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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think a Six Week Check should consist of more than this

54 replies

QueenOfProcrastination · 07/10/2010 12:30

I was asked if I had normal delivery, hiw I was feeding the baby and then was told I should get a coil or implant fitted after breast-feeding so I wouldn't get pregant for at least three years. I then had blood pressure checked and was ushered out by her standing up and opening door for me to leave.

AIBU to think that this isn't what a six week check should comprise of considering I had a rather traumatic, long labour with coomplications (undiagnosed back-to-back labour, culminating in episiotomy and forceps 45 hours after labour started)

This is my first baby so wasn't sure what to expect but thought stitches would be checked at least. I know I definitely was BU not to say something at the time but was so taken aback by being shown the door after three minutes that I just left in a confused daze.

What did your Six Week Check consist of?

OP posts:

CMOTdibbler · 07/10/2010 12:32

They examined ds. Oh, and asked me about contraception. Nothing else

kveta · 07/10/2010 12:32

sounds like mine...

I had to ask for them to check my stitches, and had to book another appointment for that (which the receptionist conveniently forgot to enter into the computer, so I had to book ANOTHER one)

I had a similar labour to you by the sounds of things (72 hrs, bad position, forceps, episiotomy) and infection afterwards, but GP was only interested in contraception.

I'd say YANBU!

Hedgeblunder · 07/10/2010 12:32

They didn't give you a gynae exam at all?
I'm a bit cat bums mouth at the contraception thing as well- who do they think they are???

sheeplikessleep · 07/10/2010 12:34

YANBU.
My 6 week check comprised all of yours + had my stitches checked, asked how I was feeling, emotionally and physically (seemed more of an informal chat really). Then DS2 was checked thoroughly (can't remember exactly what). Lots of opportunities to ask questions and to raise any concerns I had.
Sorry you had this experience. If you've got concerns, I'd book another appointment with another Dr.

notnowbernard · 07/10/2010 12:35

Just had mine with DC3

Dr checked DS over (eyes, ears, chest, genitals, hips, reflexes)

Asked me about bleeding. Asked if I had any queries/concerns

I asked him about contraception (how I go about getting it)

That was it

Thought it was more about the baby tbh?

mendipgirl · 07/10/2010 12:35

my six week check consisted of "how are you?" I said "fine" thinking this was just a salutation rather than the check up and he said "well that's you done then". no blood pressure check, no discussion of contracteption etc. I had an EMCS and he didn't even look at my scar (no-one did since I left hospital).

I was very surprised as well, but I think it is very standard, unfortunately.

YANBU

Fizzywinelover · 07/10/2010 12:39

Oh yes, mine only consisted of asking about contraception too, even though I also had a traumatic labour that fractured my pelvis and I hobbled in on crutches and leaning on a nurse. They asked how I felt about the birth though.

I had expected an internal or something, so was pleased I did not have it.

Oh no, hang on, they felt my stomach also.

TheCrackFox · 07/10/2010 12:42

YANBU

In the unlikely event I have anymore DCs I wouldn't bother with the 6 week check unless, of course, I felt I needed something checked.

Fizzywinelover - you fractured your pelvis?

meltedmarsbars · 07/10/2010 12:45

what were you expecting? Delivering a baby is not an illness!

zingzillachinchilla · 07/10/2010 12:46

YANBU.

Mine involved about the same as yours, and a brief look at DD. Alas, it was not detected at this point that my DD had in fact sustained a fracture in her skull during delivery! DD has a very obvious dent in her skull, which the consultant neurosurgeon was a bit about - he felt it ought to have been picked up before DD turned 15 months (when he saw her). DH and I were aware of the dent, and were not concerned because DD seems to be pefectly normal, but apparently even a relatively basic check on her skull should have identified that she needed further examination, and this should have happened at 6 weeks!

Apparently there is a hard sell on contraception in the NHS right now - my MW mentioned it at discharge, another MW on a visit once we were home, and the GP then brought it up at my 6 week check. If they were half as diligent with actually examining you, it would be much more helpful!

Sorry you have been disappointed, I'd book another appt immediately if you still have questions.

Fizzywinelover · 07/10/2010 12:48

Yes, i have a funny pelvis anyway due to an accident a long time ago, and the baby got stuck and it took a bit of force to get him out. Fractured near the pubic bone.

I'd had an epidural though so really felt very little.

actually, DS is 3 months now and I am limping around the house already so it was just a little fracture. :)

Threelittleducks · 07/10/2010 12:49

I had a good discussion with doc about how I was coping, how things were, how baby was, how he was feeding etc.

Then bp check, smear to make sure I hadn't picked up infection of any sort, good check of my csection wound and a good discussion about contraception, with a big leaflet to explain all the options.
By all other accounts my doc practice is generally rubbish!

YANBU!

zingzillachinchilla · 07/10/2010 12:52

Threelittleducks - you have restored my faith in post-natal care (well, a little), but highlighted once again just how patchy care is in the UK

Threelittleducks · 07/10/2010 12:52

Oh I recall them doing some checks on ds too - some stuff like hearing, awareness, movement, how stong his head control was and so on. There was a special bit in his red book for her to fill out. Just remembered that bit!

TheCrackFox · 07/10/2010 12:55

I wasn't allowed to combine my 6 week check with my baby's 6 week check.

mamaloco · 07/10/2010 12:57

meltedmarsbars
They should have checked if everything was back into place, felt you tummy at least, is the uterus shrinking back? Is the belly muscles closing properly?... And that only if you had a normal labour, any complications should have been checked as well (like stiches..)

I guess GPs are not trained to do the postnatal check, don't know what to look for and what the potential problems are.

Pootles2010 · 07/10/2010 12:57

Mine was same, my midwife did tell me when she discharged me (at 5 weeks) that unless i asked, they wouldn't examine me, I think more to reassure than anything. I might be wrong but I think they generally don't like to do examinations unless neccessary, a lot of people don't like them.

I might have gotten wrong end of the stick - but did your doctor mean don't bother with contraception whilst bf'ing? I'm pretty sure you still need to be using something...

Poppity · 07/10/2010 13:02

It seems to have changed hugely in the gap between ds1 (12), ds2 (7) and dd1 (3). The second and third times it was the same midwife, so it ca't just be that.

The first baby they were very attentive, came to my house, checked stitches, made a fuss of ds, really made me feel looked after for what seemed like weeks!
Then had chat with midwife and HV together and a GP appt at 6 weeks!

Second time I had a couple of HV visits, none from the midwife, and a great 6 week check with my (very good) GP

Third time they barely noticed I had even had dd to be honest. I think I got a phone call....

BettyButterknife · 07/10/2010 13:02

YANBU. I had mine last week. GP mentioned contraception before I'd even sat down. Lengthy chat about that, then she asked about my stitches - whether I wanted her to check them. Asked me if there was anything I was concerned about. Based on what I'd said, she then checked my pelvic floor and referred me to a physio, checked my piles (:(), wrote me a prescription for suppositories and said to come back for a referral to a surgeon if they didn't help.

Our GP surgery has a really crap new system where you have to be assessed by a dr over the phone before they'll let you in for an appointment. I'd called her about my piles when I was pregnant but felt a bit fobbed off with a 'normal pregnancy symptom, blah blah' response, but no appointment. When she actually checked them at my post-natal check she was quite shocked at how bad they were. I felt vindicated!

Also took the opportunity to ask her about my polyhydramnios, to request an ultrasound for my fibroid in a few months, and got her to check a dodgy mole. I had a full service :o but only because I'd written a list of things to talk to her about that I was worried they wouldn't give me an appointment for.

FWIW, DS had his check up at a separate appointment before his first set of immunisations.

GlendaTheGrizzlyPiggy · 07/10/2010 13:03

YANBU. I had my six week check three months after delivery. Apparently they didn't have any free appointments before that . It was totally pointless in every way. The doctor asked me if everything was fine, glanced at DS in the buggy, chastised me about my weight (about half a stone too heavy) and that was that.

oneofthosedays · 07/10/2010 13:04

My six week check was a waste of time for me, GP didn't even glance at me or ask me how I was but did check DS over thoroughly. My MW even forgot to discharge me too, I ended up dumping my notes on the HV to send into the hosp so they could be put in my file!

Usually if you've had a section or a 3rd degree tear or anything unusual then you usually go back to the consultant at 6 weeks for a check as well as GP check.

CatIsSleepy · 07/10/2010 13:05

mine were the same as yours, waste of mine and the nurse's time. Pointless.

NinthWave · 07/10/2010 13:06

I didn't even have one - I felt fine after a week or so

megapixels · 07/10/2010 13:06

With DD1 (not in the UK) there was a proper examination (with some horrible metal thing) and a look at the stitches, she asked me about pain when going to the toilet, during sex etc., discussion of contraception and things like that.

With DD2 (in the UK) she asked me "Everything's ok with you then?", I said yes and that was it . I thought she'd at least have a look at the stitches after second degree tearing. To be honest I was secretly very relieved that that was it.

messylittlemonkey · 07/10/2010 13:10

This sounds familiar.

When I had 6 week check after DD1 five years ago, it was quite thorough and the GP looked at my c-section scar, asked me various pertinent questions and gave advce. Fine.

This was not the case after DD2 (now 6 mo). My GP (who was entirely different to the first one), just asked me if I was feeling ok and what contraception I'd be using and that was more or less it. I'f had a second c-section too! He didn't even look at the scar or anything. He noticed that I'd been having iron tablets and said that I could probably stop them, but didn't offer a blood test to check if my levels were as they should be. It was an utter waste of time!

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