Is my MW particuarly rubbish or is this the norm?

[QueenCee]

With my first PG I had a differant MW from a differant area and I didn't ever have to call her in between visits, so this time With second PG I'm clueless if this is normal or not.
I'm currently 10 weeks pg and had some pink discharge at about 6 weeks... A reasonable amount but I didn't consider it any sort of emergency so thought i'd phone my MW. Her phone was switched off, so I left a message and stated what the problem was. She didn't call back for 4 days! By this time, I was so worried as the spotting continued, that I went and paid for a private scan.
She didn't apologise or state she had been on leave or sick. I personally thought this was pretty lame.
Fast forward to last week when I had a bright red bleed. Again, I didn't consider it an emergency as no clots, no pain and not too heavy. So I phone her again, leave a message with details of the problem and again, no phone call for 3 days so far. I was worried and not prepared to wait so ended up going to EPAU which toon hours as no referal from MW or GP.
My question is, are my expectations of my MW way too high and these issues are not her remit or is she a lazy slack ass??

[supadupapupascupa]

you should go straight to your GP and ask for an emergency appointment. They can then refer you to the early pregnancy unit. It does say in my maternity notes that this is the procedure. Have you checked your notes, there should be instructions of what to do in certain circumstances.

[headfairy]

you have a named midwife and her number? I had the phone number for a team, most of the time it went to answer phone. Occasionally they called back a few days later. In an emergency or out of hours they gave the number of the EPU/labour ward or said go to A&E.

So going by my experience you are very lucky to have a named midwife and her mobile, however, that's not to say your experience is acceptible.

[Oeisha]

Might be worth border-hopping if you're a UK resident. My local EPU (Stepping Hill) you can self-refer. Also, remember with bleeding, a refernce from A&E works just as well as a reference as your GP/MW does...
...re: you MW, the delay both times it totally unacceptable. She should be re-directing her calls to someone else if she's not available for an extended period. Definatly complain and ask for a different MW.

[allthefires]

We have the team answernachine and a direct line to the midwife station at local community hosp.

I can ring both and get a good response.

[wigglesrock]

Just to let you know that where we are -Northern Ireland, midwife explained to me that before 24 weeks any kind of bleeding, pain etc we were to contact Hospital, A&E, GP, sorry just realised exactly the same procedure as supadupa has explained above not the midwife unit.

[QueenCee]

Thanks for your comments. I'll be honest I've not read my notes... I was told at my booking in appt to call her if I had any problems but not in an emergency. I didn't consider it be an emergency... worrying, yes.
I will ask her what the deal is with ringing her when and if she ever calls back!!

[candr]

Your MW sounds like mine, she works part time and covers all the villages but generally takes 3-4 days to reply to message which is really fustrating. I have used NHS direct a couple of times as knew there was no point calling her outside her 2 day a week office hours. It is annoying if you just need an answer to a querey but that is why I started coming onto MN. I left message about mine as work in a school and kids had slap cheek, a week later she returned message telling me not to go into work - bit late by then!

[theidsalright]

I am same stage as you. I have no named midwife. My booking in appointment is at 13weeks. I have not been provided with even the number of the EPU or anyone to call. Don't feel too hard done by!

[neolara]

My midwife didn't even come and see me after my unplanned and unattended home birth! I thought that was pretty crap.

[Mum2be79]

I don't have a named MW either. Seen two different MWs (think that's the norm now). It took me all day to get through on the phone to make my booking in appointment and 4 hours to get through to chase up my 12-week scan! It hasn't impressed me but nonetheless both MWs were brilliant.

[Continuum]

Around here in early pregnancy you always go through your GP who will refer to the hospital and at 21 weeks you can contact the pregnancy unit at the hospital directly.

[flamegirl77]

A midwife who is giving her number out should expect to receive calls and messages from ladies who have worries and concerns, whatever other services are available, and waiting that long to return your calls isn't good enough. If she doesn't have capacity to return calls she shouldn't be giving her number out. Your expectations are not too high - just because people in other areas don't have named midwives etc doesn't mean it's OK for yours to provide a substandard service! But in the circumstances it might be pragmatic to go to your GP first if you have concerns in the future. Congratulations and best of luck!

[CrazyAlien06]

My mw is totally rubbish! She hasn't even noticed I haven't been to see her and have had to change to a different clinic as can't stand to see her. She is just rude and completely useless. This is my first baby and I had some questions and tried to call her ( chicken pox in my school, slapped cheek as well) and she cut me off then never called back. She works part time but I think she never works as was on holiday in Australia the appt I last went too which made me change. I have no numbers to contact if any concerns so pretty much going this whole pregnancy with just me and DH with no clue! The original mw didn't even tell me about needing to being in urine samples each appt and she had to ask me what hospital I was booked into when she has all the info already!
The whole experience so far of the 'support' where i am is shocking, im dreading going into labour as no idea who I'll see during the whole process! Am 30 weeks so not that long to go reallyz

Sorry for the rant :(!

[zebedeethezebra]

Yes mine was rubbish when I was pregnant a couple of years ago. She didn't answer calls for days and once she forgot to come for one of my home appointments. Couldn't wait to discharge me after the birth either despite it being obvious that my CS scar was infected, she just told me to go to the docs.

EPU is your best bet.