To fear NHS maternity care

[MrsmrsmrsS]

I am pregnant and my local hospital maternity ward has been voted 'unsafe' and 'inadequate'.
I have left 3x messages for them to arrange my first midwife appointment over the last 7 days, and I'm waiting on them getting back to me.
So far I'm not exactly reassured this is going to be OK...
Has anyone paid for a private midwife or pregnancy care? Or is there anyway around this?
I can't really afford it, what with the time off work coming up, but the situation is making me anxious.
P.S. I'm not interested in hearing how understaffed the NHS are, that's obvious, I'm only interested in hearing practical solutions to get the best care for myself and my baby.

@MrsmrsmrsS l feel the same unfortunately and it’s scary. Next nearest hospital is even worse and 3rd nearest hospital is too far. So stuck with under staffed nearest hospital

@iwantasandwich l will be pushing hard for a ELCS. Word on the street is my local hospital is very resistive to c-section but tough. It is my first pregnancy, l will be 43 and it’s twins. I doubt my local hospitals ability to handle that risk combo

I went private and it was a completely different experience. You're treated as a person not a number in a queue. Not being rushed, having a direct number to call for anything, just excellent care. It cost a fortune but so very worth it.

Oh and I had an ELCS, completely supportive doctors.

I do think some first time mums on MN don’t really understand the first trimester and basically how uneventful it is, at least until 8-10 weeks. It’s really a case of notifying your midwife team and taking your prenatal vitamin - that’s it 🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m 10w3d and I’m only booked in for my first community midwife appointments this week. It isn’t a sign of neglect, it’s just nothing needs to happen for a while.

You have been very fortunate. I have had multiple miscarriages, 4 of which were in the first trimester. ‘Threatened miscarriages’ and miscarriages do need early care. Granted, they are not the majority of pregnancies but adequate for the medical care and support needs to be provided for everyone, not just the ‘easy’ pregnancies.

Definitely push if they make you

Thankfully my local hospital were great with the maternal request, understood their role in this and mine too but friends have had to really fight for it

One thing my midwife mentioned to be before my first consultant appt was remember they have to listen to your request, you're coming into a 'negotiation' in a position of power, because if they push back you will just then get referred to the consultant midwife who will push it through for you anyway!

Sorry to jump on someone elses thread, but I'm currently 5 weeks (first baby) and have no idea what to expect in terms of midwives appointments. I've registered with the hospital, when do you think ill hear something?

You're right about the early stages being uneventful! I keep forgetting im pregnant! 😂

I doubt any UK hospital will resist a c section request for a 43 year old with twins! Sounds like by far the most sensible choice

As you can tell from these replies it will depend on your trust

at your booking in appointment though you should be given a flow chart showing all your appointments and what dates you'll be at each one though

You might need more on top of those, but they will show you the 'standard' ones

You say left a message, can you email? My midwife hub were always super responsive to emails and less so phone calls

With the booking in (first) appointment both times I've referred myself and it takes about 2 weeks for them to get back to you with an appointment. The appointment will be at 12 weeks.

I wouldnt worry about chasing them up unless you're approaching 12 weeks or they've taken over 2 weeks to contact you.

Sounds like the alternative hospital might be best! And consider a doula who can advocate for you.
Xx

Have you checked online? It may give a schedule of appointments. Usually it goes something like booking in apt at 8 weeks, scan at 12 weeks, apt 16 weeks, scan 20 weeks, then apts 24, 28, 32, then fortnightly

The booking in appointment should be done latest at 10 weeks fyi

I would 100% pay for private if I could. I'm so glad I'm done having babies because I have no faith in our local maternity services after my experiences.

@iwantasandwich l say push. But l won’t be taking no for an answer. I am going to print out the NICE guidelines this weekend and familiarise myself with them. Although my local hospital don’t appear to know or follow them. These are the idiots who prescribed me Clomid for fertility issues but declined to monitor me 🙄. It’s been a long road to get pregnant of over 4 years, with little help from them

Thanks for that tip. I am setting my stall out super early

Another one saying go to arrowe park if thats a possibility.

Im currently 15+3 and they have been pretty good so far getting me all my appointments sent in the post on time and the scan was really relaxed and everyone was kind. Even two years ago when i had my mc the consultant i saw was so lovely. Its got good ratings and ive heard a few good anecdotes there. I decided against the womens hospital for the same reasons as you op appalling "care" there.

OP how far along are you?
In my last pregnancy I self referred at 6 weeks, chased at 8 weeks and seen at 9 weeks. This is normal. Obviously if you're close to 12 weeks then fair enough but by the sounds of it you only made the referral a week ago and you've already chased it twice.
I'm not sure if this is your first baby, and I mean this not to be arsey but you need to lower your expectations. If you're say 5-6 weeks at the moment you won't be a priority at the moment but you will be seen soon.

I would be very worried about having private maternity care. They are too fond of sending anything complicated to NHS (which improves their outcomes and reduces that of the local NHS hospital).

I was in a very similar situation and went for a home birth with a company called private midwives. They were excellent and I couldn't recommend them more. Their midwives also have agreements that they can work in some hospitals or where they don't they attend as "birth support" which would mean having someone who knows what is going on by your side advocating for you.

I'm only 7 weeks pregnant, so I get the lack of urgency. Hopefully I'll hear from them soon.

But it says on the NHS website sickle cell and thalassaemia should be tested for before 10 weeks. So knowing the wait times etc, I just want to be booked in.

So not really screaming for an appointment right now, just wanting to be booked in in time.

I'm also almost 39, so whilst not high risk I'm more aware I might have issues.

And yes of course it's my first baby, otherwise my expectations would already be on the floor.

I wouldn’t worry. From self referral (which for my Trust was an online form rather than calling a number?) it was a couple of weeks before my midwife contacted me. If you have concerns about where to give birth talk to her about it, she’ll be able to tell you the truth about the units.

@MrsmrsmrsS perfectly reasonable to be concerned. Strongly recommend you have someone in your life to help you advocate for yourself. It can be stressful doing all the chasing.

I’ve just been tested for sickle cell etc today at 10+3. Try not to worry - I would call again at 8.5 weeks if you haven’t heard by then. And it sounds like you have a choice of hospitals which is good.

Hi OP I hired a doula for my births as I couldn’t afford a private midwife. NHS care for my first was terrible.

She advised on the hospital with the best care which had a superb MLU and really helped me to fight for the birth I wanted. She was also there for the post birth bit. Helped dress the baby and also helped me in establishing breastfeeding. Have a look on the doula U.K. website.

For my first I had to have a private dating scan as by the time I saw a midwife I was 16 weeks gone. Second time around I was prepared and didn’t let them ignore me.

@User1563 a doula sounds really interesting, maybe that's what I need.
Just a little extra support. Do you mind me asking how much it costs? Just so I have a ballpark. Thanks