Midwife Appointments

[Plunkett]

Hi just wondering what appointments people have with their Midwifes, is each area different?
With first (6 yrs ago) I remember having quite a few and quite reguarly all the way through. I've been for my second appointment today (16 wks) following booking appointment at 8 wks and next is booked in for end august at 28 wks. Is this pretty normal for a second? Not worried as had pretty straight forward preg and labour with first - just seems a long time?

That's the same as me. It seems like such a long time doesn't it? My MW did say though if I had any problems/concerns in the meantime to call or go to GP. So you're not left on your own if you feel there's any problem. Still, I agree it feels a very long time between appointments.

Meant to say it's my 2nd pregnancy too.

You see them much less in subsequent pregnancies. I was booking in (9 weeks), 13 weeks, 25 weeks and now 31 weeks.

There are NICE guidelines available which tell you which weeks you should be seen by the midwife. It is more often with 1st child. My midwife gave me a copy but you can get them free off the NICE website.

I have seen mine twice I'm 31 weeks ! Don't seenher again until 3rd July if I can get an appointment! If I call te midwife line it's jus a recorded message ! I've heard the heartbeat once which was rushed through! Personally ok it's my third and I'm low risk but I do feel a bit abobdened especially as I'm in a physical job thought my blood pressure should b checked more often? Oh well maybe I will see her after delivery? Maybe !

Arent you having a 20week scan then seeing the midwife after that? They can give you your MATB1 form then too.

Oh yes had scans but there wasn't a midwife present ! Had to call the surgery and ask for my matb1 to b left in reception ! Also she forgot to do my bloods at 28 week check ! So I had to go over to the hospital so they could do them ! Nor easy when working 50 hours a week and have 2 other children !

I feel exactly the same, am shocked at how little they see you, what if pre eclampsia etc rears up. maybe its due to cuts and mad population increase?

Also my 1st midwife was AMAZING, obvioulsy at the time i had no one to compare her too, but she was so wonderful, she got a heartbeat at 8 weeks, got me so excited, every visit was special and I looked forward to it.

Now with no2 at a different surgery I am with a MW who I feel is unbelievably sloppy and couldnt care less. Rude and un helpful when I have been asking questions, beyond appalling attitude etc.....I have had two appts with her and felt so miserable after.

She even told me that you cant hear a heart beat at 8 weeks which was a total lie - as another midwife found one!

I was amazed to discover she is actually a matron of all the midwives in the area. It deeply concerns me if she is at the top, what ethos is being radiated down.

Anyway after I came out of my last appt I have asked to change her.

You can do that - keep your regular surgery, but just use anothers midwife services.

I felt sooo sorry for the ladies I saw waiting to see her on my way out - they would have to face this miserable woman at such a precious and special time in thier lives.

I am expecting DC3 and in London. I have had a 16wk check and now I am not being seen by a MW until 32 weeks. I am really shocked at how much they have cut back. I thought they cut a few for 2nd timers but then it always stayed the same for subsequent pregnancies but I had a lot more than this with my 2nd. My concern is no one will listen to the heartbeat since my 20 scan until 32 weeks. I also won't have my urine or blood pressure checked for the middle 16 weeks of my pregnancy.

I think in my area they have cut back to many and are putting both the mother and baby at risk with such few appointments. I am classed as high risk as I was hospitalised twice with my 1st at 22wks and 29wks and it doesn't seem to make a difference.

eliza they are NOT supposed to attempt to find a heart beat that early by doppler because of the anxiety caused if they don't (which is quite possible that early even if everything is fine) - it's too hit n miss!

OP my apts are same as DC1:
8-10wks MW at surgery
11-14 wks hospital scan and bloods
16 wks MW at surgery
18-20 weeks scan
25 weeks MW at surgery
28 weeks bloods and mat B1 collection with MW
31 weeks MW
34 weeks MW
36 weeks MW
38 weeks MW
40 weeks MW
41 weeks MW to arrange induction

I live in a deprived area though so we tend to get more visits from the likes of health visitors here to check up on us as there are a disproportionate amount of children in troubled homes here so might have a couple more MW apts than in lower risk postcodes

I'm in NW Kent and only 15wks with #2.

I have a sheet from MW that was given at the 8wks booking in appt detailing the appointments. It's for second & subsequent babies, rather than first though...

11-13+6 wks dating scan & routine bloods
16wks - MW (listen for Hb)
21-23wks anomaly scan
22-23wks MW
28wks MW + bloods forms given
34wks MW + bloods forms given
36wks MW
38wks MW
40wks MW
41wks MW (if nec, & induction booked)

I do remember seeing the MW slightly more often with DD, but haven't moved healthcare authority or anything (& she's only just 2yo) so think the reduction is purely due to it being #2. I think I saw her every 2wks from wk 28 or thereabouts...

Also, a few wks back there was a thread about hearing the HB and the

Also, a few wks back there was a thread about hearing the HB and the NICE guidelines. I was very surprised to read that they're not meant to listen before 16wks as it might cause distress, although I definitely heard DD's at the 16wk appt, & assume we'll try to listen to this DC's nxt wk.

Stupid phone... sorry about the repetition!!!

We are in Surrey so retro mum u sound the same as me! Although I'm low risk I ended up in hospital at 29 weeks with a suspected clot on the lung as I was having a bit of trouble breathing ! Turns out I was just over doing it but my midwife hasn't even contacted me about this so obv doesn't care! To forget my bloods at28 weeks is disgusting being as I was anaemic with my 2nd ! I'm deff going to put in a complaint after my baby was born! And during the whole appointment the midwife was going on about her hectic work schedule and how she hoped her husband remembers ocado are delivering their shopping !

The guidelines say not to listen to heartbeat before 16weeks as there is no guarantee you will hear it, it is hard to find at that point. It might distress the woman if they can't find it.

I had my second baby earlier in the year and the appointments were the same as the first. In fact I had two extra ones because Christmas made it impossible to be seen when I needed be and another one to arrange homebirth booking. If you want to see them at say 24 weeks why not just make an appointment?

monkeymoma

I UNDERSTAND that they dont want to find it for whatever reason, but the matron LIED to me by telling me, that at 8 weeks you cannot find a heart beat.

She could have said what you have said - we could but we dont like to in case X YZ or, some midwives do it for fun...but we dont do it as a rule....because of X Y and Z.

such a blatent lie from a matron to a woman - me who has heard a fetul heartbeat didnt put us on a good footing.

Also - I think most women are big and ugly enough to also understand that at 8 weeks, shall we have a go and try and find it - its not always possible, but that doesnt mean there isnt one there.

I think most women understand that, should thye have a midwife like mine who was amazing and lovley. It was a moment that was very very special to me. And I hugley thank her for it.

Retromum1

Please dont wait for your MW or appointments, go and book yourself in with your doctor, make your own health check ups that way.

Chunky -

I think if the midwife comes at a HB before whatever hte guidelines say in

a " serious" manner - then I imagine it might cause distress....ie. right - lets try and get a heart beat - oppps i cant find one.

Or - " Shall we see if we can have a listen> I must warn you its hard at 8 weeks but would you like me to have a go?

its not really a lie, you often CAN'T find it, or on the flip side, you cannot guarentee that you CAN so then its not exactly a lie to say you can't

really, your MW did the right think, and if your first child was recentish your previous MW did the wrong thing. That should be reassuring re your current MW - i'ld rather have her than your previous one based on that! They're not meant to be your new BFF, they're meant to follow up to date protocol and research

I think you're wrong BTW that most women would just shrug and wait patiently if a MW tried to find a heartbeat and couldn't!

Yea that is a blatant lie ! It's advisable not to listen as it may cause upset but then u can just say oh no ok dnt want u to then or yes please can we try? Ur midwife sounds like right cow !

I knew you couldn't reliably always hear a heartbeat early on but MW offered to listen at (I think) 14 weeks last time. I wasn't bothered either way but agreed. She tried and couldn't find it. And I was then really quite worried, despite logically knowing it would not necessarily be found and being a generally sensible grown up.
That's why they are advised not to!

Monkey

Yes it is a lie, she could as i said above - have explained why she didnt or midwives dont now look for an early heartbeat.

to say the baby is so low down that you cannot find one - is a blatant lie.

I had my first 4 years ago.

I think most women - actually would be utterly delighted to be offered the opportunity to listen to thier babies heart beat for the first time, in the " frame work " that its a bit of fun....we dont guarantee we can find it yet as its sooo early....but if you would like to have a try - lets.

Only some women would say no.

I dont want my MW to be a best friend, but she also messed up on my form - nearly for my 12 week scan, moaning that the sonographer asked her for a form, when i got to the hospital the receptionists were AMAZED she nearly didnt give me this form, saying it would have caused HUGE problems without it. Maybe she was a new MW? ( turns out she is the matron).

Then as I had my NF scan done at one hosp but actually having the baby at another - she didnt seem to know this wouldnt trigger my 20 wk scan appt. and when i pointed this out to her - she didnt seem too bothered about addressing the kink in the system or that other ladies like me miught be sat waiting for our 20 week scans with actually - NOTHING going on behind the scenes the generate one.

Also as I have PCOS I cant date my pregnancy from my last period and at each scan they have moved me along including a recent private scan. I am now over a week from the first date,

When I asked her to help" clarify" my dates, her attitude was " so what you have moved along a week - this is the trouble isnt it when you go private".

She has quite frankly no interest in her job, in me, or seemingly in anything. She got my bloods back started to write on my form, then went onto somthing else - er hello - is everything ok then?

My first midwife LOVED her job, it was a vocation, you can tell she loved seeing the babies development and made it special which is it.

I was amazed that my MW turns out to be a matron of the whole area. And yet people in hosp departments thought she must be NEW because she is so sloppy.

The point is - MOnkey, not whether do HB or not, its the LIE that a head MW gave me, that you CANNOT find a HB.

The matron of all MIDWIVES in my area, feeling its ok to spill out a blatant LIE.

eugh its NOT a lie its just the short version Vs the long version
like when sonographers say they can't see a heart beat before 6 or 7 weeks so don't scan, if they did they WOULD see HBs in a FEW women, but many many more would be sent away for a horrific terrifying week..

its not a "bit of fun", its terrifying when somehthing isn't found! my previous dating scan was too early, even being told this it was HORRIFIC when they didn't find anything externally, none of it is "for fun" it is medical diagnositcs to look for problems! that's why they DO check for a heart beat later on - its not for the woman's entertainment!

Goldrill

its not about why they do or dont offer, the point was - 4.5 years ago my MW offered and we found one - i had no idea then about anyting to do with HB.

So a head MW telling me you cannot find one is a lie.

Im sorry your MW couldnt find a HB but thats a risk you take. I cant say how I would have felt if we couldnt find one, but i trusted my MW and if she told me thats normal I wold have trusted her.
All I do know is, that when I heard that HB and she said " thats your little friend in there" I burst into tears and it all became very real for me, and reassuring.....

I complettly understand if too many women have become distressed - and from feedback they have now stopped doing this, thats totally fair enough.

However - my matron MW didnt say any of that - just you cannot find one.

also early scans do not date as accurately as the 12 week one, your private sonographers should have told you this, mine did! - you need to wait till the 12 week one for your final due date.

monkey

i dont know if you know what a definition for what a lie is ?

Short lie compared to slighlty longer truthful explanation?

the MW herself didnt say it was for fun, when i rang that surgey back to ask if my old MW does early HB th receptionist said - not officically but she can do for a bit of fun.

the MW was totally slopppy all round, are you her!!!!!!

I have PCOS and have had two early scans at 6 and 8 weeks.