Antenatal Midwife Care (or lack of it?)

[rebeccah]

Hi
Might not be in the right area for this posting so please accept my apologies if I am. I just would be interested to if other people have/are experiencing the same frustrations re: antenatal care. Am currently 16 weeks pregnant and have yet to see a midwife to be 'booked in'. Everytime I call i get told 'there are no midwives, we are too busy,call in 2 weeks if you haven't received an appointment' Lo and behold appointment never arrives!!!

I live in the London Borough of Greenwich and initially things got off to a promising start. I was given an early scan because of issues around dates and my doctor arranged the blood tests at 8 weeks. I was told to arrange the scan directly with the hospital which I did and was told by the doctor that the midwife appointment would follow shortly. When I had the scan, hospital told me that I wasn't allocated a midwife and should follow it up straight away (which is what I've been trying to do since!!!!!)

I am due to go on holiday in a few weeks and would like to see a midwife before I go to check everything ok but can't get an appointment in a drop in clinic because i'm not 'booked' in!!!!! Clearly if it continues, I'll just go back to my GP but this doesn't seem to resolve the issue in the long-term as every question I have put to my GP about the pregnancy/birth has been met with the response "the midwifes will be able to help you with that". And so the vicious circle continues!

Is this the norm ?? Am a bit concerned as by the time the next 2 week waiting period is up, I could potentially be approaching 19weeks and no-one yet has taken family history, blood pressure and I'll have no paperwork, notes etc...Am just really unclear on what I can realistically expect in the way of care and have no idea what my 'birthing' options are and so far, am not greatly inspired that the delivery will be a positive, supportive experience!!!

Any feedback gratefully received!
Kind regards
Rebecca

this sounds rough rebecah - nothing to add but i hope others will know what you should be getting and be able to help

This definately does not sound like the norm.
I'd keep pestering you G.P , midwives AND hospital till someone actually listens to you!!!

BEST OF LUCK!!

yes, this does sound quite peculiar. when I was PG, I had some early scans at the hospital to rule out an ectopic, and the GP then referred me for routine antenatal care. I would expect your GP to sort out your referral for antenatal care, not you. I am puzzled that you had to arrange your early scan directly with the hospital, rather than your GP referral. I would nag your GP further about arranging booking in.

Rebeccah, have you been calling the antenatal booking office at your hospital? I got lost on the system until I reached 16 wks and called them direct. If you have been calling them to no avail, nag your GP some more...
I'm sure someone will give you some more helpful advice than this - hope it gets sorted soon. Good luck.

Rebeccah, I found \linkwww.nice.org.uk/pdf/CG6_ANTENATAL_CARE_A5.pdfthis{} for you, so you can spout off on the phone to them about how they are contravening NICE guidelines. It states that your first appointment should be before twelve weeks. I don't know that everyone does get their appointment at this stage, but to not know when it is going to be is just stupid. I think I was nearly 17 weeks before I had mine. It probably would of been later but someone else I knew had had to chase up the hospital as they didn't have an appointment late on. It sounds like they need a real kick up the backside. If they know you are aware of your rights it might well give them the impetous (sp!) to sort you out. Good luck

Rebeccah, I found this for you, so you can spout off on the phone to them about how they are contravening NICE guidelines. It states that your first appointment should be before twelve weeks. I don't know that everyone does get their appointment at this stage, but to not know when it is going to be is just stupid. I think I was nearly 17 weeks before I had mine. It probably would of been later but someone else I knew had had to chase up the hospital as they didn't have an appointment late on. It sounds like they need a real kick up the backside. If they know you are aware of your rights it might well give them the impetous (sp!) to sort you out. Good luck

I would try the ante natal day team at the hospital, nearest, to get you monitored. Or go to Gp complaining of something preg related, sciatica heartburn or whatever and then ask him to check the situation for you
IMHO I would wish never to see a member of any NHS team in my pregnancy again after the last time, but hey...

Rebeccah, I found this for you, so you can spout off on the phone to them about how they are contravening NICE guidelines. It states that your first appointment should be before twelve weeks. I don't know that everyone does get their appointment at this stage, but to not know when it is going to be this late is just stupid. I think I was nearly 17 weeks before I had mine. It probably would of been later but someone else I knew had had to chase up the hospital as they still didn't have an appointment late on. It sounds like they need a real kick up the backside. If they know you are aware of your rights it might well give them the impetous (sp!) to sort you out. Good luck

OOOPS! Sorry! Read the last one!!!

rebeccah - who are you phoning? I suggest you phone the Head of Midwifery with your concern ( she will be ased at local hospital) and it will be sorted for you. You should be 'booked' by now.

meant based