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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Midwife late for appointment

42 replies

SusieCoo · 06/06/2011 13:59

I am currently 41w, due for induction in 2 days and hopes of home birth starting to fade fast. My lovely CM is on annual leave and her colleague does not seem to believe in home visits for AN appointments (although my CM had always booked them without me asking). Last week she cancelled my 40w appointment 3 days in a row (which is fine if there was good reason), turned up really late and was quite negative and unhelpful. She also told me that I would be admitted if my diastolic BP went over 85 during my home birth. I have a feeling it was a tiny bit high that morning because I had been waiting around for my appointment/ sweep and was getting stressed and anxious.
Today she was meant to be coming this morning to do another sweep (kind of on a time scale here as induction less than 48 hours away). I phoned the office this morning for a rough idea of her arrival so I could plan for what I needed to do, told would be before 12. It is now nearly 2 and I haven't heard anything from her. I can feel myself getting really wound up, BP will probably be up and it is shaping up to be a waste of a day (when I want to be as active as possible).
AIBU to think she could at least ring to say she is running late? In my job I can't just turn up as and when and not many people can. I appreciate she is busy but still...
I will need to phone the CM office soon due to school run but don't want to miss my sweep but equally don't want to seem too pushy.
Fed up and hormonal Confused

OP posts:
SusieCoo · 06/06/2011 17:49

ILoveyoutoo I don't for a second think I am more important than anyone else. I know she is busy and that there are plenty of things which take priority over my sweep. However she made the appointment and it would take a very short time to let me know she is tied up. I have no way of knowing if a sweep will help me go into labour but I would have thought its in everyone's interest to avoid an induction if it could be avoided. I have no intention of being rude or ranting BTW.

OP posts:
ohanotherone · 06/06/2011 17:50

My community midwife didn't turn up on friday because she was up all night with someone else. The lady that rang and said she will call over the weekend which she hasn't so I rang this morning, popped to the birth centre and saw another midwife, who was lovely and said that they had had a really busy weekend. Just give them a ring and stop worrying. Hope everything goes okay.

ohanotherone · 06/06/2011 17:53

Could you try and get DH to five you one, surely the same thing????

rogersmellyonthetelly · 06/06/2011 18:07

For the record, I did my own sweep at 39+5 and DD was born 39+6. but then again, I have arms like an orangutan and am double jointed.
You do realise that the MW will not only have her absent colleagues work to do, but her own caseload aswell?
I know its crap that you have been waiting around, but please dont blame your midwife, she is probably so busy she has completely forgotten to call you. Rather blame the government who put womens health and welfare in childbirth at risk by failing to provide budget for correct care.

DreamingOfABump · 06/06/2011 18:09

Mot places dont do antenatal visits because of this, its very time consuming and leaves you waiting in for hours. most areas dont routinely induce women til at least 12 days over and often 14 days over so you could alwys hang fire for a bit if you wanted. Midwives cant give app times for home visits as the work is so unpredicatble and a visit could take 20 mins or 2 hours depending on need. i would hang fire and wait it out for a bit. midwives dont always have offices or anyne actually in the office, and it isnt always possible to contact people to say they are running late if they are dealing with something major.

ohanotherone · 06/06/2011 18:17

I meant make love to you....I didn't mean shove his hands up you...just a spelling mistake. Also you don't have to induced if you don't want to so why worry????

helenthemadex · 06/06/2011 18:50

I dont see any problem with ringing the office and asking if they know where she is and how long she is likely to be, but I do know from personal experience how difficult it is to stick to timetables as a CM.

She could not have possbily known exactly what her caseload would have been today its possible that she was on call over the weekend and had a few deliveries or a delivery today, in addition to covering the workload of your midwife. Maybe if she had been late previously and you have had to wait in for ages it would have been an idea to ask if it would have been easier to go to a clinic, usually there is a wait but less of one, not saying you should do this but it may solve the problem while your mw if off

Doesnt make you feel any better when you are 41 weeks and very fed up (big assumption but I know I was at 41 weeks) and in addition in your case waiting for your sweep

hope you are all sorted now and good luck

helenthemadex · 06/06/2011 18:52

I mean good luck for your birth not getting hold of the CM Blush

SusieCoo · 07/06/2011 15:47

Panic over, baby delivered over night at home. Thanks for all the advice

OP posts:
AtYourCervix · 07/06/2011 15:56

was it a DIY sweep? Grin

Congratulations

loobylou13 · 07/06/2011 15:58

congratulations hope your both ok x

StayingDavidTennantsGirl · 07/06/2011 16:57

Congratulations, Susie - and I am so glad that you got the homebirth that you wanted. Smile

Mumwithadragontattoo · 07/06/2011 17:52

Congratulations! Did you have a boy or a girl?

helenthemadex · 07/06/2011 18:22

congratulations glad you got your homebirth after all the stress, hope you are both well

magicmelons · 07/06/2011 18:42

Oh congratulations, i hope you had no problem getting a MW for the birth Smile.

ohanotherone · 07/06/2011 19:23

Congratulations, how lovely, hope you are okayXXXX

youarekidding · 07/06/2011 19:40

Oh congratuations. Glad you got the home birth you wanted too. Smile

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