Rant about my midwife

[Fedup1992]

I'm so so angry!!!

So first thing... I have always thought she hasn't checked me properly ie just uses the tape measure and Doppler. Doesn't have a good feel around

2nd I had to nag and nag to make sure I got my mat b 1 form didn't get it until 25 weeks ur supposed to get it at 19. And I only got it because I seen another midwife, she did my appointment as it saved me going back the week later and she had a good feel around my tummy.

My 35 week appointment - she took my bloods 5 weeks earlier, didn't let me know how they wer. Only found out I'm now anemic through me going to the hospital because of a fainting episode.

I have explained I can not take the Iron tablets. I can not stop being sick a soon as I put them in my mouth, she then went on to say I won't be able to look after my baby properly because I will be tired. Told me I will struggle in labour because I will be tired.... And it's really annoyed me.

My partner has said she's just trying to get me to have the tablets but I think it's horrible trying to scare someone into doing something.

I have a real phobia when it comes to being sick I end up in a panic attack not being able to breathe. And if anything has made me sick in the past I have never gone near it again. I tried taking a different iron tablet today and I have been in bed sick all day.

Does iron really contribute that much to labour or is she just trying to scare me.

Ps i have always suffered from low Bp and low iron xx

You need iron to carry oxygen in your blood. If you are low you will feel crap. If you bleed after delivery you are more likely to need a transfusion.

Go to your gp and ask for Galfer. It's a fairly palatable iron syrup. It's a proper iron preparation which will correct anaemia, unlike floradix and spatone which are just supplements. They're fine if your levels are just a little low or your trying to maintain them, but you need something faster acting this close to your due date.

Your mw does sound rather dismissive and rushed. You could see your gp instead, or go direct to maternity triage or labour ward with urgent concerns.

Not sure about the matB1. I got both mine from the gp at about 25 weeks.

Mat b1: you don't normally get this until week 25. They can't give you it before week 20/21 and normally give it to you at your next appointment;
linky

Not sure what your point is about the iron. You are annoyed she didn't give you the results of your blood tests on a timely basis - ok, that's annoying. But perhaps you could have chased them?

But you also seem annoyed with the midwife because you are having difficulty taking iron tablets. That's not really her fault. Have you asked about alternatives?

As for how important they are. I am 34weeks pg and taking iron tablets because I had low readings at my 28 week bloods. I believe the main reason is to make sure you get reserves up for after the baby is born. And because anaemia at this stage of pg can make you breathless and light headed which could make you vulnerable.

Thankyou! I will see if I can get some. I've got two weeks to get it up. And after having the tablets today I bet if lost more than I put in.

I might nip to the pharmacy today xxxx

Of course you should not be anaemic and how can you seriously start to be sick as soon as the tablets go in your mouth? Try the syrup someone suggested upthread then ffs. The midwife might be trying to scare you so you realise this could be serious and you need to do what she says FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.

As well as asking gp for an alternative to the tablets, try to increase the amount of iron rich foods in your diet - steak, nuts, dried fruit, green leafy veg. Vitamin c helps the absorption of iron so I try to have glass of fruit juice with my morning tablet.
I didn't get mat b until 25 weeks (think that's normal). I've seen 7 different midwives over ten appointments, so I doubt they check blood results until the next appt, not great continuity but that's the nhs unfortunately (I'm a nurse). I have also had to chase blood results - usually they get checked at the surgery and someone will contact you if there are concerns.
Iron levels are important, your baby will take all the goodness from you first. When my ferritin levels (iron stores) were low I was exhausted, having palpitations, panic attacks (due to work stress), couldn't get pregnant or sustain a pregnancy, and generally felt awful. Iron tablets made a massive difference to my fertility, physical and mental health. Building your iron levels will increase your ability to cope when baby is born. Hope you speak to your gp and find an iron preparation that is tolerable x

Try Spatone too, mixed in orange juice. You can have 2 sachets a day when pregnant. None of the nasty side effects of the tablets.

Don't worry too much about them not feeling round. That's just to find out the position of the baby, which is pretty irrelevant until about 30/32 weeks. You only need measuring to check growth until then,and the NICE guidelines,actually even state that the heartbeat doesn't even need to be listened to if you can feel movement!