Awful 38 week midwife appointment

[OhMjh]

I've just come back from my 38 week midwife appointment and I feel completely deflated. It was with a different midwife to my usual one as I'd hoped to have my baby at a birth centre and my usual midwife ( who I have a great relationship with) arranged for me to go there. The appointment was rushed and I just feel like she didn't have a clue what she was doing - definitely an 'old school' midwife and being a younger woman, I felt judged by her.

I've had awful rib pain for the past week, but she dismissed this yet was overly concerned about a scab I have on my belly button near an old piercing which she told me to get 'looked at' if if doesn't go away in 3 days. She took an age to find the heart beat, which she proceeded to keep losing and wrote down as 120 after staring at the clock for a bit when it's usually 140-135. As I was about to leave, she suddenly remembered she needed to do my BP which she did manually which again, took her a while to do and finally, measured my bump with me sitting up so my bump, which has measured 2cm small each time since the beginning of my being measured, has apparently grown 4cm in 11 days since my lady appointment. My urine sample she dipped, then didn't read until the end of the appointment and when she was feeling for the baby's position with me sat up, she asked me to hold my breath ( again, never had to do this before) and she was forceful to the point I feel bruised now

I just don't know what to do, and was in floods of tears in the car park afterwards given this is supposed to be my last appointment until due date.

[RetroHippy]

Bless you, can you call your usual MW and get another appt booked soon? I'm sure she'd fit you in given how late on it is and how crappy you're feeling.

In the meantime; and

[Bellyrub1980]

Was she an imposter?! Whole appointment sounds rubbish! Sorry to hear that. The key thing with the 38 week appointment (besides the usual checks) is establishing the position of the baby, were you confident she got this right? If not I'd get a second opinion.

Can't believe she forgot to take your blood pressure!? My midwife does BP and urine like she's on auto pilot!!

[Bellyrub1980]

Plus... Surely holding your breath would increase abdominal pressure (by inflating the lungs) and make it harder to feel the baby???? My midwife has always palpated my belly with me lying virtually flat.

[IvegotaCaveTroll]

And dipping the urine and not reading the results means you cannot trust the results. Ring ur usual midwife. The nhs may be free but you are entitled to at least feel you are important!

[Funkyfairy2004]

I agree try to get another appointment with your usual midwife, it's important you are still monitored accurately right up to giving birth.

Thank goodness you haven't had her throughout your whole pregnancy!

[CazY777]

Definitely speak to your usual midwife and get another appointment. I had an awful 36 week appointment with a bossy, old school midwife and then spent 2 weeks feeling anxious and having uncontrollable crying fits. Was so anxious going to my 38 week appointment but saw a nice, younger midwife that time and told her how I'd been feeling and she's done everything she can to help me and now I feel a lot more positive (still a bit anxious about giving birth but as least now I feel like I've been listened to and looked after better)