Midwife Care (lack of!)

[catftm]

Hi All, I am based in Leeds. This is my second baby, the first time round care was regular (even if not very caring but this time i have seen the midwife for my booking scan and one other time.The last time i went she said 'right we won't see you now until 37 weeks!' I feel quite alone in the whole pregnancy thing. I have had a lot of worries and aches and pains but no one to check things over with. I tried contacting the midwife yesterday to ask about a pain under my ribs but couldn't get hold of anyone. The surgery said the next appointment was a week friday@ I have my 20 week scan next week so that will ease my mind a bit and luckily i have a doppler for the worrying moments.

Is this normal practice for second babies? I'm worried about the midwife care for the second baby when i'm in labour too!

Thanks
Cat

[Reallytired]

That is unacceptable care. For my second baby I had

booking appointment
12 week scan
16 week antenatal check with midwife
28 week check with midwife
32 week check
28 anti D injection
34 anti D injection
36 week check

Baby born at 38 weeks.

If you have any concerns then I suggest you book an appointment with your GP.

[catftm]

Hi I am rhesus negative too so should have injection too! I'm glad someone agrees it's unacceptable! Thanks

[Bumperlicious]

Um yeah, if you are rh- when exactly are you supposed to have your injections?

Are you supposed to be seeing your GP in between? My antenatal care is shared between the two, at least it was last time.

[smileypigface]

I'm noticing a huge difference in the frequency of midwife appointments and also the areas covered in the appointments.

To be fair, my last pregnancy was 12 years ago. So I suppose I should expect some changes.

As a result of the vast difference I am feeling quite on my own with this pregnancy - it didn't help that I was referred to consultant led care because of my age and time since last pregnancy and the consultant was off-hand and quite patronising and has referred me back to midwife led care. This is despite the fact that I have a history of having large babies and my last pregnancy was monitored very closely in this respect - the consultant this time just said "oh, if you can give birth to 10lb 7oz with no assistance or pain relief then you can give birth to anything" - I didn't find that statement reassuring and did point out, with respect, that it wouldn't be her trying to poo a football at the end of it all!

I'm not very happy overall - and for additional reassurance have now paid for an additional anomoly scan at the local private hospital!

[missedith01]

Have lost touch with my community midwife - I leave messages but she doesn't get back to me so I've given up. I have complications so am seen fairly regularly at the hospital and if I'm concerned about anything I call the hospital and get an appt with the midwives there.

The one thing she did do was arrange the anti-D injection at 28w.

[MumNWLondon]

Here it is for subsequent babies, low risk:

Booking in bloods 9-10 weeks
Nuchal Scan & screening bloods 12 weeks
Midwife or GP - 16 weeks
Scan 20 weeks
Midwife 28 weeks (anti-D if Rh-) (if not Rh- ok to see GP instead)
Midwife 34 weeks (anti-D if Rh-) (if not Rh- ok to see GP instead)
Midwife or GP 36 weeks
Midwife or GP 38 weeks
Midwife 41 weeks to book in induction.

Totally unacceptable to say come back at 37 weeks unless she expected you to see GP? Maybe she meant you HAD to come back at 37 weeks but inbetween appointments could be with GP? I agree go and discuss with GP and specifically ask when/how you are getting anti-D.

In my last pregnancy GP did anti-D but it was a faff as had to get a prescription for it and collect it for practise nurse to give.

They did explain at my booking in appointment that the frequency of anti-natal appointments for low risk women has greatly reduced since my DS was born 4 years ago.

[CrystalQueen]

When I went for my 20 wk scan I picked up my notes from the hospital ante-natal unit and they arranged the anti-D appointments for me (recently I found out that now you only get one routine injection now here). I had those appointments at the hospital rather than with the CMW.

[sheepgomeep]

I have seen my community midwife 3 times now and My pg is high risk. This is my fourth baby too. I have been seen by the antenatal clinic a couple of times though so its not too bad.

I do feel a bit abandoned by the midwife as I've had loads of worries this time but the last time I saw her I was in and out in 5 mins and she was quite abrubt.

I'm sure I'm leaking amniotic fluid (recognise the signs from my second pg) but will probably be dismissed as usual

[sheepgomeep]

I'm 30 weeks on wed

[flybynight]

I'm in Leeds, expecting my 4th with a low-risk pregnancy and I'm on the schedule MumNWLondon posted. There shouldn't be that big a gap between you appointments - I'd certainly check it out if I were you. You need more bloods taken at 28 weeks, for a start.