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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Fed up of local midwives what are my choices?

23 replies

holidaysoon · 15/10/2006 20:53

This is just a quick question in case anybody knows the answer I am so fed up of everything that has happened to me in my contacts with the NHS last week (including my midwives) that I want to change them. (What actually happened is very long and boring but cost a lot of time and was very stressful) Does any one know what my choices are? They were a community team then they are meant to come to hospital and deliver the baby. I am quite far gone so am actually thinking about just cancelling all further appointments with them and not bothering. I have tried the numbers (to call if you want to change midwives) at the hospital but couldn't get an answer over about 3 days last week! Thanks

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Spidermama · 15/10/2006 21:02

I was very fed up with my mws and so I got some independent ones. They were very expensive (over two grand ) but utterly, utterly brilliant. I had the same ones for every birth even though it put me in debt, and they transformed my birth experiences.

Each time I got pregnant I thought, 'Well, I know what I'm doing now so I can save money this time and go NHS' but there was really no comparison. My dh agreed every time.

I don't know what your funds are like but i's worth considering.

MuddlingThru · 15/10/2006 21:07

I live on the edge of 2 PCTs' catchment areas. So the 2 nearest hospitals are run by different PCTs. As a result it is a different team of midwives that would look after me depending on which hospital I was booked at for the birth. Obviously don't know where you live to know whether changing to a different PCT would be an option for you.

happybiggirl · 15/10/2006 21:13

Message withdrawn

PinkyRed · 15/10/2006 21:28

Can you change to doctor-led care? In our area, you can choose to have doctor led care rather than the midwife led unit, but you really have to stand your ground as they push you towards the midwife service.

My community midwives were rubbish, but the ones at the hospital were fantastic. So much depends on the individuals involved.

Original poster

holidaysoon · 15/10/2006 21:30

Thanks everyone. Not finding any of those attractive for my circumstances tbh. As an aside Spidermama can independent midwives go to hospital with you? I was under the impression you needed NHS ones. Happybig girl I expect I should just do what ytou suggest but to be honest I'm just too grumpy (and found it all so stressful last week)

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Original poster

holidaysoon · 15/10/2006 21:33

Sorry PinkyRed cross posted was wondering if that was an option for non-problem pregnancies as I said I can't get any one in this huge teaching hospital to actually answer the phone so havn't been able to find out so far.

OP posts:

happybiggirl · 15/10/2006 21:34

Message withdrawn

Spidermama · 15/10/2006 21:34

Yes Indie MWs go to hospital with you if that's what you want. They'll go to all your scan appointments too. The whole point is they do what you want on your terms.

Spidermama · 15/10/2006 21:35

HBG there's more to birthing than that. Many women have put up with terrible lack of support, unwanted intervention or just terrible 'care' in the name of 'wanting a healthy baby'.

We have every right to get decent care and to have a say in how it goes. We are not a third world country.

happybiggirl · 15/10/2006 21:40

Message withdrawn

tiredandhormonal · 15/10/2006 21:43

i had huge problems with consultant and when had clamed down explained why and refused to see him again, stud my ground politely but firmly and got another one. could you do this for MW?

tiredandhormonal · 15/10/2006 21:46

i would say don't cancel appointments though, i was going to but as have problems thought better of it and asked for someone else.

mears · 15/10/2006 21:48

I personally would get an appointment with the senior midwife in your area and discuss your needs and how they can be accomodated rather than just change midwives without discussion. It would be ineteresting to know what the problem is. And yes, IM can accompany you into hospital

mears · 15/10/2006 21:48

tiredandhormonal · 15/10/2006 21:48

GTG bye

Judy1234 · 15/10/2006 22:07

Can you change hospitals or find small midwifery only birth centre in the NHS?

Or you could pay. I used www.birthcentre.com/

Original poster

holidaysoon · 15/10/2006 22:12

happybig girl obv I want both of us to be alive and well at the end of it! (not said in a cross way by the way) just don't think I have to put up with unending crap to get that. Mears it is a long and boring story but will try and summarise basically they didn't book my booking appointment then blamed me in my notes, they said they would book my 20 week scan (not saying it was their job but they said they would) and that didn't happen. Had about 5 weeks of begging/pleading with rude receptionist and eventually got one then was told it was too late to do (part of) what was needed at it! Needed to see midwife last week she refused saying I should see my Dr. GP refused to see me (well actually he didn't the practice nurse was running some sort of coffee morning whan I saw her and just laughed at me) it was the receptionist who refused to allow me to see the Dr. I saw red when I was told to sit and wait to see the practice manager!! (Sums up the way the NHS is going and part of what's wrong with it I think.) I have also ended up hanging the phone up on occ. health this week because they refused to see me and nearly cracked when I got told off by one of the managers for failing to "do the right thing" and also failing to go to occ. health. Told her if she could get me an appointment I would go needless to say I'm still waiting. I have checked with my collegues that I'm not just particularly cranky/difficult to work with at the moment and they assure me I'm not (have asked them to be brutally honest). At the back of my mind is the fact that I'm over 30 weeks and have seen MW and GP once and havn't managed to have these midwives at any of my deliveries yet.(unlike so many others they are v. pro home births and I have refused to have one!). So that's the long and boring gist of it. Think I will go with asking for hospital based care (providing I can get the phone answered!). Thanks for your help everyone.

OP posts:

vesela · 16/10/2006 10:59

Holidaysoon, the way you've been treated sounds absolutely scandalous. I would also suggest going to the senior midwife - if these people aren't doing their jobs properly, she needs to know.

Maybe it would be best to start off the conversation not with the fact that you want to change midwives (i.e. it's not just that you don't get on) but with the fact that these midwives have failed you. Then by the end it'll be clear why you need to change.

RabidZombieAmie · 16/10/2006 12:30

That is exactly what happened to me Holidaysoon... as I didn't know when I fell pregnant ( Ihave PCOS and before pregnancy this year my previous AF was in March!) they didn't know how far I was gone so just booked me in for a scan for whenever! I tried to explain that I felt I was about 9-11 weeks at booking appointment but scan date and info for dating scan came through the post and they'd given me the end of september! which I caluclated I'd have been about 18 weeks and would have missed appointments and triple tests! so we kicked up fuss, found out both community Midwives were on holiday at the same time! Scanning department said they couldn't do anything about it! when MW came back and we spoke to her she said to go on the list at the scanning department, phoned them she said they didn't have a list for cancellations and would only go by what the midwife told them!

While this was going on I had seen My GP and he told me it wasn't the first time he'd had complaints about the midwives!

somehow... know Idea how, i got an appointment through for antenatal check up and when asked when due I said I've no idea! luckily the MW at the hospital listened to our story, and said that was unacceptable and sorted out a scan for us there and then! we ahd to wait 4 hours for a cancellation but we got scanned, found out I was then 15 weekish! so just intime for check up and tests!

No more dealings with Community MW's so far, have appointment for 24 weeks to make. Will see how that goes.. but may stick with them if no complications as the MW's at the hospital seem to know what they're doing at least.

Not sure we could budget for a Independent one but would love to!

vesela · 16/10/2006 15:11

or maybe it's the receptionist who's to blame as much - either way, poor you, you seem to have done more than your fair share of sitting on the phone!

mears · 16/10/2006 19:08

holidaysoon - it is totally unacceptable not to be seen regularly by midwife or GP, nor is it acceptable not to have your scan booked.
That is the job of the professional who sees you to book that.
Where I work, the community midwives and hospital midwives are managed by the same Head of Midwifery. It is called an integrated service. I would ask for an appointment with the head of midwifery and tell her of the problems you have had. It sounds as though there has been a cock up that should not be allowed to happen again.
You should have had a follow-up appointment made after your last visit. If you are having a normal pregnancy your midwife should be the one seeing you. Sometimes GPs like to see you too. Whoever saw you last should have ensured you had a follow-up.
Are you booked under a consultant? If so, phone and ask to speak to his secretary if no-one answers the phone. Appalling way to deliver a service.

happybiggirl · 16/10/2006 19:11

Message withdrawn

EmilyTurner · 17/10/2006 07:10

Every woman has a right to change midwives. They are employed by the Primary Healthcare Trust not your GP. I met with the head of midwifery for my PCT to complain about my local midwives. I've been blogging about how crap they are for months and the trust found my blog and invited a discussion.

You can read their responses here www.doingitallagain.com/2006/09/28/3540-what-the-nhs-said/ - it might help you.

PS They changed my midwife immediately.

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