Changing midwife 26 weeks ?

Yes definitely sounds like some misunderstanding somewhere, she must either think your already booked or much earlier in your pregnancy

My best guess is she doesn't know you aren't even booked.

You need to make this very clear.

Don't feel like a fool, you've been badly let down and that isn't your fault.

You might google if you have a local community midwife hub or community team phone number, they should be open at the weekend. Echoing the above that you should be seen urgently.

This doesn’t sound normal at all?? Is this in the UK? If your 26 weeks then you would be a priority for an urgent booking appointment, if your usual midwife couldn’t do it she would be arranging an appointment asap with one of her colleagues. The fact you’ve had children before is irrelevant, being 45 should make you even more of a priority as you need referring for consultant led care and grow to scans from 28 weeks, gestational diabetes screening by 28 weeks etc

This is dreadful 'care'. To have not had a booking appointment yet is actually abysmal. You should have been given a thorough assessment of your history, for things like DVT risk, diabetes risk, fetal growth etc. You should have been categorised as consultant led care based on your age and previous pre-eclampsia. You likely should have been offered aspirin and possibly clexane prophylaxis. You should have had booking bloods taken and a height and weight. Has none of this been done?

I would contact the hospital urgently where you wish to birth your baby and explain what has happened / not happened. You need a 28 week appointment to be organised (not 30 week!).

I also would advise contacting PALs regarding the midwife. She has completely disregarded your needs, putting you and your baby at risk. There is no possible justification for this.

Good luck OP, please let us know how you get on.

And congratulations!

That's shocking. I'm 41, second pregnancy and having extra midwife appointments because of my age. I don't always see the same midwife but whenever I'm booked in I do see someone. I would definitely take this further.

Could you go to the connected local hospital instead? In my gp surgery if there was ever an issue with the midwife not being able to see me I was sent to the local midwife led birth centre and had my appointment there instead.

May be an option instead of moving surgeries?

have you had any scans? in my health authority if an older mom you are automatically referred to antenatal high risk clinic and have more scans.

I agree with all PP.

Also, I would speak to the GP about taking 150mg aspirin daily (I am 42, FTM, consultant advised it was sensible from after 12 week scan to help guard against pre-eclampsia.

But you need your booking appointment done, bloods and urine.

Have you considered an NIPT test?

Definitely change midwives, I did so in my second pregnancy and it was the right move (in fact I wish I had done it earlier as it took me a while before calling it the last straw). I made a complaint and was very well supported after that point. Sorry you are having this experience and I hope your next midwife will help you to feel seen and supported.

You should phone and kick up a fuss about not even having a booking in appointment, phone the community midwife number though so that you hopefully get a different midwife answer the call.

Phone up again. Make it very clear that you need a booking appointment as you have not yet been seen at all. It should be a very long appointment to allow full discussion of history and full assessment, if it's a short appointment they've not scheduled the correct thing.

It's possible that reception or the midwife are looking at your gestation and assuming you've already been booked. But you really need to be fully assessed so you can receive appropriate care.

No, absolutely not okay. Have you had bloods taken?

You need to be seen and assessed for the need for any further interventions or referrals (eg consultant referral, medication reviews, aspirin, GTT, anti-D). You must take this further, you are not receiving appropriate antenatal care. Is your midwife definitely aware that you have not even been booked at 26 weeks?? Or does she think she's cancelling routine midpregnancy reviews?

To be clear, also not okay, but if you contact team and explain you have not yet been booked, they should take this very seriously.

Congratulations by the way

At 45 you count as high risk so should be being seen by a consultant too I think? You should also be taking aspirin due to age. It's really bad she's not even seen you yet.

I've never had same midwife twice!
(3DC)
If that particular midwife can't see you, another one should be provided

That's awful! You need checking for growth, blood pressure and urine checks. Definitely change.

Have you had a scan?

I would make an appointment with the GP asap and get them to to urine and BP etc and do the check and explain that the midwife has not seen you.
mid was years ago now but my first Dc was shared care with the gps and we alternated check up appointments with them because of midwife capacity

Yeah we had a traumatic birth because basics of screening weren't completed. The NHS response amounted to 'don't be ridiculous of COURSE they must have been done'

I saw a succession of locum midwives from the other side of the city and never the same person for more than 10 minutes. Mostly they just handed me a pot to wee in and waited for someone to appointed. It never happened.

This is putting your and the baby's health at risk. It's just not acceptable. And what's she going to do if you do develop any issues, tell you you're experienced enough to deal with it?

I never had a single midwife. All my appointments were at the hospital with with a variety of midwives. Is there any option for you to ask to.be seen at your hospital?

I thought they’d be more concerned to see you, if you’re 26 weeks and haven’t yet seen a midwife? Surely they need to urgently organise your scans, screening tests etc.