Can I request to see a midwife?

[4leafclover]

I am 21+2 today and I have been for my 20 week ultrasound. Usually I would get to see a midwife afterwards but I was taken in to see my consultant, a midwife did my urine sample and found keytones and did my blood pressure and it was high so she told the consultant to check all again before I left and then she scurried out.
All the consultant was concerned about was booking my c-section in for bang on 39 weeks (29th oct). So he did all this and never mentioned anything else, when I went to ask him questions he didn't quite understand me. He sent me off out of the room to go home with me not getting to have my questions answered (spd, headaches, hernia and eyes going funny).

Can I request to see my midwife?

I am not booked in to see anyone until I am 31 weeks now and I have so much to ask, I'm concerned that he didn't re do my blood pressure and didn't mention the keytones as in my last pregnancy I was admitted to hospital because of this reason. He just didn't seem to have the time (to be fair he I'd seem extremely busy).

Thankyou in advance

Won't you see your midwife at a 24 or 28 week apt?

You can ask to speak to your mw anytime if you're worried. I'd definitely at least call and ask any questions you may have.

I would absolutely ask to see a midwife. Do you have a named midwife in your notes as you should be able to contact her any time. If you don't have contact details you could ring your GP practice.

Are you sure the consultant did not take note of ketones and your bp? Was it much higher than usual? If you have ketones, high bp, headaches and eyes going funny please contact midwife asap. It may be nothing but it is not worth taking the risk.

I'm under consultant care and my midwife signed me off from her care because of this which confused me because I expected to be seen in less than 10 weeks time.

Consultant didn't write anything down except my c-section date and blood pressure, he seemed too eager to get me out.
I thought he might have redone my blood pressure with both him and the midwife saying it needed to be checked again before I left but whenever I tried to speak to him he quickly shut me off or he couldn't really understand what I was saying.

Does your midwife have a regular weekly session for pregnant women at your GP's surgery? The midwife at my GP's does all her regular appointments, 16 weeks, 25 weeks etc on a Wednesday afternoon and you just need to ring the surgery and book an appointment. I am consultant led (having twins) and feel like I fall between the cracks as the consultants are very medical focused and less interested in the 'softer' issues such as breastfeeding or checking on my general wellbeing. I never properly see a midwife at the hospital, they just scurry in check my urine and blood pressure and disappear.

After asking my GP to refer me to the womens health physio for 6 weeks and getting nowhere and becoming almost completely immobile in that time, in desperation I rang my surgery and booked a midwife appointment. Thankfully she did me an urgent physio referral.

Would this be an option? The receiptionist at the surgery would not know that your midwife had discharged you from her care and I doubt the midwife would turn you away once you were there.

Incidentally I have seen the community midwife 3 times since I was pregnant (different one every time due to holidays, sickness) and get very mixed messages from them as to whether I should have ongoing contact with the community midwives. Some say I should due to the ongoing aftercare when you are discharged from hospital and others are keen to have no involvement.

Unfortunately I think that this is one of those siutations where you have to be selfish for the health of yourself and unborn child and do what you need to to ensure you receive the care you need. At the end of the day you are not asking for special treatment just proper access to the antenatal care and treatment you are entitled to and need.

Yes you can. Either call her or make an appointment- mention the high blood pressure and the other things you wanted to ask. You should definitely be able to see her.

Yes just call your midwife - is there a number on the front page of your notes?

I am consultant led care but I still see my community midwife every week (bar the weeks I have hosp appointments) to check my blood pressure. I find this great as some things you would not speak to a consultant about and some things the midwife cannot tell you so best of both really!

If you are really worried I believe some pharmacies will check your blood pressure.

Thanks all who have replied..I have finally got through to my original midwife and told her that the consultant won't see me again until I am over 30 weeks and I am really ill with dizzy spells and headaches
She said the hospital should be dealing with my care as I am high risk, I told her the consultant has put in my notes that I should see her so she is coming in the morning to take my notes and photocopy them as proof and she's going to have it out with them, she's furious
Hopefully I will get somewhere in the morning as I'm scared to go out in public in case I faint