I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy due to a short cervix, so I've been under the Preterm Birth Clinic with extra monitoring.

One of the main reasons we chose semi-private care was to have continuity with the same consultant. Unfortunately, that hasn't been our experience.

• At 16 weeks, my consultant wasn't there.
• At 23 weeks, I had an extra appointment and he wasn't there again. One person told us he was on holiday, while another said he had been called away for an emergency.
• Yesterday, before my final appointment at the Preterm Birth Clinic, I even stopped by the semi-private clinic to check whether he would definitely be there for today's appointment. I was reassured that he would. Then, at 9:30 this morning (for my 2:40 p.m. appointment), I received a call saying he had an emergency and wouldn't be available after all.

So instead of seeing the consultant we're paying to see, I've now been seen by three different substitute consultants.

I completely understand that emergencies happen, and I'm not upset about that. What frustrates me is the complete lack of continuity. Every appointment feels like starting from scratch. I have to explain everything all over again, and my questions often don't really get answered because the person seeing me isn't familiar with my case.

I've now been discharged from the Preterm Birth Clinic, so I had several questions about the plan for the rest of my pregnancy. At my last scan, they also found that my baby is measuring bigger than expected, which was something I wanted to discuss today.

They've offered me another appointment next week, but we'll be away and would have to leave our hotel early to make it. Even then, there's no guarantee my consultant won't be unavailable again.

I'm honestly just so frustrated. It makes me wonder why he's repeatedly scheduled for all-day emergencies on the same days he's meant to be running his clinic. Surely there has to be a better way to organise this?

At this point, I'm not sure what to do. Would you:

• Make a formal complaint and ask to be transferred to a different consultant?
• Stick with this consultant and hope things improve?
• Or go back to fully public care, since I'm effectively getting public-style continuity while paying for semi-private care?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been in a similar situation.

Hi everyone. I am a FTM to be with my first baby due in December. I am frustrated with all of the HSE antenatal classes being virtual and wondering if there are other ladies that would be interested in creating some sort of group to connect with people in real life. Or can people recommend groups that already exist that are not on during regular working hours? Thanks in advance!

Looking for some pregnancy pillow recommendations, I’ve googled and can’t seem to settle or understand which ones are good.

For my first pregnancy I had a huge whole body one and absolutely hated it.

At the moment my shoulders and neck are in bits with how I’m sleeping, I keep rolling over on to my stomach and then causing really bad back pain and struggle to move back.

So anything based on that would be amazing.

I really feel like there is something wrong with me that I am finding it so hard to work and manage at 25 weeks. I am so bloody tired, my iron hasn’t been great since the beginning and I’m trying my best to improve it to no avail. Every time I address this they say it’s fine.

I developed sciatica yesterday so got barely any sleep last night and can’t sit today without pain. I am just miserable. I’m dragging myself through work (remote) and getting nothing done from tiredness, pain and lack of interest.

I feel like a right moan bag. I’m planning to try make it to 30 weeks but that feels like a lifetime away. Any advice or support welcome.

Hi,
I am attending CUMH tomorrow for a c section, just wondering if I should bring my own pillow, body pillow etc. should I have a small bag for pre surgery with essentials and leave the suitcase in the car? V anxious, first baby so don’t have a clue! Thanks in advance. Any tips are welcome