Shock at doctors attitude for reduced movements

[0310Star]

So last night I went to triage for the 2nd time since Tuesday for reduced movements. I am 39+5 FTM and been having stop/start contraction's for 10 days, had 2 sweeps and a scan last week.
Now I have always been under the impression that if you felt something wasn't right that you go in, and yesterday I felt just that so that's what I did. After all, it's not a mistake you can take back if something were to be wrong!!
Midwives were great, monitoring went fine, they then sent on a doctor at the end to discuss what to do next. In walked a male doctor that basically asked me why on earth I was there, my baby had moved during the monitoring so insinuated I was lying, and also said that since I was there Tuesday I had no reason to be there as that gives you a weeks worth of reassurance after each monitoring session?! Not something I have EVER been told before, in fact I've always been told quite the opposite and to go in as much as I felt I needed to!

I'm not the kind of person to let someone else worry me enough not to call even with that shit attitude, but it got me thinking that some women may genuinely be put off going to triage for such instances if they may be potentially met with that kind of attitude! After I stated to him that I've always been advised to go in if I felt something wasn't right I think he realised I wasn't the type to be fobbed off, and I got a reply of 'oh yes always come in if you feel something isn't right as we can put you on the monitor as many times as needed'... quite a change in his opinion all of a sudden...
When we were leaving we saw him walk out with his coat on, so was clearly the end of his shift. Yes he may have had a rubbish shift, but this is the life of my baby we are talking about.

Is this something that has happened to many other people?! I found it quite astonishing to be honest, and with all these threads on here with woman asking whether they should go in or not when they are concerned got me wondering if this is a contributing factor for some women when deciding whether or not to go in?

He is absolutely wrong and you are right. Monitoring does NOT safeguard your baby for a week. It is actually only really relevant at the time it is being done. You should always check out reduced movements. I wonder if he is very junior? Either way, someone needs to have a word as he is giving dangerous advice. Would you consider speaking to the head of midwifery about the advice you received. I know mine woukd be VERY interested to hear what you've said.
Glad all ok with your baby.

Of course it is. You only need one dickhead doctor to make you feel like you're wasting valuable NHS money to not go in.

He thought after observation you should feel assure for a week? I went in once with dd1 as my GP sent me and self referred twice with dd2. Both times all fine, but I go again if I thought things weren't.

I'm going to mention it to my midwife when I see her Wednesday. I was just so shocked! Even my DP couldn't believe his reaction. This is the 5th time I've been in during my pregnancy, and as far as I'm concerned il go in as many times as I need to if I feel something isn't right.
I saw a doctor when I went in on Tuesday and she was fantastic, told me to come in any time day or night, quite the contrast!

It just worries me that other women may genuinely be put off going in after speaking to someone like that...

Weren’t you at least a bit apologetic when the baby moved while you were there though?
Maybe he thought you were one of these ones pushing for an induction or section because you are fed up?
He was in the wrong but I understand his frustration.

At 39+ 5 you should be allowed go in as often as you like! His attitude was crappy but I found this common in my dealings with the NHS, when I was a bewildered and very nervous first-time mother. They can be impatient with people they perceive as time-wasters and it is upsetting to be treated that way.

The doctor is a dickhead who clearly isn’t up to date with current guidelines. Count the Kicks is very clear that all instances of reduced movement should be monitored. If you feel up to it, raise a complaint with PALS.

Why should she be apologetic? She was worried, needed the baby checked, check was carried out and baby was thankfully fine so it’s all good. Far better use of resources than all the drunken louts or contenders for the Darwin Awards that fill up A&E, i’m sure. If a woman 2 days from her due date can’t get priority to be seen then who can?

@NotTakenUsername not at all, why should I apologise for being concerned about my baby?! Sorry but if I hadn't of gone in and something had been wrong I would never forgive myself. It's not something you can take back!!
Apart from the fact.... it's their job!!

Definitely mention it to your midwife, that's really bad advice. When I was pregnant with DS, I went in for reduced movements at around 38w. The montior showed he was moving, but I couldn't feel it, so they kept me in overnight and then I had to go in every other day for monitoring as they thought it was odd. Turns out DS was massive so probably had no room!

That is unusual. I went in at 38 weeks for the second time, self referred, and they offered to induce. I declined, but I thought that after term is reached the attitude tended to be better out than in if there is any concern over movement?

There should be no reason to apologise (you not him). You felt something wasn't right, you accessed the service that exists for that very reason. He is the one that needs an attitude check. Crap shift or not, if he says that to someone who then doesn't go back because they believed the 'one week's reassurance' bollocks then that could have serious consequences.

I went in because I hadn't sensed as much movement. My placenta was in front so not always as easy to tell but things definitely had been slower. Of course DS started doing riverdance inside me the minute we got through the hospital doors but not one person insinuated I was wasting time or was neurotic.

I was happy with the outcome of keep up with the sweeps for now as monitoring not showing any problems but I won't feel bad for going in again if I feel I need to!

That is a disgrace! I had a big baby and due to that, had reduced movements. Even though the Doctors knew what the cause was, they reiterated time and time again to still come in if I had reduced movements. This is a life of a baby we are talking about and his comments could have devastating effects if said to someone who couldn't advocate for themselves. Also, why should you apologise? What a ridiculous thing to say

Why should she be apologetic!? And anyway, the trace isn't just to check the baby is moving and has a heartbeat, it is a little more detailed than that A baby has to 'pass' a trace with a certain number of movements and heart accelerations and decelerations. Also the term is 'reduced movement' not 'no movement' - a baby who is moving but less than usual needs checking out still.

@DuggeesWoggle thankfully other than last night, they normally are more than happy to monitor and I've been told many times that they would rather check and most babies do the same as soon as you walk in. It's just terrible that one person had such a shit attitude!
I know his advice was wrong but others may not

Why should she be apologetic if the baby moved while she was there.....she still had reduced FM!

The doctor was wrong about the ctg giving a weeks reassurance. It’s only valid for while it’s actually running. I do think you should write in or ring a complaint in rather than just tell your community midwife.....he needs pulling up on the fact he’s giving dangerous advice.

I just understand his frustration. I do wonder how often women would go in if they had to pay each time from their own pocket.

Maybe apologise is the wrong word. Maybe ‘express gratitude’ is better. “I’m sorry I’m back again but I’m so grateful you are here to reassure me.”

Absolutely raise a complaint. His advice is dangerous and who cares if it was the end of his shift? A lot of people can't just walk out the door at the end of their shift (not just drs) so he should have discussed your concerns until you were reassured. Hope you and baby are ok :-)

@NotTakenUsername you are aware we do pay for the service?!

Ugh I know we do technically pay for it. But I mean if we didn’t pay for it in that way and instead on a pay as you go basis, where you are handed a bill and expected to pay cash money before you leave.
I mean I do understand how the nhs works - but if it was a choice between keeping money in your pocket or handing over a significant amount of money that would otherwise stay in your bank account.

For the safety of my baby, I'd pay as much as I needed to personally...
I'm not someone who abuses the NHS, I've never spent a night in hospital, I don't go to the doctors every 5 minutes, but in this instance I quite honestly couldn't give a shit if someone felt I was wasting their time.

And I just wonder if that ‘couldn’t give a shit’ attitude was picked up in, and the doctor felt frustrated.
Your baby is fine. I’m not saying you shouldn’t necessarily have gone in, but perhaps a bit of grace and gratitude would go a long way.

So women with concerns would have to choose between money they may not be able to spare and the health of their baby Not taken?

0310Star I'd actually consider making a complaint about that Dr. It's such a dangerous statement to make, and if he doesn't know it's bollocks then that's worrying. If he does, that's worse.

NotTakenUsername
Your comments are completely inappropriate in the context of reduced fetal movements. IMO.
Drunks filling up A&E yes, but the potential loss of a child?
Awful attitude.

Exactly FlaviaAlbia. Would they still go in as often? Presumably they would have budgeted for their health care by putting the years of NI payments to one side for such occasions. The difference would be paying for the service at the point of use instead of the service being free at the point of use.