Midwife on holiday for first appointment?! Typical NHS?

[frannie2013]

Hi - I'm probably fussing over what will be nothing (I know...) but when I went to my GP to say I was pregnant, two days later I got a call from a midwife to book my appointment with her - that appointment is on wednesday morning and I was absurdly looking forward to it as i can actually talk about it to someone face to face as don't have scan for another week and a half and will have to see about tests etc. I was really impressed with their efficiency...
I've been texting the midwife over the past week (only a couple of times) for advice/reassurance as i've got the most awful bloody cold and can't sleep etc.
she texted me back today apologising for the delay and said this was because she was off on holiday this week. no one has told me that so i'm assuming that i'll just see a colleague of hers?
is this just typical NHS activity and more to be expected? Do you ever see the same midwife or is it just whoever is there at the time? I've got some complicated gyna history and am likely to get referred and explaining things time and time again is going to be so tricky as i forget things ALL THE TIME!!!

[StarsAboveYou]

I'd just be impressed that she was responding while on holiday and that you have her mobile number to contact her on.

I only ever had a number for mat assessment where you spoke to a nurse then midwife if appropriate.

Congratulations, hope all goes smoothly for you and you feel better soon.

[ScarlettMantleplume]

I had three midwives. This is because they provided 24 hour, seven day a week cover. You don't know who is going to be on duty when you actually need them so my scheduled appointments enabled me to meet and get familiar with all three.

I think it varies from region to region though.

[OwlinaTree]

People are allowed to take holiday. Unfortunately it's going to fall round someone's appointments.

She is allowed a life, what would the alternative be?

[BobaFetaCheese]

At your first midwife appointment they'll go through with you and make up your notes, so even if you et a diff midwife everytime they should have a quick scan of them.

I didn't see the same midwife more than once with my second, would recommend my NHS mv service to anyone!

In the nicest possible way. Try to relax about it all, you'll probably be seeing lots of different/new faces during pg, labor and delivery.

Congratulations on the pg. Not so much for the cold

[Mishmashfamily]

Get used to it! I came down to earth with a bump from a private IVF clinic to NHS midwives .

[Writerwannabe83]

My midwife was on holiday for my first appointment too so saw her colleague. However, I have seen my assigned community midwife for my last 4 appointments and am seeing her again this week.

midwives are allowed annual leave too

[difficultpickle]

My midwife was so horrible I chose to see anyone else rather than her. When ds was born premature and poorly she came to see me on the ward and said she could cross me off her list as 'your baby won't be going home anytime soon'. I was surrounded by other mothers in NICU/SCBU whose midwives visited daily. Fingers crossed yours isn't like mine!

Why don't you do a short summary of your complicated medical history and take it with you to your appointments to use as an aide memoire?

[HectorVector]

I'm not sure I like the 'typical NHS' remark. So in hoping it wasn't intended the way I have interpreted it.

You unfortunately can't expect to see the same midwife every time, this is likely a community midwife who works in a team, if you deliver in hospital you'll likely have a hospital midwife. NHS staff are allowed holiday and can go off sick. They also finish work at some point, I had 3 different hospital midwives throughout my induction and labour because it took so long. So there won't be the level of consistency you're hoping for. Having said that you seem to have a very kind one, I'm amazed that she's happily replying to texts about colds and inabilities to sleep.

Now this isn't AIBU so I'll try not to be too grumpy. But no you cannot expect to just see one midwife throughout your pregnancy. If you want some consistency you might want to think about a private midwife or doula.

[Mummytobe2014]

My mw was on holiday for my first appt and her cover mw was late lol i have probably seen three different mws overall but majority appts with my mw if that makes sense!
Your history will be discussed at ur first appt and recorded so i wouldnt have thought u wld need to repeat at each appt but i may be wrong! You maybe referred to consultants (i was) and they have always been different too!
Congratulations

[NorthernLurker]

Your midwife texts you back whilst she's on leave and you're still complaining?

Yes you will see lots of different people during your pregnancy. The way the NHS set up is at present it will probably be somebody you've never met who delivers your baby and you will still think they are God's gift to midwifery. You need to relax a bit I think. Has it been a hard road to getting pregnant by any chance?

[KitKat1985]

Without sounding rude, she is allowed a holiday. Invariably you may end up seeing more than one midwife over the course of your pregnancy, as they have to have breaks / holidays / sick leave just like anyone else. I'd just be impressed she gave you her mobile number and replied whilst she was on holiday.

[jaffacake2]

This is going to be a long pregnancy for you and your midwife if you are texting her about being unable to sleep and complaining about her being on holiday.
Maybe you should consider a private midwife as I think you have unrealistic expectations of the NHS.

[BEEwitched]

Between the hospital and my GP clinic I've seen about 5-6 different midwives now, and I certainly don't have any individual midwife's phone number, only the number for the community team - and I'm sure when I end up in the labour ward I'll probably have a midwife that I've never met before.

They've all been wonderful!

[frannie2013]

Hi,
Yes i know we all need holidays (believe me!!), and its probably because i feel rotten - and have for days - but I had just thought that as she called me and booked me in and things i was just quite surprised to hear tonight that she was on holiday (I did apologise for interrupting her holiday and thank her for responding - I'm not rude! - she didn't mind as she is just at home but I won't text/contact her again this week!).
So i'm just assuming that my appointment will be reallocated to another midwife? I guess i'll try to call them tomorrow sometime to check it is still going ahead as booking time off from work can be really hard sometimes, especially as I have not told them yet (yes I know what takes priority though) and I'm a bit stressed about it all so don't want to psyc myself up and then its on another day :-/
I bet it is probably just really routine anyway...!!!

[PatriciaHolm]

You may well see a different midwife every appointment. If you struggle to remember you gynae history you might want to write it all down and take it with you.

[AnneEyhtMeyer]

In the nicest possible way, I have to remind you that you aren't the only pregnant person in the world.

Midwives work in teams, one person cannot put their life on hold throughout your pregnancy.

When you have your booking in appointment you will not be discussing how exciting it is that you are pregnant, whether you will have a boy or a girl, what you are thinking about names. You will sit there giving information whilst she fills in forms.

I know you are excited, but you have to calm it down a bit.

[OwlinaTree]

I think they book you for a certain number of weeks so they make sure they can get the scan booked at the right time. That might be why she's booked you in for that week even though she's on holiday.

[GinAndaDashOfLime]

You TEXTED your mw to say you have a COLD?! I'm assuming this is your first pregnancy?
Congratulations but how about thanking her for responding personally to your texts next time?

[emsyj]

I don't know what area you're in OP, but there is an (NHS) option for continuity of care (i.e. same midwife all the way through) - if you google 'One to One Midwives' they have a website. I used them when I had DD2 and it was fantastic.

[Funnyfoot]

What everyone else said but with a as I don't see an actual problem with your problem.

Congrats on the baby

[WestmorlandSausage]

she might not have the whole week off a leave. I can work funny hours and if I say to someone 'i'm on leave' it doesn't necessarily mean 9-5 Mon - Fri. being a midwife its highly likely her working week includes weekends and she may well be back by Wednesday.

That being said it is highly unlikely the same midwife will be able to see you for every single appointment.

[nenehooo]

What northern lurker said... I had a different midwife for every single appointment, and that was with extra check ups for weight/anti D etc.
Absolutely cannot fault my care - every person I came into contact with was professional and friendly and the midwives who looked after me during labour and delivery were INCREDIBLE. Thank goodness for the NHS and all the wonderful midwives, I say!

[Cariad007]

If you're pregnant with a cold you're probably better off going to the GP to ask what they'd recommend. Or even a pharmacist would know enough to be able to advise you. Stick to the midwife for gynae stuff!

[WestmorlandSausage]

and actually her text reads like she has already been on leave (hence the delay in responding) rather than she is going to be away for your appointment.

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

Out of interest, what did your midwife have to say about your cold?