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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

First midwife visit, at home?!

39 replies

Icantthinkofastupidname · 29/05/2017 11:12

Just got my letter through about my first midwife visit, and it stays that my first appointment will be at home. Is this normal?

I just assumed it would be at the GP surgery.

Usually this wouldn't be an issue, but we are in the process of getting a new kitchen which my husband is doing himself so it is very slow progress and means the whole downstairs of the house is an absolute tip. The kitchen is of course un usable and in a state, and everything that is usually in the kitchen cupboards is in boxes piled up in the sitting room. Not really a suitable environment!

Did anyone else have their first appointment at home?

Thanks.

OP posts:

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OhTheRoses · 29/05/2017 13:07

Scroll up and read my post woody. Same midwife 1:1 care is brilliant but in my home the hcp needs to respect my values and lifestyle. Mine didn't.

TipTop333 · 29/05/2017 13:09

Booking in with my first was at their clinic and second was at home.

sycamore54321 · 29/05/2017 14:27

Proof of improved outcomes of a midwife calls to someone's home for a booking visit? Intrusive is midwife inviting himself/herself into the OP's home when the OP doesn't want him/her there. What else would you call it? Do you think the OP should have the right to insist on appointments in them midwife's home? Why not?

PossomInAPearTree · 29/05/2017 14:31

It is a safeguarding thing, some areas do it and some don't. They won't care about some diy and boxes. They're more looking for the sort of houses where you wouldn't want to sit down and your feet stick to the carpet (if there is one). Doing a safeguarding visit nearer the birth is too late really, much better to get support in place earlier on if needed.

Saying well how would a midwife like it if the visits were in her home is silly. There's a reason for doing it in the woman's home which just isn't relevant to a midwife's home. She's not the one having a baby!

I'm sure you're perfectly entitled to refuse it if you want and ask for an appt at the GP surgery instead.

rocketman3 · 29/05/2017 15:01

they came to me at about week 34? they like to see you at home at some point for sure. i thought it was weird too but apparently not! after the baby is born at home too.

Emma2803 · 29/05/2017 17:36

I really don't see why this would be a problem. I would not see this as intrusive, they are there to do a job which is look after the health of me and my unborn baby. And yes they have a duty of care to make sure the baby is brought home to a suitable environment. So diy is not a problem, but unsafe conditions would be.

Also it's possible that the trust are sending extra midwifes out to meet high demand but don't have the physical space in offices, gp surgeries etc to accommodate them.

PossomInAPearTree · 29/05/2017 17:47

There may also be an issue with the GP surgeries as well as the NHS becomes increasingly a business, or rather separate businesses.

Locally our GP surgeries are refusing for the midwives to have a room. The GP surgeries are essentially private businesses contracted out by the local CCG. The hospital trust which employs the midwives is a separate trust. Some GP surgeries are now saying to the hospital unless you pay to rent a room for the day then you can't have one. So the community midwives are getting kicked out and are scrabbling about trying to find space in the hospital which hadn't the space.

So I can see that doing more home visits would be an attractive option.

Original poster

Icantthinkofastupidname · 30/05/2017 09:55

Is it possible to change midwives and how do you go about doing it?

Although people have said these case loading midwives are the best, it hasn't been a great start so far.

The telephone manner wasn't the best to start with when I called them. I needed to choose on the phone there and then what hospital I want to go to (I'm only 5w5d and haven't really looked at the options yet) and to top it all off my appointment is on a work day, anytime between 1-4. I can't take time off work unless I have an appointment letter and I really didn't want to tell my employers this early, added to the fact I'm not just nipping out for an appointment, I'll have to take the whole afternoon off to sit and wait for them. When I asked them they don't do any appointments outside mon-fri 9-5 and don't do 'exact' appointment am they're always 'between'.

This isn't the start I wanted, feeling stressed already :(

OP posts:

AceholeRimmer · 30/05/2017 11:49

Sorry OP I answered the thread thinking you mean after baby is born when it is the norm to visit you. I've never heard of them visiting during pregnancy.. I much preferred going to them and getting it out of the way.

OhTheRoses · 30/05/2017 13:43

Why do you even need a booking visit at 5/5? Can"t you just book your twelve week scan and see them after that?

Original poster

Icantthinkofastupidname · 30/05/2017 14:38

@ohtheroses, I'm not sure what this appointment is. Is isn't until I am 8w4d tho. Maybe it's because I haven't seen a dr, I just self referred to the midwives. I just know I was told I need an accurate printout of my bmi (where do I get this from?!) and I need to have read the screening tests leaflet prior to the appointment

OP posts:

BagpussBee · 30/05/2017 17:13

Yes mine is at home (tomorrow). We don't even have a shower at the moment as my OH has ripped it out due to it leaking! It's going back in this week so no big drama and we've all been traipsing over to my mum's across town for showers. I'm pretty sure this is very normal procedure. (The midwife not our shower situation)....

ineedanewbody · 30/05/2017 17:17

The midwives you see in pregnancy are attached to the hospital you deliver at. GP would normally ask which hospital and refer you to the correct team. Is there a reason you didn't go via the GP? If you change hospitals, you change midwifery teams automatically.

Have a think about where you want to deliver - which hospital or at home, so you can be placed with the right midwives.

The first appointment can happen anywhere from 8-12 weeks. The GP would usually do a separate referral for the 12 week scan so you will need to make sure this is done (if you decide to do it of course), as this scan it time limited and can't be done past 14 weeks.

Postnatal midwives are different and come from the area you're living in so have no choice in these. This is where caseloading is better as you will know who is coming to you.

The midwives can send you an appointment letter, or you could have the first appointment after you've had the scan if that's better.

If you go the hospital non-caseloaded route you will be able to have an appointment time but have no say in the day as it's run in clinics. Bit long but HTH!

Shakeyospeare · 30/05/2017 17:29

Is there a One-to-One Midwives service in your area? They're NHS but they're amazing. Mine did come to our home, but it was so lovely and friendly and so much better than my last experience. It's definitely worth looking into if you're not happy :)

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