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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Sidge · 07/10/2010 13:10

The 6 week check is primarily for the baby, and an opportunity to check if you have contraception sorted.

It's not a medical.

You would have been under the care of the midwife for 10 days after the delivery, and if you were having any post-delivery problems should have been advised to make a GP appointment.

There is no need to routinely do a gynae exam, or check stitches. If a woman has discomfort or any problems one would hope she would mention it, or would make an appoinment specifically for that. The onus is on the woman to discuss issues that are troubling her rather than the GP running through a cursory checklist.

But of course the GP should at least ask the mother how things are to give her an opportunity to mention any problems!

fifitot · 07/10/2010 13:13

NU. With my first my female GP did a full check of DD, height, weight, questions on feeding, tested various reflexes etc.

Then with me - blood pressure, discussion of feeding, how I felt. Checked tummy muscles, discussed contraception and checked stitches and gave internal.

With my second the male GP just very briefly checked baby, took my bp, mentioned contraception and glossed over my mention of my tear, stitches and poss uterine prolapse. No examination at all.

Thought it was quite poor tbh. No - childbirth is not an illness but women get complications and it does take a while for your body to fully recover from it.

FanjolinaJolie · 07/10/2010 13:15

Queenof do you feel you need to have a debrief about the hows and whys of your protracted labour? That's the feeling I get from your OP.

The six week check is not the place for that.

But perhaps you could ask to speak to your hospital consultant about talking through your labour notes.

ballstoit · 07/10/2010 13:20

YANBU, all women should be offered the same level of care. We are all aware that childbirth is not an illness. Sadly it does lead to some women being ill, and aftercare makes a difference in whether this happens or not.

I had a seperate check from my DC each time. I was with my doc for about 15 mins each time, she checked stitches (for the births I had stitches anyway), chatted about how I was feeling, felt my tummy and was generally lovely. She offered contraception advice with all 3, but wasnt pushy when I said I didnt need any with DC1 as I wanted a small gap.

With DC2 and DC3 she also said I would be welcome to have a home visit for any problems until they were a few months old, as 'it's hard to get out with a baby and toddler if you feel poorly'. I havent needed to do this but made me feel that she had a clue that it is hard sometimes!

My doctors also did home visit to do my DC2 and DC3 newborn check which with DC2 was not done as I came home after 8 hours and DC3 was born at home. Will stop showing off now Grin.

PinkieMinx · 07/10/2010 14:07

You were asked if you had a normal delivery - did you say 'no'? Just wondering if that would have led to a stitches check,etc.
AFAIK contraception is big part of 6 week check - some women are pg by the time 6 week check comes as they haven't thought of contraception. I don't really undderstand what you were expecting?
Mine was contraception and a quick chat.

seenitallbefore · 07/10/2010 14:16

why do you want a blood pressure check ? Unless you had BP problems during pregnancy or delivery ,there is no need. If you feel your stitches are fine, they will be. Best check of that is whether you are comfortable during sex. if not , you should see GP again whether he checked your stitches at post natal or not. Baby check at 6 weeks almost always will be a separate appointment and probably a different GP than the one who does the post natals. I think by far the most important part of the postnatal is to see how the new mums mood is.

unsuremuslimah · 07/10/2010 14:17

What sidge said. The routine internal exam was ditches from the standard post natal check as people weren't getting checked at all as worried about internal.

Firawla · 07/10/2010 14:33

i didn't go to my 1st one as didnt see the point
2nd one was actually quite thorough so couldnt complain there

what do you mean though you were "told" you should get implant or coil fitted, thats the part which would have annoyed me, like did you express a preference towards those as the way you've said it makes it sound as though she has just come out with it herself!

memphis83 · 07/10/2010 14:45

i had an identical labour to you 44 hr then cut and forceps. my 6 week check was 45 mins long, asked how scar was and if i wanted her to look, which i didnt and then i got offered a chat with a trauma midwife at hospital due to traumatic labour which i also declined. i had 6 week check with a doc and a hv, in the area i live in it IS classed as a medical for you and baby, if your not happy go back and see another doctor

ApricotWorms · 07/10/2010 14:51

I nearly didn't bother with mine (2nd baby) and I probably shouldn't have. She asked me if I felt depressed and whether I wanted a coil. Didn't check BP or scar (crash section). Not worth the bother of making an appointment IMO

Stropzilla · 07/10/2010 16:53

My HV FORGOT to tell me she'd left. I was waiting for my home check and at 30 mins late I phoned her office, only to be told he no longer worked there!

MrsC2010 · 07/10/2010 16:56

YANBU. My delivery sounds much like yours, and it was only my telling her that I still had a fair bit of pain where my stitches were that convinced her to take a cursory look 'down below'. She took my blood pressure, which was high for me. Well, up at pregnancy levels...I have a ridiculously low blood pressure normally but apparently as long as it is within range it isn't even worth wondering why it was up.

If it wasn't for the fact that I felt fine early on I would have pressed more.

spiderlight · 07/10/2010 16:57

Mine consisted of the GP sticking her head round the door while the midwife was weighing DS and saying 'You all right? need to go on the pill?' I didn't have any stitches/tearing to be checked though.

Original poster
QueenOfProcrastination · 08/10/2010 16:50

Thanks for your responses everyone. It seems that most six week checks are similar, if not quite as new mums would like.

To respond to a couple of points:

Doc came out with the comment all by herself about how I should have the implant or coil so I don't having to worry about pregnancy for three years. Yes, I was Confused by this as we'd like to have another DC when our DD is about two (I know, baby + toddler = chaos but there is a two year gap between myself and DB and we're really close as a result) and I didn't really see how the three year thing was relevant.

Fanjolina Jolie - I do still feel quite traumatised by the birth, and let down by some of the health professionals who were involved with the birth. Didn't really want to address that here though. I wasn't expecting the doc to do anything reagrading my birth experience, I just think I was expecting more than the three minute whirlwind of an appointment. DD's eight week appointment has come through with a different doc so can always speak to new doc about stitches, dizziness, etc.

Thanks again for all your comments.

OP posts:
Namechangingwuss · 08/10/2010 18:19

Yanbu, my 6 week check was at the same time as ds's. He had a thorough check so I can't complain about that but I just got given leaflets about contraception. Dr was not concerned about checking me at all even when I told him my stitches were very sore and hadn't been checked at all. Sometimes all thats needed is a little bit of reassurance that alls well with mum!

Woodlands · 08/10/2010 19:27

i had separate appointments for me and ds (this was a few weeks ago). mine was meant to be with the practice nurse but she was off sick so saw (female) gp instead. i was surprised at how thorough it was - i had a full internal examination, she checked my cervix etc. tbh it was quite reassuring as she said my stitches looked lovely and had healed up fine, but i hadn't been expecting it. i also had the questions about contraception/mood etc and got prescribed cerazette. i was fairly happy with the care tbh!

OmniaParatus · 08/10/2010 20:03

My first six week check with DS was with the hospital, and it turned out it was to talk me out of making a formal complaint that I had been forced to take morphine in the pre-natal ward Angry. Unfortunately they succeeded as I was still as traumatised as hell about it. They completely ignored DS even though he had shoulder dystocia and suspected hypospadius, and he did not receive a check-up until his first immunisation with my GP.

My second six week check was with my GP and couldn't have been more different, I was asked how I was and if I wanted my stitches examined, I felt properly looked after and DD's six week check was through too.

Needless to say if the hospital 'invite' me back for a six week check this time I will not be going!

Chrispo · 08/10/2010 21:18

Asked how I was feeling and how dd was? THAT WAS IT!!!!

Chrispo · 08/10/2010 21:20

Oh and contraception Angry

MustHaveaVeryShortMemory · 08/10/2010 21:23

YABU. If you have an issue you should make an appt with your GP to discuss it.

Some areas don't do a 6 week check (for the Mother) at all anymore.

lifeas3plus1 · 08/10/2010 21:33

With ds1 they had a feel of my belly, checked stitches, asked how I was feeling, discussed contraception.

Checked over baby, eye's/ears/nose, joints, hips, genitals etc etc.

I was there about 45 mins.

My HV told me that this time (ds2 is 3weeks old now)
That there is no 6week check for mother unless HV has had concerns when visiting at home and the babies 6week check now only gets done at the same time as the 8week jabs.

fifitot · 10/10/2010 08:58

I just think they should do it well or not offer it at all. Rather than a half arsed version.

Georgimama · 10/10/2010 09:13

Mine was a farce.

I had an o/p appointment in the ante natal department at the hospital where DS was born six weeks after the birth. This is a 20 mile drive from my house (fair enough, my choice to live in the arse end of nowhere).

I wait for half an hour in a small room. Fortunately DS slept in the corner in his car seat/baby carrier thingy. A harrassed junior doctor comes in. He asks me to lie on the couch. He reaches for the doppler thingy and asks when my baby is due. I point to DS. Junior doctor says "I may be in the wrong room." I agree. He leaves.

I wait another half an hour. A female doctor comes in. She asks me about contraception. I point out I have a third degree tear and having sex is not particularly high on my list of priorities. She asks whether DS is feeding well and I confirm he is. She stands up and thanks me for coming in. I ask whether she is going to examine my stitches. She asks whether I want her to examine my stitches. I say she is the doctor, not me. She says unless I am worried about them there is no need. She stares at me blankly, waiting for me to leave.

I ask whether there was any point whatsoever in dragging me with baby all this way for this appointment. She agrees there probably wasn't.

If I ever have another baby I will not be keeping any o/p appointment at the hospital.

TBF I did have a very thorough and helpful 10 week check up with my lovely GP, which was all I needed.

Faaamily · 10/10/2010 09:17

After both my births (both emergency sections), my 6 week check consisted of being asked how I was feeling, a very quick look at my scar, a patronising chat about breastfeeding ('No, I'm not breastfeeding. Yes, I am an educated 30-something woman - know it's the best way to feed my baby) and then a cringey chat about contraception ('Have you thought about the implant?' NO). Job done.

I'm not sure what else I would have wanted / expected, though.

Flisspaps · 10/10/2010 09:24

Mine was a cursory chat about contraception (Do you want me to prescribe you anything? No.), a quick ask if I was ok (Yes) and a check of the baby. I'd had forceps/episiotomy which became a 3rd degree tear/MROPand was perfectly happy not to have a check/internal.

By the time I'd been discharged from the MW I'd had enough of people poking around in my undercarriage thank you very much.

Won't bother going to one if I have any other children though, if I've got concerns re me or DC then I'll go specifically for that.

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