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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Bl*dy midwife worse than useless

16 replies

emkana · 16/03/2006 20:05

After my recent woes with various scans etc. (did several threads) I had an appointment with the community midwife today. She had no idea what has been going on - not her fault really, but I'm amazed that there's no system to inform the community midwife about things like this!
I asked her about counselling and she didn't have a clue. Started looking in the back of the NHS pregnancy information book to find phone numbers of charities etc. FFS, I can read myself thanks very much!
Then I asked her about the amniotic fluid (I have too much) - she said not to worry. I said okay, but couldn't it be a sign of gestational diabetes (apart from being a pointer for fetal abnormalities)? Oh yeah, she said. So I said, what about testing for gestational diabetes? Oh yeah that's an idea she said.

Honestly this woman is so useless. My friend miscarried at 18 weeks and this midwife never once phoned to see how she was after she had been to hospital - just to show it's not just me!

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scotchlass · 16/03/2006 20:12

Have you asked about transferring to a different midwife? If you feel that she may be missing important issues it might be worthwhile. A patient asking for a transfer may also be the kick up the backside she needs!

Mazzystar · 16/03/2006 20:15

oh that's just what you need, isn't it?

is she part of a team of community midwives, that's what its like round here - if so you could cunningly make a switch without having to be formal about it.

Original poster

emkana · 16/03/2006 22:05

The question is whether I have the energy to do anything, just feel totally exhausted with the whole thing.

Am not due to see her again until in six weeks' time anyway, but it would have been so nice to have the support of a really good midwife through all this.

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/03/2006 22:08

Thats just poor emkana. My MW always knew what was what with me and she was utterly run off her feet due to the severe shortages where we are.

Im so sorry you are having such a tough time atm - you dont need this hun.

RedZuleika · 16/03/2006 22:17

The midwife who booked me couldn't even manage to work out a due date, even though I told her my ovulation date. She was incapable of comprehending a six week menstrual cycle. She came up with a serious of dates over a four week spread.

Other midwives failed to inform me of the care plan for people with antiphospholipid antibodies, on heparin and aspirin (i.e. blood tests and growth scans).

The booking midwife turned up again in hospital, barking 'Has she fed yet? Has she fed yet?' every hour or so, but proffering no useful advice on how to achieve this.

Hope you manage to get the care you want, without too much stress.

RedZuleika · 16/03/2006 22:18

Series of dates. Obviously.

Blu · 16/03/2006 22:19

So did she test for diabetes? It's v simple - isn't that the one where you wee on a little cardboard strip?

Do you think it's worth trying your GP?

Original poster

emkana · 16/03/2006 22:25

Might try the GP actually.

After what I said the midwife has booked me in for a glucose tolerance test at the hospital. I don't really want another hospital appointment though... getting thoroughly fed up with them!!!

OP posts:

mears · 16/03/2006 22:26

Emkana - I have just read your threads and caught up with where you are. I would have thought that you antenatal appointments would all be at a consultant led clinic. Is that not the case? You have had a lot to deal with and I would say that you need higher input than community midwife only. Consultant would advise about glucose tolerance test. I had problems with antibodies and always went to the hospital for consultanat care. Your casenotes should be available at each clinic visit so I cannot understand why she doesn't know about what has been happening. Was it a home visit you had?

Original poster

emkana · 16/03/2006 22:30

Thanks for posting mears. No, it wasn't a home visit, I went to the local surgery to see her.

It all seems a bit all over the place because first I was under the care of this one consultant at the local hospital, who left to go to a new job, then I saw a new consultant at the local hospital, who referred me to the regional fetal medicine unit where I saw a different consultant again. My appointment today with the midwife was arranged many many weeks ago and was just a routine midwife appointment. So as it stands I don't really know who my first point of call is.

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Original poster

emkana · 16/03/2006 22:32

mears, a question btw - what do you think I should do about possible counselling? Do you know which charity would be the right one to contact in my situation?

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mears · 16/03/2006 22:36

You should be going back to see the consultant at your local hospital who referred you. You need consistency of some description and you do not fit the category for midwife led care. In my opinion it is the consultant who should be making decisions (with you) about glucose tolerance tests etc. I would advise you phone his secretary and get an appointment on to see him if you do not have one already. It may well be that he will have you seen by the midwife inbetween consultanat visits but he should be making the plan of care. That is what would happen where I work anyway. You have had some reassuring news I think and you need to keep positive if you can.

mears · 16/03/2006 22:47

My own hospital does not have a dedicated counselling service TBH. This organisation \link{http://www.arc-uk.org/parent.html\here} might be helpful to you. On the otherhand you might find that it would make you worry more. I am not sure counselling in itself is what you need. It might be that you need to speak to others who have been in similar circumstances. You need definitive answers which you cannot get as yet, however you have had more reassuring news lately. Sorry I cannot be more helpful but i haven't had experience of external counselling to be helpful. Does the fetal medicine unit not have a specialist midwife you can speak to?

Original poster

emkana · 16/03/2006 22:50

Thank you mears. I'll contact the FMU and ask them.

OP posts:

mears · 16/03/2006 23:00

I am sure they will have a fetal medicine midwife who will be able to help. Best wishes, mears

eidsvold · 17/03/2006 02:01

emkana- I would second what mears said. Once they diagnosed dd1's heart defect (in utero) I was referred back to and came solely under the hospital consultant care.... although fortunately - had a fab midwife who kept seeing me even just to say hi and see how I was after that. She then left to a new surgery/area but still came and made a point of coming to see us in hospital when dd1 was born. I would speak to your GP and call the hospital to see the consultant again.

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