Midwife on holiday for first appointment?! Typical NHS?

[frannie2013]

Hi - I'm probably fussing over what will be nothing (I know...) but when I went to my GP to say I was pregnant, two days later I got a call from a midwife to book my appointment with her - that appointment is on wednesday morning and I was absurdly looking forward to it as i can actually talk about it to someone face to face as don't have scan for another week and a half and will have to see about tests etc. I was really impressed with their efficiency...
I've been texting the midwife over the past week (only a couple of times) for advice/reassurance as i've got the most awful bloody cold and can't sleep etc.
she texted me back today apologising for the delay and said this was because she was off on holiday this week. no one has told me that so i'm assuming that i'll just see a colleague of hers?
is this just typical NHS activity and more to be expected? Do you ever see the same midwife or is it just whoever is there at the time? I've got some complicated gyna history and am likely to get referred and explaining things time and time again is going to be so tricky as i forget things ALL THE TIME!!!

Oh and I'm on my second pregnancy and I can honestly say that midwives who work for the NHS are ANGELS! They deserve a lot more money and a fair few more breaks.

Thankyou nattwebb. its lovely too hear some positives xx

Dude - I don't think you appreciate what good service you've had already!

I've only seen the same midwife once, by chance, around week 24.

My only contact number was an answerphone for my midwife team where I left a message once, then gave up on that because it never got answered (now I'm nearly done I can ring maternity triage if needed).

Appreciate the service in your area - sounds really good :)

I have always seen the same midwife and communicate with her by text - much easier than last pregnancy when it was all playing telephone tag leaving messages.

I've managed to get all my standard midwife apts when DS is at preschool other than one over Christmas, and I have had 2 extra appointments due to previous cs. I needed physio and managed to get an appointment within a week, have had all my bloods done at a clinic at my convenience without any fuss (fainter!), 2 extra scans and a chat with a Registrar about growth. Have more physio and two different consultant appointments coming up.

And last time the only thing that prevented DS's EMCS being really traumatic was the brilliant midwife who stayed with me the entire time. Agree postnatal care was crap, only one midwife for massive ward over night, they can't literally perform miracles.

Clearly its a postcode lottery, and everyone should live near me!

Ours are a community midwife team and you see the same one each time. At the first appt my midwife asked if a weds was convenient as that's her clinic day so to get continuity of care all appts would be on the same day but could see other midwives on other days if I wanted. I'm planning a homebirth and my 34 week appt is on a different day with another midwife from the team so I will have met her too as she could be the one who comes out on the big day.

I must admit I'm not wildly impressed by my midwife but can't fault that continuity of care aspect and they all seem to make sure they follow all the guidelines and appt schedules etc and you can't really ask for more than that, in a lot of ways it's over and above what some others seem to get.

Not wanting to jump on the bandwagon but I also can't believe op that you texted about having a cold and not being able to sleep, it's going to be a long 32 weeks or whatever it is you have left if this is going to set the tone. There is a lot of good care in pregnant but it's mainly suck it up and get on with it, it's not really an easy time in life but there's no special concessions unless there's something actually wrong unfortunately!

Agree with others - if continuity of care is very important to you worth considering an independent midwife. You will then see the same mw of your choice for every appt although even IMs have holidays and can be ill but they would have a back up IM to help out then.
NHS midwives are incredibly stretched & it's probably not feasible to offer a named mw for each woman although I believe this model is working in some parts of the UK.
Best of luck with your pregnancy.

It is a community midwife where I am based - gp made the appointment to see the midwife on her clinic day. The usual midwife, it transpired, was on leave. No big deal - it still went ahead with a v nice locum midwife instead. So can't see they would cancel your appointment without plenty of warning?

As others have said, all your notes are captured in a folder and given to you, not kept at the clinic so hopefully reducing need to repeat yourself.

I think it's really great that your midwife have you her number. Fabulous service and much more relevant in this day and age!

Horrendous colds are par for the course in the first trimester. It's not pleasant but if you feel you need more than paracetamol, you should see a pharmacist or a doctor.

I know it's your first and it can all be quite worrying when you don't know what to expect, but one day you will look back on this and feel a tad embarrassed that you were trying your midwife about being tired and having a cold.

I mean thst sincerely midwifeandmum! The birth of my son was fabulous and we will always remember the midwives involved. we sent them a huge box of chocs and a thank you card. I really hope they got a few minutes to sit and scoff them! hoping for a homebirth this time so will get baking for them.

Hi op, sorry you have been feeling so shit and its understandable as this is your first pregnancy that you are going to have questions that would seem obvious to others who might be on second pgs and so on.

I think some of the posters have been a bit harsh in their responses (this isnt an aibu post afterall) and have maybe taken afront to how you worded your post with 'typical nhs' as alot of people benefit greatly from this service. Its easy to say things before thinking them through properly and we all do it!

Im on dc3 and so far have seen a different mw for every app at 36 weeks and i also have a complicated gynea history, but ive had great care from each one so far.

I have never been offered a number to text in any of my pgs so in that you are lucky and if you were told this is a service available to you then you are well within your rights to use it.

I also had cold after cold/hacking cough, this time during the first few weeks and i felt grotty but all we can do is take paractomol and hiberante as much as possible! Oh the joys of pregnancy!

Anyway hope all goes well and congratulations x