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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Midwife writing incorrect/false info in notes

37 replies

Rosebug258 · 24/12/2013 11:52

Anyone had any experience of this??

She's written I'm generally feeling well - umm no I told you I can barely move due to spd and I am back at the physio and on the strongest does of pain killers I can have...!

Uterous size - she didn't even touch my stomach let alone measure it..!

Apparently my bp is high at 107/70??

And a couple of other stupid comments - shall I phone & complain and see someone else? Or just write to pals

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Julietee · 24/12/2013 11:54

Ring the supervisor of midwives. That's really not good enough - either she's incompetent or distracted.

Original poster

Rosebug258 · 24/12/2013 11:54

Oh and my baby has gone from measuring nearly 5 weeks bigger to normal growth...not according to the scans it's not which is why I'm having another next week!

OP posts:

Original poster

Rosebug258 · 24/12/2013 11:55

Sorry being dumb today would I find the supervisior of midwives at the hospital?

OP posts:

StillPukin · 24/12/2013 12:12

I had the same,, I saw a letter that mw had written to my GP. The 'information' included... this is my 2nd preg (no, its my 3rd, one was a miscarriage), I have chosen to give birth in hosp (I REALLY hadnt), I had chosen to have midwife led care (I hadnt and dont know what this means) and several other things.
So I wrote back to the mw and the GP putting it right - no reply from either but at the next mw appointment she just said it was just standard to put those things. Infuriating, but I agree with the above advice contact the supervisor (sorry, I dont know where they are based) and have your say, but theres no guarantee you'll be listened to.
Really sorry if this doesnt reassure you, its just my experience.
Good luck with it xx

Original poster

Rosebug258 · 24/12/2013 12:27

It's upset me quite a bit or perhaps I'm just over sensitive but the high bp got me I thought that it was in normal ranges and the baby is measuring perfectly within ranges despite what 3 growth scans have said

I have written all the inconsistent info down in my notes and will discuss with my proper midwife on Friday when I see her

Thank you for the replies x

OP posts:

Shellywelly1973 · 24/12/2013 13:15

Hi op.

I experienced this at the Maternity Day Unit. The midwife put down that I declined monitoring, didn't have a urine sample & wasn't displaying any symptoms of an underactive thyroid. She even got my age wrong.

i called the MDU. Got the Midwife in charge email address & emailed her. I also corrected the notes.

My consultant also did this. Stating we had discussed & agreed medical practices...I did nothing of the sort. I have an appointment on 6/1 & will be telling her so!

It's totally unjustified to record medical information incorrectly...I check all paperwork in front of hcps now.

princesscupcakemummyb · 24/12/2013 13:19

hi op yes my midwives did this to me in my last pregnancy they recored in correct stomach measurements adding several cms on to the measurements for instance when i was 39 ish weeks i really measured about 36cm she put 39 in my notes

hellymelly · 24/12/2013 13:21

Your BP is low not high, she sounds at best distracted, at worst dangerous so you do have to get all the points clarified. Not surprised you are bothered.

onedogandababy · 24/12/2013 13:24

Yep, they also tick.boxes saying things have been discussed when they haven't. I'm 39+4 and haven't discussed birth plans nor induction. It's been a bit shit this time round really.
Perhaps they're busier than when I had dd.

commsgirl · 24/12/2013 14:18

You can contact your supervisor of midwives through the hospital, just ring switchboard. I'd try this route first as it generally means things get resolved quicker - pals would most likely pass to supervisor of midwives anyway.

StillPukin · 24/12/2013 14:59

I dont know whats worse,, the inaccurate medical notes (could it be dangerous?) or the sense of being totally unsupported by the people who are supposed to be on our side.

Original poster

Rosebug258 · 24/12/2013 15:10

Have left a message for the supervisor to contact me back, will wait and see what happens now? I doubt it will be today

Have asked hubby to photocopy my notes so I can highlight the inconsistent info so If they do phone back I can make more notes

Glad to know my bp isn't high, just seems all a bit odd to me, guess the care in my area is slightly below average :(

OP posts:

marzipanned · 24/12/2013 15:58

Yikes I thought mine was bad when she wrote 'feeling sick now and again' when I was in the throes of HG!! But this is a whole other level of misinformation.... I heard of someone else whose MW wrote an incorrect EDD in her notes so she crossed it out and replaced with the correct one. I would be tempted to get the tippex out if I were you - better to have blank info than the wrong info.

RaRa1988 · 24/12/2013 18:46

Your BP is nowhere near high - not much higher than mine and I'm considered to have low BP!! I'd definitely have words about that at least as it could have implications for your care.

lucybrad · 24/12/2013 18:47

my midwife at csection wrote that I had vasa previa (95 fetal mortality rate) on my notes. They are now back tracking and saying that I didn't

RaRa1988 · 24/12/2013 18:49

From bloodpressureuk.org (whoever they are!):

What is normal blood pressure?
Ideally, we should all have a blood pressure below 120 over 80 (120/80). This is the ideal blood pressure for people wishing to have good health. At this level, we have a much lower risk of heart disease or stroke.

If your blood pressure is optimal, this is great news. By following our healthy living advice, you will be able to keep it this way.
If your blood pressure is above 120/80mmHg, you will need to lower it.
Most adults in the UK have blood pressure readings in the range from 120 over 80 (120/80) to 140 over 90 (140/90). If your blood pressure is within this range, you should be taking steps to bring it down or to stop it rising any further. Our five top tips will show you how.

The reason why people with blood pressure readings in this range should lower it, even though this is not classified as 'high' blood pressure, is that the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of health problems. For example, someone with a blood pressure level of 135 over 85 (135/85) is twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke as someone with a reading of 115 over 75 (115/75).

If it helps at all, mine's roughly 100/60-something, and I'm generally considered to have low BP. I think your midwife is being a little ridiculous.

RaRa1988 · 24/12/2013 18:50

And:

What blood pressure readings mean
As you can see from the blood pressure chart, only one of the numbers has to be higher or lower than it should be to count as either high blood pressure or low blood pressure:

90 over 60 (90/60) or less: You may have low blood pressure. More on low blood pressure.
More than 90 over 60 (90/60) and less than 120 over 80 (120/80): Your blood pressure reading is ideal and healthy. Follow a healthy lifestyle to keep it at this level.
More than 120 over 80 and less than 140 over 90 (120/80-140/90): You have a normal blood pressure reading but it is a little higher than it should be, and you should try to lower it. Make healthy changes to your lifestyle.
140 over 90 (140/90) or higher (over a number of weeks): You may have high blood pressure (hypertension). Change your lifestyle - see your doctor or nurse and take any medicines they may give you. More on high blood pressure

EeyoreIsh · 24/12/2013 18:51

My mw wrote that I was generally well on my notes after I had told her that I had really really sore ribs Just really annoying, made me feel like she wasn't listening/bothered.

I just went to see the gp instead who did it take it seriously.

Mmmbacon · 24/12/2013 19:04

My gp nurse said I had normal bp, gp saw reading on computer and came in, told nurse off a little for watching the numbers and not the patient, apparently my bp had gone up over 20 points in 2 weeks, so while technically in the normal range it was very high for me, had my dh ban my mil for a week, week r&r and back in to check my bp, and other routine tests, all was well but could easily have been a sign of something starting to go wrong,

CrispyFB · 24/12/2013 20:04

One midwife had me recorded as a black African.. I'm white British! And completely screwed up my maternity history, missing out losses, getting delivery dates wrong.

There isn't really an excuse for it.. it's one thing to make a mistake in a job where the worst that can happen is somebody is mildly inconvenienced - it's another to make major mistakes where people's lives and health are at stake. If you're that careless you should rethink your career. I mean, we all make mistakes, I'm sure even the very best health professionals do, but these were beyond the pale and so numerous in nature I found it hard to forgive.

For what it's worth, as a fellow SPD sufferer now on my fourth child (seventh pregnancy) I've found that a number of midwives sadly do just dismiss SPD as "one of those things" even if you show up in a wheelchair and don't count it as an issue, so perhaps it was that.

Julietee · 24/12/2013 22:37

I read my notes recently and noticed the booking midwife had my mental health history down wrong - in the section with bits to tick that could warrant referral to a consultant it said 'ever been under the care of a psychiatrist' - which I have, for anxiety disorders. I went into my anxiety with her but she didn't tick it. I have no idea why - maybe it's best not to get referred to a consultant unless you absolutely have to?
Either way, I have no way of knowing now how different my care could have been. But I've had a miserable time with my anxiety during pregnancy and I could really have used having someone experienced to contact/ consult with.
Either way (Again) it wasn't the midwife's call to make without consulting me. She could have said 'I don't want to check this box because.....' and given me the choice. She has no way of knowing how bad my condition is without at least bloody asking, thus she shouldn't be making that decision on my behalf without my input.

Being 31 weeks I doubt I should mention it at this point.

teaandkittens · 25/12/2013 15:14

julietee mine did the opposite, made my MH history sound way worse than it was and ticked some of the wrong boxes. I changed them back. Despite having a really good relationship with my GP and deciding I didn't need perinatal mental health care, she's referred me and put me as high risk. I'm fine!

Julietee · 25/12/2013 15:35

Interesting! I wonder what high risk care for MH entails?

teaandkittens · 25/12/2013 17:26

think you just get to see a consultant and have some kind of specialist nurse. Oh and a big black mark on your record for needing extra watching when the baby comes.
It's just funny that when I was actually ill it was impossible to get any help and now four years on when I really am fine, I'm getting stuff imposed on me! scared to protest too much though in case they think I'm difficult!

Ullapull · 25/12/2013 17:41

Juliettee - please "force" the issue if you want to speak to a GP or consultant about your anxiety. It sounds like you are high risk for PND and the NHS really should be taking preventative steps rather than waiting till you present with heavy depression/anxiety/MH problems. You know yourself better than the midwife so be confident in asking for what you need. Hope you feel better soon.

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