Should I ask to change my midwife?

[Spoutnik]

Hello everyone,

I am currently 28 weeks pregnant and since the beginning of my pregnancy I’ve been seen by two community midwives, I never know which one I am going to see before the next appointment. They're both nice but I am questioning the competence of one of them.

When I was meant to have my first blood test she just couldn’t do it – she told me I had to go the hospital to have it done because she couldn’t find my veins. I thought a bit odd but didn’t think about it further. At my latest appointment with her (last week) I was due for another routine blood test: glucose and iron. I also asked her about toxoplasmosis, which she reluctantly agreed to when I explained the other midwife had agreed to it.

She then checked her calendar one more time and told me, “actually I can’t do these tests today, you are 27 weeks + 4 days today and these tests should be done when you are 27 weeks + 5 days so you have to go to the hospital tomorrow”. I was baffled but hey, I am not the one who studied midwifery so had to agree.

Next day the lady taking my blood queried why my midwife hadn’t done these tests herself! When I told her what happened she said it’s likely she made up this story because she remembered she had trouble finding my veins…

So, whatever the true reason I think it’s pretty poor that she would make up something like this.

Am I over-reacting here? Should I complain about her? I worry that if I do the other one will side with her and turn on me.

Thank you for your comments :-)

Change midwife- it's really easy to do and your peace of mind is more important during pregnancy.

I changed mine about six weeks ago and it was such a relief- i had a really awful experience with my original one and they bent over backwards to swap me over. Just contact your GP or ask for management of community midwife phone no. I spoke to my GP who got in contact for me, within a few hours I got a phone call from the head of community midwives in my region and she was really helpful.

Agreed- I would change. So important that you feel comfortable atm.

Im hard to bleed, i know this as I'm a nurse and also others have struggled. My midwife attempted but couldn't and told me when i have my booking in apt at the hospital/12 week scan i could just have my bloods then......

Again today Ive been to have my 28 week Anti D injection and she had to take bloods pre injection. She struggled and it took 3 nurses before one hit the jackpot.

Its not unusual to be sent elsewhere for blood however i do agree she sounds like she just has no confidence in herself which understandably gives you non whatsoever.
Her excuses sounded a load of shit if you ask me. Id give them a ring and say you prefer not to be seen by the said midwife as you feel she is incompetent.

I have difficult veins. No GP or nurse has ever managed to get blood out of me. They just don't spend enough time doing blood tests and, frankly, I'd prefer they don't even bother if they don't think they can do it.

From what I understand if they can't get a sample after two attempts you have to go to the blood clinic so a phlebotomist can take the sample anyway.

Is this really such a deal breaker? I've never seen the same midwife twice and only one has ever attempted to get blood from me before giving up and leaving me with a bruised arm and hand.

Its not always easy changing midwives. I changed because my midwife was a bit simple and just dismissed any concern i had, could never get hold of her etc. It took 3 months to change, in which time whenever i had a concern i had to go to the hospital and i didnt have any midwife appointments, even important ones. I had to fill in forms, re do my notes and have all the checks and tests done with the new midwife. Its not worth it, im hard to bleed too and even though its annoying, it isnt there fault. Its really not worth all the agro x

If you're happy with everything else she's done then I wouldn't change. Taking blood out of certain veins is an art. I am always told I have 'skinny' veins that are hard to bleed - some HCP's struggle more than others. As mentioned by PP I'd actually prefer they didn't try if they weren't confident. She should just say that though!!!

I would call the community team and mention it to the team leader. Not to tell tales, but because it's really important that midwives have the integrity to ask for help rather than making up excuses when they don't know / can't do something. It might be that she's newly qualified or newly returned to work and just needs some further training or support. But it's better for that to be flagged up over a blood test than because she was unsure about, say, a jaundice diagnosis, and tried to blag it rather than asking for a second opinion.