Notes

[GeraldineAubergine]

Good afternoon, I gave birth to DS 4 weeks ago and had a quite traumatic time, and have an appointment to go through my notes with a consultant tomorrow. I was just wondering if anyone has done this in the past and what they actually discuss in a meeting such as this and what I can expect.

Thanks

I suppose it depends what you want from it and what you experienced. For me, I sat with a midwife with both of us looking at the notes, we read through them and she explained what things meant, why it was likely decisions had been made and what concequences there could have been if they hadn't been made. She also filled in the gaps for me as I had a ga and had no idea where a large chunk of the day had gone. I asked any questions I had, we had a general talk about why I was upset as I blubbed a fair bit and that was really it. It was very helpful and I have been able to go see her again since. Hope it all goes well for you

Thanks for your reply. I too had a GA and I really just want to find out what went on during those four hours I'm glad you think it was useful, I wasn't sure about making the appointment but I think it will be useful to know what happened.

I wasn't sure either, but I guess you concentrate on what you really want to know. I think my dh was a bit shellshocked himself and other than saying he got sent home for a while couldn't really tell me anything useful. He went home to look after the older dcs, he wasn't abandoning me, I was out cold anyway!

And congratulations on your new baby

Thanks! He's lovely

I'm sure you know you can ask for a copy as well? The reason I say this is that I have a copy of all my Dds' labour notes, partly because it will be nice for them to have (I think!) and partly for Dds 2 and 3 it helped clear up some stuff for me.

I know one of my friends went through her notes in detail after a birth. She took a long time to get over the birth and really wound herself up about it. There was also a bit of a dispute with the hospital over it all. I think they went through it to help her deal with the scenario, try to accept why things happened from a factual point of view and also probably partly to cover their backs. Not sure that it did. She didn't seem able to let it go even though baby was completely fine. I have never been through the notes of either of my labours with a midwife. I did read them myself however. Fascinating - even though I didnt have a GA so many things you dont know about!! Found out my daughter was born with trapped cord and had to be resuscitated!! Had a vague idea something was wrong when I saw one midwife look to the other and shake her head. remember shouting at her because I sensed there was something. Anyway, none of them mentioned the specifics to me after. Good good luck. I hope you get a bit of 'closure'on your traumatic birth. I know 2 friends who found it too hard and it effected how htey handled their second birth. Hopoe you enjoy your baby and being a mummy

LittleSilver did you get a copy of your notes? I have to put up a fight every single time I want a copy of any exam in my hospital, so I believe they will not give me the notes easily (I'm still pregnant, hope I have a very uneventful birth). In fact, I expect a big fight if I have the gaul to ask a copy!

It would be nice to know that other people managed to get a copy for their records.

schroedingersdodo,are you in the UK? your notes are all written up in the maternity folder if so. We get the folder home with us till the midwife signs us off 10 days after birth. All my friends just photocopied them. x

schoedingersdodo - if you are in the UK then the hospital has a legal obligation to give you a copy of any notes they hold about you if you ask for them under the Data Protection Act 1998. They are entitled to charge for this to cover administration costs - and that charge is capped. They have a time limit of 40 days to supply the copies after you have requested them.

There's more info here on how to go about it.

Esme01 - I'm not sure how common it is to have your full notes home with you. When I went in with DD1 after a HB, the first thing they did was to take my hand held notes and I never saw any of them again (other than when they left them in the room by accident for a while). All I left hospital with were the discharge sheets for DD and myself.

schoedingersdodo I have a copy of my notes. They charged me £25 and I had to go through medical records not antenatal to get them. Legally they have to provide you with a copy, if in the UK, although mine turned up on day 39 so pretty close to the 40 day deadline! You can also ask medical records to view your notes, I believe they can charge £10 for this.

Esme01, thanks, I didn't know that.

I'm in London, and I always have some trouble to get a copy of my blood tests and exams in general (MW and doctors usually tell me what's in them, but I have to insist to be given copies).

So, I thought something similar would happen with the notes. The only exam results I was given were the scans. Good to know I'll be given the notes and that I can photocopy them

Tangle and bigcar, I only saw your replies now, and they are more in line with what I expected.

Tangle thanks a lot for the link!! (BTW, when you say "hand held notes" you mean the pregnancy notes?)

I always like to have copies of all my exams, results and so on, (part because I'm a control freak, part because I'm not from the UK and may move to other country someday) and it's always a bit of a battle to get hold of them. I have a feeling that hospital/surgery staff deliberately try to make it difficult so some people will just give up trying.

schroedingersdodo, I know what you mean! You may want to wait until you have had your baby to get a full copy in one go through the medical records department as they may well charge for each request. Definitely worth doing though, have a look here for all the legalities and who to complain to if you continue to have problems.

Thanks, bigcar!

schroedingersdodo - by "hand held notes" I mean the notes that are in your care while you are pregnant, that you carry to and from each ante-natal appointment. DD1 was breech and when we had a quick flick through the notes the hospital held we saw various bits of paper referring to ECV appointments and the like that I had not seen before. (Also, I'm guessing you picked up on it as it was in the NCT link, but your GP also has a legal obligation to give you copies of any information they hold about you if you make a formal request).

To play devil's advocate, it isn't the Dr's or MW's job to supply you with a copy of the written documentation so I can see why they are reluctant to do so - doesn't stop them politely explaining that and telling you the appropriate path to take, though, does it?

Fingers crossed things go more smoothly for you now

Yes, so the "hand held notes" were exactly what I thought they were I already have a copy of them, but I guess I'll make another one when I'm closer to due date.

The first time I asked for results my surgery staff have tried to direct me to a "results phone line" - but it's basically a number you can call 3 hours a day and is always busy, so pretty useless!

But I grant that most of the time people give me the copies once I insist. Never had to make formal requests (got close to that once, though) and hope it will continue that way.

Anyway, I printed the links you and bigcar sent me and I'll keep them with my medical records, just in case.