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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Midwifes comment of O.T.T

40 replies

Pinkerbells · 10/01/2019 19:52

This has a bit of a back story so bare with me. 14 years ago, when I gave birth I really struggled. I was 24 at the time. My labour was 36 hours long, started in a midwife led unit was eventually taken to a larger hospital for an epidural, (even though I ended up not having one) as I was struggling with the pain. I was in hospital for 5 days after, and had severe PND.
Once discharged, I made the fatal mistake of reading my midwife notes. After 24 hours in labour, a midwife had written clearly in the notes I was being O.T.T! this really really shocked and upset me, but I was young and didn't think it was my place to challenge the entry
7 years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which they think began when I was 19 after a severe case of glandular fever. Unknowingly, this meant that I had fibro when I was pregnant. (Fibro doesn't just cause chronic pain, it alters the way an individual manages pain)
Fast forward, and I am pregnant again. My midwife is very understanding about my fibromyalgia, and I have been referred to an obstetrician. However, and this is where my AIBU enters, am I BU to be terrified that my next labour will be like my last and midwives will judge me for how I cope in labour.

OP posts:
hshavshejwhg12 · 10/01/2019 19:55

What a horrible midwife to write OTT! Everyone feels pain differently.. labour is scary whether it’s your first, second etc but for most woman who give birth naturally the first labour is the hardest, “the path has already been made for the second” so my midwife told me. Good luck!

Lifecanbeabeach2 · 10/01/2019 20:00

How was it written was it written as it could stand for something medical instead ?

Jboure · 10/01/2019 20:03

You poor thing. Try listening to a hypno birth cd or download which or you are pregnant. I had a horrendous first birth where I lost the plot. I listened to the cd while pregnant with my second and was way more zen. To the point where I politely asked the midwifes to check how dilated I was and they said they could see from my face that I want far gone. I insisted and when they looked I was 9cm and ready to push. It was them that panicked then. Best of luck. X

Howvery · 10/01/2019 20:03

Are you sure it isn’t an abbreviation. As a nurse some of the abbreviations we use may look off if you don’t know. OTT to me is overall treatment time.
If it isn’t though and she did write that then you need to complain. That’s awful.

CherryPavlova · 10/01/2019 20:09

Are you sure it wasn’t just O.T Occiput transverse it maybe OTT occiput transverse at term.

PrivateDoor · 10/01/2019 20:14

Are you absolutely sure that is what is written? If it was then it is ridiculous! Anyway I really wouldn't worry about this, midwives do this day in day out and see extremes from someone barely blinking at the pain to others not coping with the initial mild cramps. Everyone is unique. I wouldn't worry even if they do judge, who cares what they think? At the end of the day, it is their issue if they do. I say this as a midwife!

HaPPy8 · 10/01/2019 20:19

OTT often means 'out to toilet' in maternity care

Fraula · 10/01/2019 20:22

I think you should expect to have at least one midwife/hcp who will say something inconsiderate or unkind. I found that expecting it meant I was prepared for any eventuality and was also read to be more assertive and stand up for myself. I had a mean midwife with my first birth, who made really stupid comments, and wrote ridiculous things in my notes.... so I do understand where you're coming from.

DappledThings · 10/01/2019 20:24

How did you still have your notes? Mine have always been retained by the hospital.

RubiksQueen · 10/01/2019 20:27

30 years ago I'd think maybe hmm that's a bit rude but I trained 15 years ago and we all knew that notes would likely be read by clients! So I'd assume it's out to toilet, OP- and not 'over the top'. I can see how it would maybe read like that though. Also now we try not to write in jargon.

Hope things go better this time Flowers

Stickystickystick · 10/01/2019 20:28

I’m a midwife and we often write OTT which stands for ‘out to toilet’. It would be very unprofessional to write OTT for any other reason. I think and hope this is the context it was used in

Lovestonap · 10/01/2019 20:28

I think it's much more likely to have been a medical abbreviation. Put it as far from your mind as you can. My midwives were, on the whole, completely fucking awful, to the extent that I insisted on an elective c section for the next one.
Nursing training now teaches that the pain is what the patient says it is, and I hope your new team will be more understanding and responsive. Good luck. :)

pollyhampton · 10/01/2019 20:29

My midwife told me it meant out to toilet.

Littlebird88 · 10/01/2019 20:30

I think it might mean out to toilet.

DailyMailFail101 · 10/01/2019 20:30

Why not opt for a section? If you really feel strongly about it being too painful it’s most likely a good decision.

shpoot · 10/01/2019 20:31

It means out to toilet

policeandthieves · 10/01/2019 20:33

It is out to toilet.
In a similar light there was a patient complaining the nurses said he was a son of a bitch when they put SOB for short of breath

MammaSchwifty · 10/01/2019 20:39

What does Out To Toilet mean?

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 10/01/2019 20:40

Mine said “moaning a lot” which felt a little rude!

It was only on third read that I realised that they were talking about baby dd and they were actually slightly concerned that she was giving little moans rather than proper cries!

DonDrapersOldFashioned · 10/01/2019 20:42

‘Nursing training now teaches that pain is what the patient says it is’

Not exactly true. Patients can tell you they are in AGONY, 9 out 10, worst pain ever and yet they are calm and relaxed, no visible physiological signs. Yet you have patients (often older people) tell you that they are absolutely fine, yet they are grimacing, pale, tense. It isn’t simply a case of ‘what the patient says’. Nurses are trained professionals who listen to patients but also look at their clinical signs and symptoms.

And yes to ‘Out to toilet’. Though it is generally encouraged not to use abbreviations now.

downandnowout · 10/01/2019 20:44

My first thoughts were that it might be a medical abbreviation too...

DonDrapersOldFashioned · 10/01/2019 20:44

‘Out to toilet’ means away from the bed space, on the loo/in the bathroom. Usually written in shorthand on nursing notes when observations or comfort rounds are done.

Emilizz34 · 10/01/2019 20:44

I’m a nurse/midwife and OTT in notes means out to toilet

MrsHares17 · 10/01/2019 20:45

I don't mean to be rude , but this is why it's not a good idea to read your notes, without a professional to decipher the jargon for you.

Things can be misconstrued and cause a lot of stress.

I hope things go better for you this time around though Thanks

UterusUterusGhali · 10/01/2019 20:46

Rarely will notes contain opinion. Only facts. Like you'd gone out to the toilet, as above.

Are you under a consultant and have you discussed birth and anelgesia options this time?