Consultant in the Rotunda

Meathcat7

I have been referred to a consultant in the Rotunda and I wondered if anyone else had been with her but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to name names here?

Basically, I'm 44 and am approx 6 weeks into my second pregnancy (last one ended after 8-10 weeks last July, I didn't know I was pregnant). I have high blood pressure and I have a 45 day cycle as I have had PCOS most of my adult life. So not only am I high risk but I also have no idea of when my due date could be lol I have been referred to the Early Pregnancy Unit in the Rotunda, waiting for a call back from them today. We also went ahead and booked a private scan in Dublin this weekend, just to get a head start and see if we can figure out exactly when I'm due but we think it's November. I am planning on going public but with the shared GP care as I live on the Westmeath side of Oldcastle.

If I could name the consultant, I might get a better idea of what she's like to deal with :-P

Aoife2017

I was under Prof Fionnula Breathnach for my last pregnancy. Can't recommend her highly enough - she was very thorough, calm and approachable. All my appointments were in the RCSI building in the Rotunda and I was always seen really promptly.

Meathcat7

Thanks Aoife, it's Geraldine Connolly I am under. I see you were able to name your consultant so I should be ok to name mine!

Aoife2017

No one has given out to me yet anyway 😀

Millem

Meathcat will you not be in a high risk clinic? Don't really know how it works tbh. They have loads of different clinics there.....pre term clinic, anomaly clinic, twin clinic etc.
Different consultants run each clinic and are on at different days and times.

If you are going public I don't know how many times or if any you will actually see the person you are under in the rotunda. It may be registrar etc on days you are in hospital.

Meathcat7

I would say once they see me, I will be put in the High Risk Clinic. But for now, I'm waiting on an appointment.

We have a private scan scheduled for Saturday. I know it might seem odd that I'm going public but prepared to pay for a private scan - big difference between the €2,500 fee I was told for private care and the €105 it will be for the scan lol We do have health insurance but unfortunately because of my age and PCOS history, did not think we would ever have children. So we didn't put maternity care down as part of the options. We talked about it after the miscarriage last year but didn't get around to changing it. So public it is!

lazygal

All health insurance plans include maternity cover, even for men.

I found the private level of cover gave me a lot more extra than the public system did than one anatomy scan.

Millem

Totally agree Lazygal. I am 15 weeks have had my 6th scan today!!! No extra charges only paying flat fee. Next week will be on scan number 7!


Meathcat check out your health insurance.......I don't really think you would actually get to see your chosen consultant regularly as a public patient tbh there will a doctor there anyway. So you may be wasting your time trying to choose one! Maybe someone who has gone public could clarify if you get to see them much?

Also they have some high risk clinics ran by doctors but they are not the consultants listed on their site. They tried to send me to one.....dr Kent? Don't know if it's even a man or woman!!
I never went as my consultant then sent me to a different consultant dr Karen flood for a scan. She is so lovely by the way. She specialises in early pregnancy complications I think!

Candles

Hi Meathcat,

Congrats on your pregnancy. I am in my 3rd trimester of a high risk pregnancy and I am public in the Rotunda. This is my second high risk pregnancy and my second time being public and I cannot say enough about the care I have received. They are absolutely amazing, my first pregnancy I was under Dr McKenna (he is now retiring soon and Dr Jennifer Donnelly has taken over and I also saw her in my last pregnancy and she delivered our first baby) I had appointments every few weeks and I was always scanned at these.

Same goes for this time, I am actually under Dr Kent as mentioned in post above and she is absolutely fantastic. This time again I am in regularly, scanned every appointment and even had 3D scans. You would be in very good hands if you were referred to her.

There is no doubt the hospital is incredibly busy but I feel regardless of whether you are public or private you will get the care you need

Wishing you a healthy 9 months ahead

Anne_cordelia

Millem wrote: »

Totally agree Lazygal. I am 15 weeks have had my 6th scan today!!! No extra charges only paying flat fee. Next week will be on scan number 7!

But that's not for everyone. I actually don't like scans and would refuse to have that many.

Millem

Anne_cordelia wrote: »

But that's not for everyone. I actually don't like scans and would refuse to have that many.

Well Anne when things aren't straight forward the hospital and my consultant felt it was necessary. I find them very reassuring. At least I know now I was not having a miscarriage or am at risk of pre term labour any time soon. I have had 6 abdominal scans and two transvaginal scans. If things were all plain sailing I would of had two abdominal scans at this stage, one at 8 weeks and one at 12 weeks.

appledrop

Hi Meathcat I had Geraldine she is brilliant. I don't think you have the same consultant each time if you go public. Maybe it's different if your high risk. Bear in mind if you are high risk you will usually have to be monitored more so I'd say your trips to GP only will be limited.

Meathcat7

appledrop wrote: »

Hi Meathcat I had Geraldine she is brilliant. I don't think you have the same consultant each time if you go public. Maybe it's different if your high risk. Bear in mind if you are high risk you will usually have to be monitored more so I'd say your trips to GP only will be limited.

I'm ok with not having the same one each time, so long as I'm properly monitored! We have our first appointment with her on 10th April, we're going private for that one, we figure it's worth it.

Millem

Meathcat7 wrote: »

I'm ok with not having the same one each time, so long as I'm properly monitored! We have our first appointment with her on 10th April, we're going private for that one, we figure it's worth it.

Meathcat if you are going private you will get to see her every visit

babyllama

Bumping this thread as I know things may have changed since 2017.
Has anyone any experience/recommendation for a consultant (linked to VHI) in the Rotunda for a first pregnancy?
Thank you.

jellybear

babyllama wrote: »

Bumping this thread as I know things may have changed since 2017.
Has anyone any experience/recommendation for a consultant (linked to VHI) in the Rotunda for a first pregnancy?
Thank you.

I would highly recommend Dr Jennifer Donnelly in the Rotunda. She delivered our little boy in 2019 and was absolutely fantastic. I was a first time mammy, had a previous MC, and she was so kind, reassuring and I never felt rushed at appointments with her. She was covered by VHI when I saw her. A quick call to VHI will let you know if that's still the case. Best of luck with your pregnancy

babyllama

Has anyone been to the Rotunda lately, is it still no partners? Thanks.

jellybear

babyllama wrote: »

Has anyone been to the Rotunda lately, is it still no partners? Thanks.

All info is here https://rotunda.ie/visitor-information/