Ranting about my MW again!!!

[SmilerJane]

Hi all..

I really need advice.. I'm 23wks 2mo and have just come back from my mw and yet again spent the whole of 5 mins in there (2 mins of that talkin to my DD)!! She just cant wait to get us out of the room (didnt think i was that bad company lol)
Seriously tho she took my BP n heard heartbeat then i didnt even sit back down from gettin off the bed. She has spoken about nothin. I had a consultant appointment 2wks ago where i asked a few things but thought my MW would go through all important bits..
However still no blood results from my liver/kidney function test n FBC and my MW didnt even call to find them out.. Was told to ask reception but when i did they said no results are back and to call hosp... But they wont give me the results and my MW has to call them.. But i cant get in contact with her at all.. NO NUMBERS AT ALL!!! She didnt speak about baby/me/birth/consultant nothing!!!
I have been told by a friend i can apply for a 190 Healthy eating grant from 25wks but she didnt say anything either. And she has made my next appointment for 2 MTHS Time??!! i'll only have 2 mths left in preg... Help...
What do i do???
I'm stressed and want to cry at the moment as just feel totally fobbed off... id of only saw my MW 4x in 7 mths regardless off how bad this preg has been

[scoutliam]

Ring your clinic and ask to speak to the head midwife or duty manager, keep calm and state your concerns re the blood results etc.
Ask if you can come in and have a chat face to face with someone who has access to the information you need and will have time to speak to you.
You can get contact numbers of the head midwife of your area via your local hospital.
Hope you get the information and time that you need!

[SmilerJane]

I have tried callin my Consultant at the hospital but she's on annual leave. The hospital just said the'll put me on to a MW there but no1 answering phones so just gotta keep trying them (still no luck). My bloomin docs where i see my MW are shut till 2mo too. So the only other number i can call i have to wait till 2mo and only have between 9-10am to call.
I hate feelin so stressed. If something was seriously wrong i wouldnt be able to get in contact with anyone so id have to call 999 which i wouldnt want to do

Thanks for your reply..
I'll keep trying the hospital mw n hope i get through eventually

[yetanothernickname]

You have the right to change midwife, here it's 3 times, not sure if that's nationally.

Call the management and explain you need more support.
Also does your midwife have a support worker, mine does and she deals with all my social needs, my midwife is quite cold and strictly deals with the medical side, ticks boxes and goes.
If you can get a mixture of both in a midwife (like how my healthvisitor is) then that's great.

Ask to change and settle for one you feel comfortable with, don't suffer alone.

[LittleSilver]

You need to get in contact with the Supervison of Midwives at your local hospital; switchboard should be able to help. Good luck.

[yetanothernickname]

she should have filled out your emergency numbers inside your notes!! (behind front page).
They have a number were you can speak to a midwife any time, not necessarily her).
For non office hours you call the antinatal part of the hospital.

If youre under a consultant you obviously have extra needs or are jigh risk in some area, so you should have a MORE supportive midwife, not less.
They piss me off something chronic.

Tell her manager it feels like you have to chase her around, you need someone supportive etc

[LittleSilver]

sorry, "Supervisor"

[Shaz10]

Does your consultant have a locum? I saw more of the locum than I did of my consultant!

[SmilerJane]

Hi thanks for all your replies..

yetanothernickname Nope no numbers in my notes front page or anywhere. The only number i have in there is the Hospital midwives team between 9am-10am.

I have repeatedly had problems with my mw.

No locum Shaz10 thats i'm aware of, i did call Switchboard and they put me through to consultants secretary n she gave me the MW team number which i still cant get through.

I have asked to change my MW before but all i get is 'give her 1 more chance'.

I have just worked out i dont see my MW again now till i'm 30+5wks!!!

Apparently i should see mw at 25wks and then 28wks.. I understand though that when i go for scan at 28+5 i assume they'll do all neccesary blood tests for that time.

Am i just bein to stressy and over-reacting????

[LooL00]

Sorry you're having such a rough time with this. I'm sure you need to see her before 2 months time. I'm 25 weeks and seeing mw this week then at 28 30 32 etc weeks, maybe because I'm over 40 but i am 'low risk'.I havn't seen mw since 11 weeks but the appointments are getting more frequent now.Id phone the Supervisor of MW and ask what the policy is on frequency of MW checks.

[yetanothernickname]

You need to tell them that you've given her another chance and change, before it's too late. You don't want a stressful pregnancy.

Also remember when you've had a baby before they do see you less, so you will feel a bit less suported.

I hope I don't see my midwife again, and I'm dreading that she might be on call when I have my homebirth.

I wish I'd changed earlier, but being nearly 38 weeks it's pointless now.
If I didn't have my doula I'd be pulling my hair out.

[SmilerJane]

Hi looLOO

Thats what i thought.. but still no luck with any numbers i have been given
I'm going to have to try relax for today then phone the MWs number in the morning 9-10am.. Hope they can help as no-one else is seeming to actually give a monkeys.

yetanothernickname
I have a consultant with this preg and was told id see more of my mw than when i had my DD 3yrs ago as had problems during pregnancy and very low iron plus i nearlly hemorraged when i had my MC and was such a close call So apparently i need more care in labour so want to keep an extra eye on us.

I really want to change my MW so i really hope someone will listen to me tomorrow..

I did do some baby girl retail therapy to cheer me up earlier so now cooing over the lil pink booties/hats and a sooo cute outfit to take my mind of MW probs hehe

Lookin forward to my next scan in approx 6wks then i'll have 1 more before BabyJorgia is here in july

Thanks again everyone
XXX
Much appreciated

[MumNWLondon]

My top tip is to take a list in and make sure each thing gets ticked off the list - if she can't answer ask how it will be resolved.

BTW normal now in subsequent pregnancies to have hardly any appointments, 2 months between is normal - i changed hospitals and at both the policy is:

10-12 weeks midwife booking bloods
11-13 weeks dating & nuchal scan
16 weeks midwife appointment to discuss booking bloods
20 weeks anomoly scan
28 weeks midwife appointment & iron & anti-D (if Rh-)
34 weeks (as 28 weeks)
36 weeks midwife appointment
38 weeks midwife appointment
41 weeks dr appointment to discuss induction

I had trouble gettting blood test result and speaking to midwife & hospital wouldn't send to me, but hospital agreed to fax to my GP - who I went to see and she was really helpful, can do the health in pregnancy form too - maybe thats an possibility if you like your GP?

[yetanothernickname]

That list is interesting.

My midwife has left a 19 day space between my 36 and 38 week appointments growl
That's closer to 3 weeks, than 2 weeks.

[mustbemadno3]

Well I think its absoloutley disgusting how the whole mw system works now. Maybe its different depending on what area you are in.
But I have a 12 and 9 yr gap when this one arrives and the difference in care is astonishing.
I have seen my mw 4x and everytime had a different one. Due to the original one leaving.
I have had problems over the last 3 weeks and desperatley needed to speak to mw however, I have been told by gp receptionist that they are not allowed to give her number out due to time wasters??? I was sent to mau had swabs then few days later couldnt get results from hospital as I was apparently unknown on their system. I then tried to get hold of results thru mw but as I couldnt have her number and as she only works on a Thursday made the whole thing more stressful, by which time the hospital had written to me to say I needed treatment and I went to G.P.
Sent to MAU again on Monday had more tests done and was told to ring my mw let her know I had been in and was being treated and she must ring for results. So how do I ring her then?
Also no Ante natal classes as been told no staff and no funding.
Why do we pay our taxes? Wheres the care for emotionally charged pregnant women. They may see 100's of pregnant women a day but we are only pregnant once.
Sorry for rant but I think the bloody nhs is disgusting. I have paid privatley now to see a mw and to attend ante natal classes.

[schroedingersdodo]

SmilerJane, you definitely don't have to give your MW "another chance." Just enforce that you want to change. In my case they asked me to fax a letter to the head of midwives of the team. Maybe you should that the "official" way, in writing.

[yetanothernickname]

My pregnancy notes say my midwife will tell me of antinatal classes.
I have heard about nothing of the sort.
This is my third and I've never been offered antinatal classes.
No wonder women freak out and scream for epidurals, I had no idea what 'transition' was until; speaking with doula.
Women are compltely unprepared for labour, due to poor midwives.

[MrsHappy]

I really think you should just call the Supervisor of Midwives, tell her everything and ask her to sort it out. It is her job to make sure that the midwives at the hospital are reaching required standards (and that you are getting the care you deserve), which she can't do unless you tell her there is an issue. She can also arrange for you to switch MW I expect.

Call the hospital switchboard and ask for her contact details and to be put through. Alternatively, you might be able to get the number/email address if you google.

[SmilerJane]

Hi all

sorry i not been on but been feelin awfull and my lappy broke. didnt have the energy to go out n get it fixed lol.. my DP did it yest..

After nearlly 5 days of tryin i finally got in contact with the hosp mw.. my bloods are ok apart from i have very low iron. i need medication so have gone out and brought some Spatone iron suppliment. I spok to the hosp mw and she isnt happy about the treatment i have been given.. ie none!!

She is goin to sort me a new mw but i have to wait till wed when the Head Mw is back in and i will be reportin my old mw too..
Apparently my mw SHOULD have called hosp for my blood results when i saw her last as i would of had medication at least a wk ago!!!

Because of my probs i have been told i SHOULD also being seen every 4 weeks without fail or more resent if my FBC is low because of my previous preg problems!! Silly woman..

Also the comment of my old mw 'you'll be fine just take some dextrose' when i told her i was nearlly passin out when out n when cleaning.. apparently is outragious!!

So fingers crossed from 2mo i'll have a new mw and proper care

Thanks for everyones comments..

I thought i was just bein over sensative and hormonal but nope i wasnt so feel so reassured now

T care all and hope ur preg are all goin gr8 xx

[mumtotwoboys]

Ah so glad you spoke up and it's all working out