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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

midwife booking appointment

44 replies

blackbettybambalam · 30/03/2015 22:14

Aibu to be stressing about this?

What do they ask you about previous mental health problems? Do they rely on me to disclose or do they have access to my medical records?

OP posts:
Nolim · 30/03/2015 22:18

I think they do ask about mh. I have no idea if they have access to your records tbh. But i think that disclosing all pertinent information is important so they can refer you if necessary.

PickleSarnie · 30/03/2015 22:20

I'm fairly sure that they rely on you to disclose your medical history. It's really not in your best interests to be anything less than open about any mental health issues you've had. A history of depression means you're more likely (but obviously not a given!) to suffer from ante and post natal depression and it's important that they know this so that it can be managed. I had PND on my notes for my second and no midwife treated me any differently than before.

Original poster
blackbettybambalam · 30/03/2015 22:22

Its nothing pertinent to the pregnancy, just a long story that I don't particularly want to go into with someone new! I'm worried it seems like I'm being evasive, but I genuinely don't want to go over it, and its not important. I was concerned that they would have my notes, know about this and then think I was lying. Am I over thinking? Confused

OP posts:
PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 30/03/2015 22:22

They do ask medical information.
I wouldn't hide the fact you had MH problems in the past, as the MW after the baby is born can look out for signs of PND.

Original poster
blackbettybambalam · 30/03/2015 22:23

I also don't want it discussed around anyone that accompanies me to an appointment

OP posts:
snowglobemouse · 30/03/2015 22:23

they could access your notes but never do. It's up to you to disclose. They won't bat an eyelid at what you have to say honestly!

PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 30/03/2015 22:26

Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, midwives etc, have a professional and ethical duty to respect patients’ confidentiality and should only access records if they are involved in the patient’s care. This is on a ‘need-to-know’ basis.

Whilst it is assumed that patients generally consent to their personal information being shared among the clinical team for the purposes of their care, they should be made aware that this is the case and told that they have the right to withhold consent. Sometimes, patients may ask for certain – usually extremely sensitive – information to be kept private and you should respect this. However, in certain circumstances this information may need to be released if failure to disclose would place others at risk of death or serious harm.

Original poster
blackbettybambalam · 30/03/2015 22:27

I completed the maternity notes questions prior to appointment, and it does ask about serious mental health issues, but nothing that could be classed as 'mild'. I did wonder snow that they probably wouldn't trawl through everyone's notes!

OP posts:
PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange · 30/03/2015 22:29

I work for the nhs and I am not even allowed to look at my own medical records never mind anyone else's.

Records are audited and unauthorised access it's taken very seriously.

OttiliaVonBCup · 30/03/2015 22:31

They rely on you to disclose.

They also ask other sensitive questions, about contraception, previous pregnancies, terminations and so on.

If you're not comfortable discussing those in front of other people bear that in mind.

Original poster
blackbettybambalam · 30/03/2015 22:35

Thanks for that info piper. I don't particularly want to go to the appointment on my own, but I don't want to speak about years old mild mh issues in front of them. Otherwise ottilia,, I'm not shy about contraception, etc etc! To save all the stress and worry, I wanted to skim over my mh (which is stable and not a worry), and focus on the more important issues. What I was worried about was having to disclose and dissect and then be seen as a risk for something very minor.

OP posts:
OttiliaVonBCup · 30/03/2015 22:40

I think that if you have received treatment for something then you should disclose it.

littlejohnnydory · 30/03/2015 23:27

'I suffered from (anxiety / depression / other illness) in the past but it hasn't affected me for years. Yes, I know where to seek help if I need it'. - That should be plenty of information.

pasbeaucoupdegendarme · 30/03/2015 23:37

I would really recommend that you disclose whatever mh history you have. The hormones can make things that you think are stable rear their ugly heads again and it's useful to have it on record of that happens,

Fwiw, I told my mw about past mh issues, she was happy I'm stable now, and it's only come up again once in the guise of "and are you still feeling ok?". Both last time and so far this time I have continued to be fine, but it's reassuring to me to know that if I rang her and said I was struggling she'd know immediately to take it seriously.

Original poster
blackbettybambalam · 30/03/2015 23:45

That's good pas. I've not had very positive experiences with midwifes in the past, and I want to choose if I feel comfortable to disclose or not. I def don't want it discussed in front of the person I choose to come with me though, but at the same time I want the support present. My booking is at the same time as my scan, which is another reason I don't want to go alone.

OP posts:
Donatellalymanmoss · 30/03/2015 23:49

Even if you don't go to the appointment alone the midwife will most likely want to talk to her about your previous medical history alone. DH was pointedly not called into the room for that bit.

SaucyJack · 30/03/2015 23:51

My GP wrote a letter to my MW ahead of my booking in appt. to inform her of my MH diagnosis.

Dunno if this is standard.

MrsBojingles · 30/03/2015 23:52

It's up to you to disclose. I explained about previous MH issues without going into any detail, and they offered me additional support and access to pre and post natal counselling. I didnt need it in the end, but was nice to know there was something there if I git PND.

iamthemusicman · 30/03/2015 23:59

In my area (Kent) the letter for my recent booking appt asked me to come alone which was different to when I had my DS in 2010 as that letter encouraged your partner along to the appt.

My midwife said the main reason this changed was to enable women to disclose previous medical history without worrying about speaking about it in front of anyone else - i.e. the woman may have had a previous termination or sti that her partner wasn't aware of (but would be relevant medical history) so they may not mention it but actually want to because they may need extra testing or even reassurance. They also ask about DV which is obviously difficult to admit to/discuss with the person sitting next to you.

She said they do still get women attending with their partner but that they would call them in on their own first and then have the partner join once the sensitive questions were out of the way.

She assured me that none of my answers would be shared with anyone else so I wouldn't worry that anything you disclosed would be talked about without your consent but I would definitely share with them as it is relevant to your care.

If you are worried, could you phone the midwives & speak to them before the appt and ask if there is time to speak with them alone at the appt and what exactly is done with the information you share?

LargeGlassofWhite · 31/03/2015 00:01

I've got a history of MH problems and it's never been a big issue when going through anti natal notes. It's just been on the initial questions
Midwife: do you have any history of mental health problems?
Me: yes I've suffered with depression and been treated with medication and counselling
Midwife: do you feel well now?
Me: yes I'm fine
Midwife: do you think you would recognise the symptoms if it returned? Would you seek help?
Me: yes

Move on to next questions....

Then was never mentioned ever again.

I really wouldn't worry about it.
Even when I told midwife later in my pregnancy that I was struggling and thought I was starting with depression she didn't seem to bothered and just told me to see the GP.

Boysclothes · 31/03/2015 00:12

This must vary by area. I'm given the woman's entire hospital file when I do a booking and I'm expected to have a look. If she doesn't disclose something that's in the file which might be pertinent then I ask, gently. We also get a GP letter which outlines all the stuff you've had GP treatment for.

badg3r · 31/03/2015 00:13

I had mild to moderate depression five years ago for about a year that was treated with counselling. In my booking appointment this time last year they asked about mental health issues and I told them. the whole conversation lasted about 30 seconds, my midwife didn't make a big deal out of it, it never came up again and I had no problems with pnd.

Original poster
blackbettybambalam · 31/03/2015 00:20

I did wonder if I would be asked alone, but as was mentioned, every area is different. I would be less worried about it if this was the case...I'm very uncomfortable talking about it as it was just a blip before and I never told anyone at the time.

I was worried boys, that if I didn't disclose something that it would be brought up again. I don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill... I can't wait until this appointment is over though Confused

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Pandora37 · 31/03/2015 01:01

Where I am we can access all of your GP appointments on the computer and see what they were for. Sometimes, we look at them to see if there's anything major that would be helpful to know about in advance. With one girl we noticed that she didn't tell us that she'd previously attempted suicide - we asked her if she'd ever had depression and she said no. It was several years ago so we didn't write it on her maternity notes. I think if there had been any concerns for her well being then it would have been brought up.

If it was a one off several years ago it won't even go on your notes. We see so many women with some form of history of depression that we'd be referring everybody! If it was a while ago, been sorted and it's not recurring then there's no reason why the midwife would pry further or put it in your notes. It's not an inquisition and she's not there to catch you out, think of it as she's there to support you and find out if there's anything that might effect this pregnancy and how she can best care for you.

I would be honest but just say you had depression x number of years ago for personal problems. They shouldn't ask anything more than that other than is it effecting you now. Try not to worry. :)

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