Extremely unhelpful midwives wwyd?

[Bubandbump]

Bit of a moan and a what to do..

I am 41 weeks today, at my midwife appointment 2 weeks ago, I was told I would be given a sweep at the next appointment, last Friday when I was 40+4.

I turned up to my appointment to be asked when i would like to be booked in for induction without even mentioning a sweep. I said that i wanted every chance not to have an induction until 42 weeks and would prefer sweeps in the meantime only to be told that policy is only at 41 weeks even for a first baby. I have read the nice guidelines btw which states between 40-41 weeks and requires more than one for a first timer but they are just seemingly ignoring this. I would strongly prefer not to have an induction which is booked for this Sunday.

So they tell me to book in for this week.. I know they have no midwife appointments available this week as already tried to prebook and so they said they would try and fit me in somewhere else today and would ring first thing. This morning, no call, no appointments available still for this week when I call the doctors, the only way to try and get hold of them is to leave a message on their ansaphone and hope they call you back (within 3 days - any emergencies you have to call the labour ward directly).

I am getting so upset and frustrated - the community midwives just don't seem to care less, they wouldn't do an examination on Friday either so I have no idea of the likelihood of a sweep working and it looks like if they won't fit me in today, I will only get one sweep max before I go in for induction. This is just symptomatic of every appointment, different contradicting information, not answering questions, no appointments available for weeks, asking me if I really felt like I really needed a 40 week appointment..

I honestly don't know what to do, they are so unhelpful and unsupportive and seem to think they are only there to do urine samples and blood pressure.

It sounds like you are having a really tough time, and you may need to jump up and down about this. You could try contacting your hospitals Head of Midwifery to get this sorted. I know it sounds a bit over the top, but lets be honest, time isn't on your side at 41 weeks and you need to get this sorted quickly. Your community midwife is essentially blocking your access to the care you want for you and your baby. Can you get a DP/friend to do the jumping up and down on your behalf? You should be able to get a contact number cfrom the hospital website or PALS.

When the baby has arrived and the dust has settled, you might also want to consider a complaint as it sounds as though you have received substandard care.

Good luck, i hope all goes well for you.
x

agreed, I would be ringing the labour ward or turning up to the antenatal clinic at the hospital if it is not too far away. Be a little careful about using "entitled" to things as it just gets people's backs up (even if you are right!) but I have found the hospital based MW to be a little more compassionate than the community ones who have to juggle so many people and appointments that it can seem very impersonal. Also be aware that a sweep is not a sure thing anyway and so induction is likely. At 42 wks hopefully it will take a minimal amount of intervention to get things going. Best of luck.

I'm suprised they won't just give you a sweep, maybe phone up and you might get a different midwife who may make things a bit easier?
For my ds2 I said no thanks for a sweep and they said if you change your mind phone up and you can come straight in for one, so from that I'm thinking it should not necessicarily need an appointment? I agree phone up to the hosp not the community midwives, if they are the ones not seeming to be very effective on this matter. I thought overdue apts to discuss induction etc are done at hospital anyway? maybe it depends but mine always were for previous 2 dc

Thanks for your replies. I have managed to get a cancellation for Thursday which means I have at least 1 booked in before Sunday - tbh it was my main concern that I wouldn't get seen at all. I know it's not a sure thing but I want to give myself the best chance possible of going into labour this week.

Trixie, I probably am the last person to be demanding things but the community midwives have in the past told me I needed to be referred for an early ecv as scans showed the baby at 95th percentile, to the next one saying she wouldn't refer me till 38 weeks, to be told by the consultant that I should have been referred at 37 weeks etc etc. It seems that I have to do my own research and then firmly ask them as they don't volunteer any information or choices.

At least there's an end in sight!

Good luck for Thursday (just relax...). If you make it to Sunday they may be able to give you one as well as often they take you in hours before they plan to start inducing you.

I also found community mw to be a bit crap but even then when they also had no appts left for when I would have been 41+, they made an appt for me after the final patient should have been seen for the day.

good luck bubandbump!

You sound very keen to avoid induction - you could read up about expectant management and ask for that instead. Remember, you don't have to let anyone do anything to your body - make sure you're always informed of the options.

Glad you got a cancellation appt.

You should have already been given a contact number for your midwife's midwifery supervisor. They should all have one. You can use this person to support you in any areas of your care where you are not entirely happy, and they should be contactable 24/7.

See this link on the NMC website:
www.nmc-uk.org/Documents/Midwifery-booklets/Support-for-parents-2009.pdf.

Hope this helps.

call [http://www.aims.org.uk/ aims]] for advice

www.aims.org.uk/

I agree. You need to take this further!!