My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Midwife Antenatel Home Visits

8 replies

Ginger84 · 13/06/2018 17:10

Hi all,

Since the beginning of my pregnancy I was referred to a clinic for my antenatel appointments. However, my midwife was absent and it was super difficult to get a hold of her. In fact, I got to only see her once for my 16 weeks appointment in her lunch break. I complained a couple of times to PALS and whenever I did, I got a phone call back from her sorting out whatever I needed sorting (like blood tests or referral for scans, etc.). I didn't find that convenient, especially that I wanted to discuss childbirth options and concerns with her.
At the 16 weeks appointment, I talked to her about my family history and that I think given this history I need to discuss options around going for a c-section. She wrote a note in my file, scheduled a meeting with a consulted and told that she classifies this as tokophobia and didn't want to listen to anything else.

Anyhow, I found another midwife calling me a week later telling me that I was referred to her for extra care around childbirth, etc., but that I am free to choose between going with her team or the team of the other midwife. Given my previous experience with the other midwife and how I felt I was not being listened to or cared for at all, I said I have no problem being referred and don't mind the extra care, especially that I am really concerned about childbirth (I have a family history of android pelvises which made VB an impossible mission for all the women in my family).
The new midwife and her team told me that the way they work is that they are not based in any clinic, but they mainly provide their antenatel care as home visits. They also provide you with more regular appointments. I personally found this to be more convenient (I am an expat, so what do I know Grin). My colleague at work, who lives around the same area, told me that having your antenatel care at home is quite unusual and that she hasn't heard of this before. Admittedly, she made me a bit worried Confused...but I have to admit the midwife was really understand in the first appointment I had with her at home regarding my concerns and told me that she will advocate for whatever I choose for my childbirth and even gave me an earlier appointment with the consultant than the other appointment that was scheduled for me. I even told her that I am contemplating changing hospitals and she told me that I should go for it if my request for a c-section didn't go through and I feel as strongly about it as I do.

Is there anything fishy that I should be concerned about here?

OP posts:
Report
PenguinJS · 13/06/2018 17:18

I don’t think you need to be concerned about it. My mum was a community midwife for twenty years (Telford & Wrekin) and she would do home antenatal visits including the booking appointment. I think it just depends on the different midwife teams.

Sounds like you have now got a much more supportive midwife though so hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well Smile

Report
PotteringAlong · 13/06/2018 17:20

My booking in appt was at home and all appointments after 40 weeks but the rest were at the clinic. This was gateshead.

Report
TinyTerror1 · 13/06/2018 17:20

I had one home visit for my booking appointment. It's not completely unheard of. Have you tried googling this other midwife team? I wouldn't have thought a private one would turn up out of the blue and not charge you so I guess it must be legit. I've not heard of any midwife scam 🤔

Report
mayhew · 13/06/2018 17:24

IT sounds like the first midwife felt, from your conversation that you are anxious about your pregnancy and that you would benefit from a supportive midwife team set up especially for this sort of situation. It's not unusual to see clients at home. We used to do it a lot in the past but staffing difficulties means we can rarely do it anymore.
It's an extra service and nice if you can get it.

Report
moose234 · 13/06/2018 17:29

I have been having home visits as well as clinic visits from my midwife due to my aniexty, she is coming to see me tomorrow again and am 37 weeks, I have seen her 4 times at home and about the same in clinic

Report
LisaSimpsonsbff · 13/06/2018 17:41

My SIL had her antenatal appointments as home visits - it seemed to just be standard in her area, as she was surprised that I have to go see mine!

Report
Ginger84 · 13/06/2018 18:07

Thank you all so much for your very helpful replies. Glad to know that it is not unusual or unheard of. To be honest, it was the first time throughout my pregnancy where I felt supported. I even told the midwife that if my c-section is approved I would love to have her support there and after. I felt comfortable with her (unlike the previous midwife). So it almost felt too good to be true Grin. I am very happy with the extra service to be honest and this is a one thumb up to the NHS Smile

OP posts:
Report
Roseandharry · 16/06/2018 10:28

Why are you suspicious? You should just be grateful that this level of service is being offered !!!!!!

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.