Are there any alternatives to having midwives provide your antenatal care?

[easterbaby]

I find it hard to trust the midwives I have met. They're based in a busy, rather faceless London NHS hospital. My GP referred me there but I'm increasingly dissatisfied. No continuity of care, lots of contradictory advice - my sense is that I'm just a number in the system. I'm rated low risk but would prefer to have a named doctor overseeing my care. Can I request this? Or can you only get this in London by going private?

Hi Easterbaby, congratulations on your PG.

In London some Nhs hospitals have what they call 'case loading midwives', whereby one midwife is responsible for your care. For example I know that St Thomas' do this but only for certain areas within their area - see this page and scroll down. So perhaps google to find out which hospitals near you do offer this and then ask to change to that hospital?

sorry I don't know anything about the named doctor thing, btw

Or you could consider an independent midwife. You can still access nhs scans etc and while lots using an IM are planning a home birth you can still have a hospital birth if that's your preference.

We are meeting an independent midwife on Thursday because of this exact thing. It was dire with DS and gave me serious issues afterwards... It appears the only way to guarantee continuity of care and having your wishes upheld is to go outside the nhs. Sad really!

Thanks everyone. I can only book appointments with the clinic (not an individual midwife.) And although I've met a lovely NHS midwife during my pregnancy, there are no guarantees she will be on duty. It takes time to build up trust, which is especially important for me as I suffer from anxiety. I think it would help most expectant mums to get to know the same professional! Spoke to my GP who has suggested having care at the surgery, which will hopefully work out better.

We hired a doula for this exact reason. I wanted someone I knew and trusted, who knew that they were talking about in the room with me. I don't think I met the same midwife twice throughout my whole pregnancy.