How on earth midwives?

[Sleeplessem]

How on Earth are you doing your jobs? It must be bloody gut wrenching and terrifying!

Read this today (below)…. There are no words. It’s obviously not just that area either. I’m a pregnant lady with my 2nd and it’s really easy to get frustrated by the poor care (sorry but in some instances it is quite poor from a continuity point of view and at least personally a few things are getting forgotten or left off as a result, although obviously a result of severe understaffing and over working) but you read stuff like this and it just makes me so mad, it’s just a disaster waiting to happen and then all the ‘blame’ will fall on that one midwife who’s trying their best under impossible circumstances.

Also in my area, during the last 18 months inductions have increased a huge amount (the amount they ‘allow’ you to go over has also reduced from 14 days to 10 and 7 in some places, do we think that’s partly due to the fact the trusts are trying to ensure staffing?

www.itv.com/news/meridian/2021-10-15/unsafe-staffing-levels-found-in-east-kent-maternity-inspection

I have to admit I’m really scared to go into hospital to give birth to my second child. DH will be with DD due to childcare and I’m really scared I’m going to be mistreated or told I can’t do certain things or have to do others. (For context, no consent was sought for VEs, i was told no water birth facilities as they were ‘broken’ even though a woman had used it earlier, i was told I had to have the injection to deliver the placenta etc) My experience on the post natal ward was horrific, mentally scaring and triggered really severe Pnd. It’s really a horrible time to be having a child (and also be a midwife by the sounds)

I have recently left midwifery after 14 years.

It is unbearable.

Continuity plans are pushing a lot of midwives into other roles too. Many many of us do not want/cannot work in this model. Out of a team of 15, I know only 2 that want to do it. At least 5 will leave if forced into it.

My first birth was horrendous due to short staffing levels. After DD was born I was left alone on a ward, with a phone number for the midwife who was one of 2 running between 3 bays that evening. I called her crying at midnight as DD was really unwell and we ended up almost being airlifted to another hospital, it was terrifying. This was after a 39 hour labour where so much went wrong and I'd lost a lot of blood.

It gave me anxiety for years to the point I underwent trauma counselling and had an elective csection for DS.

But at no point was any of it the midwives fault, they were doing their absolute best in a frankly shit situation. I take my hat off to them.

This thread has made me quite sad. I was very happy with the care I received from the midwives when I gave birth 4 years ago and 8 months ago. They really looked after me and were supportive, kind and caring. The only time I felt the staff were really rushed was when a midwife came to show me how to help dd latch, waking us both up from the first proper sleep I’d had after 41 hours of induced labour. I was absolutely exhausted but she couldn’t promise to come back later. Dd was then awake & feeding all night! I think midwives, like many health professionals, do an amazing job in often difficult circumstances, for little recognition and are woefully underpaid. I don’t know what the answer is though.

Can someone more educated explain to me about Continuity plans and why most midwifes are against them ?

Generally interested because usually then medical body of staff, team together and say we don't like this, there's a bloody good reason usually there's some type of link to reducing costs with these "plans" !

@Sectionbabyx

Oh bloody hell I'm due to have a section there next week. That's not what I wanted to see, especially as I chose Q.E over Lewisham due to a traumatic experience last time

It's not the Q.E. in Greenwich if that reassures you

Any Midlands midwives on this thread?

I left Midwifery several years ago because I wasn’t prepared to be part of the problem.
Nothing would entice me back.

@Glassofshloer I work in a very specific specialist role and if a woman is diagnosed into my service area they are a) pissed off about it b) half the time don’t believe the diagnosis and c) then begin googling all the various things that the internet believes they should be getting and instantly becoming furious they haven’t had these extra scans/tests/consultations/tertiary referrals.

Don’t get me wrong the majority of women are lovely and I strive to give everyone excellent care, but I feel like we in my small team spend a hugely disproportionate amount of time handling these furious women and talking them down. It’s really fucking wearing when you are trying to do your best with what you have.

I’ve only been in this specialism for a year so maybe it’s just this particular job role. But I am so TIRED.

I left after one year for fear of losing my pin and have now gone into health visiting. I have never looked back. It is so lovely to be able to provide quality care now.

Midwifes of the thread, what can us women do to help you when we come in to have our babies?

Even if it’s just bringing cakes/ chocolates for you, would this help brighten up your shifts a bit? I feel terribly guilty for being part of the problem tbh.

@Staryflight445

Midwifes of the thread, what can us women do to help you when we come in to have our babies?

Even if it’s just bringing cakes/ chocolates for you, would this help brighten up your shifts a bit? I feel terribly guilty for being part of the problem tbh.

It would have helped me to have been allowed more time with my ladies and babies. To have allowed me to be the Midwife I always wanted to be. I wasn’t prepared to be the midwife I was made to be.

@Staryflight445 if you do get good care please feed back. Try to trust the midwife if you can (obviously don’t accept poor care) and understand and listen to what she’s saying. Don’t be rude. But certainly don’t feel guilty about being part of any problem!!! The problem is too few staff, not enough support from senior management and more and more expectations from policy makers as to what a midwife can provide in a single consultation.

Not individual women and families having lovely l little
babies, is how I meant to finish that post.

Oh thank goodness @Starch1e thank you for clarifying. I am relieved.

Midwives on the thread, I'm so sorry you are forced to work under these conditions. Its simply not good enough and you deserve better too. I hope things change.

I’ve just had DC2 (last week) at one of these hospitals in this report. I had DC1 at the same time as the death in 2017- same hospital. I can’t talk about the trauma of DC1’s birth and during a meeting with PALS following what happened, a senior consultant admitted it was luck DC1 and I came home safely. Luck.

The community midwives have been inconsistent and non existent- my 28 week bloods weren’t checked until 37 weeks where I turned out to have significant iron deficiency, being a prime example of lack of care and time spent. The hospital midwives were incredible- I genuinely can’t fault them but they were stressed, overworked and incredibly busy. We had a tough time with DC2 and were kept in hospital for a while but they were amazing and ‘translated’ from the drs- many of whom were rude, arrogant and made it clear they thought I was a neurotic mother. The midwives defended me many a time and always listened.

However, after 2 tough experiences in that hospital I won’t fall pregnant again as I can’t bear the thought of going through it again there. The midwives are not at fault and they are doing their best but the system is not working and at patient level feels at breaking point, so to the midwives must be far beyond that.

What is losing one’s PIN?

Sorry to hear things are so shit for midwives now. It’s such an important job and should be properly funded and supported.

Midwives before birth were SO hit and miss. Everyone passes you around etc. And just no actual care. They’re just trying to get through as many appointments as possible. I get this. But was really hard as a first time mum. I had HG and was told to just put up with it until a different midwife saw me at 36 weeks and said it should have been spotted earlier. But I have to admit when giving birth my midwives we’re AMAZING. It’s was a stressful journey and I know how hard everyone is working. I was lucky to have such a great birth and support!!

I think the conditions for MWs are untenable.

A friend (early 40s first baby) tried to book in with a midwife at 8 weeks. So busy locally that she was told it would be a couple of months.... no 12 week scan - they said she'd have to wait until 20 weeks.

She has employed a private midwife and has gone for scans privately - she wanted the nuchal fold scan due to age. She gets a good amount of time per appointment.

Looking at the overall state of the NHS I do wonder if we will end up transitioning to a pay for services model. I am completely aware that not everyone could afford to do so but I wonder if we will end up with a US health insurance type system with some free health care. very sad state of affairs and absolutely not a refelection on the NHS staff.

My midwives were all (except 1) fabulous and there was a huge shortage of staff when I had my LO 8 months ago.
My community midwife was excellent and I will never forget the amazing work she did and I owe mine and my LOs life to her after I was dismissed by a consultant.
Yet another expectant mother was complaining about her running late whilst she was trying to help me.

Some midwives really do need more recognition and support. Personally take my hat off to them, I know I couldn't do the job they do.

It's not long until the system is going to buckle, scarily. There's always a train of thought that the NHS will cope because it has to and always has done; but soon it won't. There literally won't be enough staff to give even the bare minimum of care to women. I would not have another unless I could afford either private healthcare or a private midwife etc.

The induction limit decrease is not a minute before time. Babies have died because their Mothers were left until 42 weeks. In Germany you are induced at 40 weeks. It’s safer. Why would anyone want to risk it?

Had both my babies during covid and I couldn't have asked for better care from all the midwives and staff! They have been doing incredible work while under extra pressure and while it's infuriating at times with partners not being allowed in certain appointments etc it's not the midwives that make those decisions but unfortunately it is them that get the brunt of people's anger.

Thank you to all the midwives for putting up with everything you have been and helping bring all those little miracles into the world! 🥰

@Wannakisstheteacher

The induction limit decrease is not a minute before time. Babies have died because their Mothers were left until 42 weeks. In Germany you are induced at 40 weeks. It’s safer. Why would anyone want to risk it?

I’m not a consultant in this area but I’m not sure the evidence for still birth past 42 weeks is compelling to be honest with you. Still birth risk from the study I read (and it’s peer reviewed as I have academic credential logins) showed sB rates highest at 38 weeks. Other countries in the world recognise a typical pregnancy as lasting to 43 weeks.

Also induction itself is not without risk, much higher fetal distress than spontaneous labour etc.

[quote AndThenInTheEnd]@Staryflight445 if you do get good care please feed back. Try to trust the midwife if you can (obviously don’t accept poor care) and understand and listen to what she’s saying. Don’t be rude. But certainly don’t feel guilty about being part of any problem!!! The problem is too few staff, not enough support from senior management and more and more expectations from policy makers as to what a midwife can provide in a single consultation.[/quote]
I has to attend triage two weeks ago and I emailed PALS the next day praising the staff on there, saying how much they put me at ease even though they were clearly very busy. I've not even had an acknowledgment back saying they've received my email so I doubt its even been passed on even though I put the name of the midwife and the HCA in the email