Is it possible to change Midwife?

[CorporalChugNutting]

There is only one at the gp surgery - is it possible to see a different one at the hospital or would I need to change gp's?

No idea, but I'm kinda in the same situation and wondering the same thing! Hope someone more knowledgeable comes along.

Yes you can, although it might complicate things significantly. I changed MWs towards the end of my first pregnancy as I felt my MW was not being supportive of my plans for a home birth. It got to the point where I was more stressed out about her potentially being present at the birth, than the birth itself (I didn't trust her judgement as I felt she would be looking for any minor excuse to transfer me). I spoke to the supervisor MW about it, and from that point onward I basically saw a string of random MWs as I was never properly reassigned. I had to go to neighbouring towns for the next few appointments, and after the birth, I had a different MW come for each check up, which got old as there was no continuity and they were giving me conflicting advice. Also, if she had been the one on duty when I went into labour, I might not have had a choice about it if I was insistent on staying at home. In retrospect, it probably wasn't worth the hassle, and with my second pregnancy I am more confident so probably would just get on with it, but at the time it was really bugging me. I guess it depends on your reasons for wanting to change. Is it something that merits a complaint?

i tried but was told i'd have to travel 20 miles to the next community midwife so i didn't in the end. contact your supervisor of midwives and she will be able to tell you whether it's feasible. probably depends on the area you live in.

Yes you can, I changed after my booking appointment and don't regret it at all. I do have to drive to the surgery in the next village to see the new midwife, but as it's only a ten minute drive (and 10 mins anyway in the other direction to our original surgery) it's not that much of a problem for me. The original midwife was awful, really insensitive, rude, kept answering phonecalls from her adult daughter during my appointment (about really inane things, her daughter spoke very loudly so I could hear every word!), acted very bored the whole time, the list goes on. I told her I wasn't happy and asked for the names of the other community midwives in our area, I said I would either transfer myself or speak to the supervisor of midwives to get transferred, and she quickly agreed to let me transfer myself.

I phoned the other midwives and asked if they would take on my care (very little to do as mostly consultant-led) one said her books were pretty full but she would if the other couldn't, and the other said yes straight away. Our new midwife is amazing, she is so lovely, caring and thorough. She always seems pleased to hear from me even for minor things and never makes me feel like I'm any trouble, so much so that DH and I are trying to get the consultant to agree to having her at the birth rather than one of the hospital midwives.

I was also told that you can see one of the hospital midwives instead of a community one, but that you would need to speak to the head midwife at the hospital about it. Out hospital are great and very laid back, so not sure if that is standard policy.

Problem solved- I asked at the surgery and they have two community midwives that visit so I'm gonna see the other one.