Do I have to see my community midwife?

[PastramiAndRye]

I'm having my third baby and due to having pre-eclampsia with my second child, I am consultant-led.

I'm 35 weeks and after 36 weeks I'll see my consultant weekly along with a midwife check in the hospital.

Why do I also need to see my community midwife weekly too? It's a nightmare for childcare, plus every time I get my blood pressure taken, it reads high, yet whenever I have it checked ANYWHERE else, it reads normal. It's so frustrating to be sent to the hospital for it to be re-checked. I'm really concerned I'm going to be induced early due to blood pressure issues where none really exist.

She's now bringing forward my growth scan date because I'm measuring bang on my dates whereas last time I saw her I was measuring slightly big. I thought measuring a bump with a tape was wildly inaccurate anyway?

This is turning into a rant now, so, can I refuse to make any more appointments with my community midwife?

Well the hospital where I work if someone is seeing the consultant and midwife check at the hospital they won’t also see the community midwife. Waste of everyone’s time.

Measuring with a tape measure is a screening tool, the idea being that if it flags an issue you get a growth scan. So that sounds ok.

The only stuff you may possibly miss if you don’t see your community midwife again is a chance to chat about a birth plan. And you may need to nudge the hospital midwife about a stretch and sweep if you want one at 40 weeks if they don’t induce you before.

Thanks - that's really useful. I might ask at my next consultant appointment and see what she says.

I'd be really happy to see my community midwife if she didn't seem so unsure over everything!

Just phone your CMW and tell her you’re having weekly consultant appointments so you don’t really need to see her. She’s probably running an overflowing clinic as it is so she’ll be glad of one less on her carload.

Caseload, not carload 😂

I’m also consultant led and my midwife is happy for me to not go to her if I’m having my regular checks with the consultant (blood pressure, urine, etc. The whole bundle). I try to touch base with her occasionally only because she will be the one coming to my house after baby is born so I’d like to be friendly, but other than that she’s said there’s no need

Thanks for the replies

Yes, that's exactly it. The NHS is run off its feet as it is and I feel I'm doubling up on tests etc, whereas it would make much more sense to go to the hospital where I can be monitored if need be. It's also easier to schedule consecutive appointments as I can actually speak to departments rather than wait for letters through the door.

I don't want to offend my CMW, but at the moment it just seems crazy to waste her time and mine.

When I was pregnant with my son I saw the community midwife and my consultant weekly. That was inbetween the extra scans, blood tests, diabetic team. It's a huge waste of time and nhs resources.

No I wouldn't think so not unless the Consultant says you need to.