed aside in regards to the same complications that could happen again even though it took me a long time to recover. I’m now 33 weeks pregnant and still have no birth plan in place because I don’t know which option I can take.

It doesn’t fill me with confidence or reassurance when being under consultant for my delivery if this is how I’m going to be treated. This is a great shame because I have always felt supported by the midwives in both my pregnancies and this experience has just filled me with doubt about having consultants present.