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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think my community midwives don't know their arses from their elbows

43 replies

LittleBairn · 12/12/2012 11:00

This might be long but I need to know if I am having unfair expectations or if I'm justified in feeling I dunno what I'm feeling but pissed off is one of the emotions.

I was just over 15 weeks pregnant my waters suddenly went catastrophically so I lost the whole lot within 45 mins.
I was In and out of hospital ( baby still had a heartbeat given a 1% chance of survival ) on the Sunday I had a sudden massive haemorrhage at home.
Got home on Tuesday when baby was 16 weeks when his heart stopped was given an oral tablet to kick off labour.
It worked and the baby was born at home within 6 hours, rather unexpected as I was told it would take at least 36 hours to kick in. But it worked out well it was a beautiful moment and I will cherish the memory forever.
There was placenta drama that ended up with me kicking the anesthesiologist (a whole other thread really were she went mental when i used the word fuck within her hearing) out the room, the midwife and I worked together and eventually after 9 hours the placenta turned up with the aid of a Dr with a speculum and mini forceps, lot bigger and very swollen than expected. I lost a lot of blood during this and the midwife was concerend but it was clear that I was physically coping well.
I just couldn't get out of bed much for about 6 days.

The hospital midwives were first class I was so impressed with the care I received that instead of having my dreamed for homebirth I will consider a hosptial birth next time.

I was told the community midwives would probably want to visit me at home or I their office that I would have a chance to talk to them and ask questions.
A few days later a community midwife called DH but he was at the office they said they would call back in a few days but I could make an appointment before then. DH and I discussed it a lot over the weekend realising we had a lot of questions about my pregnacy plus we were keen to discuss what type of care I would recive if I conceive again.

I called yesterday. It was a difficult phone call for me I had just came off the phone to them trying to make my 16 week appointment when my waters broke it took me right back to the moment I realised my baby was in danger.

Anyway the receptionist was confused why I called, I had to be really clear that NO I didnt want a 16 week appointment that my baby had DIED at 16 weeks. She passed me onto a midwife who was equally confused again had to point out that my baby had died. I pointed out that they called ME to make this appointment originally. The midwife said she would go find out what was going on and call me.
An hour later I got a call, another midwife again had to repeat the whole NO MY BABY IS DEAD. FFS I wanted to really scream at them does anyone take notes when they take a phone call! But I didn't.

She then said the hospital will talk to me in 6 weeks after the post mortem results I pointed out again they called me this was to discus other results and in general to talk about my pregancy.
She then put me on hold, I could hear her discus me with others ( seemed to be in the reception area of the clinic) saying she had no idea why I was calling.
I hung up called DH who is furious they would call him wanting to speak to me only for them to then be confused.

They called DH today he made it clear he felt we had been let down, that he was concerned that no one had yet enquirer about my health and that we would no longer deal with them. He said midwife was unapologetic and repeated the hosptial will speak to us when the post mortem results are ready.
On and still no reason given why they called us.

Am I justified they don't know their arses from their elbows and to make sure that in any future pregnancies I never have to deal with any of them?
Or am I being unfair that really the services are for pregnant woman which I am no longer.

Please be honest.

OP posts:
midori1999 · 12/12/2012 17:33

I am so sorry for your loss OP.

I would definitely complain, midwives should handle situations like this very sensitively, even if they aren't really sure what's going on or what protocol is, but sadly they rarely do.

My waters went at 14+5 when I was pregnant with my twin girls. I was. Immediately placed under consultant care and it was then discovered I had a clotting disorder. (This is quite common and it might be worth you pushing for testing prior to TTC again) any middies I did see, both before and after I had my twins, were b eying useless. None had a clue what was going on and didn't have a clue about PPROM or what it meant for myself or my babies.

I have since been lucky enough to have another DD, who is fine and was under consultant care throughout, no midwife appointments except booking and community midwives postnatally for me. I think it does depend a bit on The area you're in though, different hospitals have different policies.

LittleBairn · 12/12/2012 18:14

maggie pessaries one oral and then 5 vaginal.

Hadn't though of anaemia I am sometimes getting breathless which is quite unusal for me.

middori I actually read your thread on here one night in desperation for information. I was so sorry to hear about your twins.

OP posts:
littleducks · 12/12/2012 18:23

I would have thought that the community midwifes would have visited you to check on your health.

They visit women who have had babies adopted or taken into care (if that seems insensitive please get this deleted) for that reason.

Even if they did not offer that service then the whole thing could have been dealt with better.

midori1999 · 12/12/2012 18:26

Thanks Littlebairn, hopefully it was some sort of help, I found similar threads from others very helpful when I was on bed rest.

I hate to say this, but you should probably expect similar fuckwittery/insensitivity in your future pregnancy sadly. I had a number of staff say really insensitive/awful things and keep referring to my '4th baby' when DD was my 6th. In the end one of the consultants stuck a SANDS sticker with my DTwins details on it on the front of my notes, god knows why they didn't do that in the first place. You may find some of the staff refer to your next baby as your first baby, please don't be afraid to correct them. I hope this doesn't happen to you though.

tasmaniandevilchaser · 12/12/2012 18:29

littleb I was on the same ante-natal thread, I've been thinking about you. I'm so sorry you've been through this, rubbish care from the professionals can make such a difference.

I would second contacting PALS, they will at least be able to point you in the right direction. When you have the energy you should definitely complain. Hope life is kinder to you now.

ps I'd also look into testing as midori suggested

LittleBairn · 12/12/2012 19:25

littleducks that was our thinking too that there is still after care needed for mothers regardless of where their babies are or it's gestational age at delivery.

midori it really was a help it at least help me not feel so alone or personally targeted.
I'm already mentally prepping myself, I will certainly be forward with those who wish to dismiss my first pregnacy experience.
They took loads of bloods from me, will test the placenta and baby too but will ask a bout clotting disorders.
For one thing my bleed was very sudden went from nothing to flooding a pad, trousers, towel and was still puddling. Then when taking blood after the placenta was delivered the midwife was surprised how easy my blood flowed.

tasman nice to 'see' you again. I hope life is kinder too there is only so much I can handle.

OP posts:
OddFrog · 12/12/2012 20:13

What insensitive practice! Make a complaint via PALS, your GP and anyone else who will listen. Follow up the tests they promised and get a copy of your notes. Keep any correspondence.

I had a terrible experience with DS and have just had to fight my way through my pregnancy with DD. Lack of testing and poor records from DS meant I had no evidence to support myself and I was undermined at every turn. We ended up going private as the stress of NHS accusations was making me ill.

So sorry you have endured this loss. I do hope it works out for you in future.

TremoloGreen · 12/12/2012 21:50

Littleb, just catching up. I think next time if you want to go to the big city hospital for antenatal then switch at the end for the birth (or switch to home birth) you might be able to. you might just have to pretend you intend to give birth there. I hope PALS is useful for you. Be kind to yourself and good luck.

Phineyj · 12/12/2012 21:59

LittleBairn so sorry to hear your story. Health services can be really tactless sometimes. You could consider looking up independent midwives locally as they look after you individually and you can still have the hospital birth (you do have to pay for the midwife care though). My experience has been that if you don't ask you don't get...there is generally some sort of choice in most situations.

nannyl · 12/12/2012 22:04

what an awfuly sad post to read.

so sorry to read it Sad

and yes it seems your community midwives may have handled things badly but they are not all bad. My community midwife is fantastic and it is sad to label all community midwives in the way you have.

nannyl · 12/12/2012 22:05

just read that your title is your community midwives, on which case YANBU

TwitchyTail · 12/12/2012 22:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

piprabbit · 12/12/2012 22:35

All MWs must have a Supervisor of MWs. I don't know if the hospital SoMs also cover the community MWs - but they will be able to tell you who you should speak to about your shocking care.

I am so very sorry for your loss.

Hattie23 · 12/12/2012 23:14

My sympathies for your loss.

You mentioned there was one community MW who was nice but is currently on leave. Would it be worth waiting for her to come back and make her your starting point? Someone you like and know to help and guide you might just make this whole situation a little easier to handle?

LittleBairn · 13/12/2012 17:21

hattie I'm not sure I want to speak to the nice one after all it seems they don't as an organisation want to be involved. It is actually making me paranoid that I'm coming across a needy.

Anyway I got side tracked today with visiting cemeteries but tomorrow I shall make an appointment with my Dr to discuss my rapid/hard heartbeat, dizziness and getting out of breath. I will also ask if it's possible to get hold of the results from bloods taken weeks ago especially as extra tests were ordered in concern to a genetic disease my mother has, this isn't supposed to effect me or the baby but I still would like to know ASAP.

OP posts:
MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill · 13/12/2012 17:28

Sounds like a plan, I'd bet my left boot the symptoms you are experiencing are anemia!

TheOriginalLadyFT · 13/12/2012 17:34

My own experience of community midwives was a brief and very unsatisfactory meeting with one who made me feel like a selfish lunatic for wanting a home birth. I scraped together the money for a private midwife and it was the absolute best money I have ever spent, despite being a massive stretch at the time, and made all the difference when I ended up having an emergency C-section and post-op complications

I am very sorry to hear of your loss, and think you should make a complaint and offer praise where due. I hope next time that you are treated properly - but it is certainly worth considering a private midwife (they can accompany you to the hospital)

LittleBairn · 13/12/2012 18:24

orginal we did consider an independant midwife but didn't want to judge the community midwifes unfairly and TBF the nice midwife was very keen on me having a homebirth.
I'm not sure is worth it for future pregancies since independant midwifes legal status at the end of next year is in jepordy.

OP posts:
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