Does your midwife generally deliver your baby?

[spatchcock]

I am seeing a community midwife and we really haven't gelled. In her defence, whenever I see her she is really behind in her appointments but she is very brusque and snappy with me and I don't feel comfortable with her.

I was considering changing but someone told me that chances are 'your' midwife won't be on hand when you deliver your baby, unless you have a home birth.

I've had an easy pregnancy so far (23 weeks, touch wood), and I can live with her for the antenatal care, but if it's going to be her down there at the business end, snapping away as I deliver, I would prefer someone else.

Any insights?

It depends on the area. In many areas the community midwives don't attend hospital deliveries, they are done by the hospital midwifery team. The community teams do antenatal and postnatal care and home births, or may attend the local midwifery led unit to deliver 'their' ladies.

In some places the community midwife 'follows' you into hospital for the delivery.

You could phone your maternity unit where you are booked to deliver and ask them how they work.

Well I never saw the community mw once during my longish labour and stay in hospital. This time I am going for a home birth and I think it is more likely the community mw will be there. Although I am actually keener on the hospital based mws so far.

If you really don't want this mw present at your labour am sure you don't have to.

Good luck! I am just 22 weeks pg. This time it is flying by!!

Round here the community MW might plan to attend a home birth but would not attend a hospital birth.

All three of mine were Home Births and still it's a lottery.

I had 'domino' care with DS1 and was introduced to all four members of my team although just one 'named' midwife. My named midwife didn't deliver but two others of the team did so i had a least met them a few times.

DS2. I had a high risk pregnancy so had shared care with midwife at surgery and a consultant. First midwife who arrived at my labour i had never met before and she asked if i wanted her to try and get my own midwife there for the delivery, and she was luckily available.

DD. I never saw the same midwife twice. Had supervisor of midwives and a student attend to me in labour and a male midwife i had met once during pregancy arrived for delivery.

All in all i woud say its unlikely unless you really wanted them there- i have had friends who have been told to call midwives on personal mobiles so they can be there at delivery if possible.

Thanks for your responses, this is interesting. I had just assumed that 'my' midwife would at least try to pop in when I was giving birth.

I think I will be ok with whoever's there on the day - if I'm too anal about it it's going to be a stressful experience anyway.