Can I swap midwifes?

[xxlucybxx]

First appointment she wrote to me with the wrong date that we agreed on the phone. I turned up at the drs for my apt with her and there was no appointment saved.
When I finally got to see her she didn't take blood well, used both arms and bruised me.
Today for my 16 week appointment I turned up she thought I was 12 weeks, didn't believe me when I said I was 16. She said my due date was 26th aug and I corrected her to say 1st aug, she didn't believe me again! Later asked about my job as a teacher (I'm not a teacher) looked at the notes and asked how hyperthyroidism is (I haven't got that or been diagnosed) asked about my consult appointment (don't need one) then at the end after writing loads and loads of notes and not believing me correcting her she double checked my dob and said she was looking at a different file. Didn't apologise or even close!!
I have no faith in the woman but I can't be arsed to kick off or get her in trouble.
Should I complain/ swap? Can you swap?

Hi, I had a few similar issues with my midwife at the beginning.

She misplaced my notes and then blamed me, my bloods weren't sent off properly and she said I should've checked that she had signed the samples, she booked me in with another midwife saying it was routine and the other midwife had no idea why I was booked in with her and she went 'on leave' for three months without telling me (don't know about other patients) and I had no contact details for any other midwives etc.

I eventually complained to a GP during an appointment for a serious UTI which had been ignored! The GP spoke to the reception team and told them all of my concerns and since then I've had a nice experience with my midwife. She's been more attentive and helpful during appointments! Occasionally even seems excited for me.

I'd suggest speaking to the head midwife (you should have their number in hospital pack) or reception team at your surgery. Good luck OP xx

I wish I had changed my midwife during labour, I found out afterwards you can. She was horrible, she called me pathetic, a stupid little girl, a waste of her time. She ripped my clothes off me and physically pushed me into the pool. Baby became distressed and she blamed me saying that it’s pathetic, insisting on the poor baby I was in labour when I could have just waited at home and let him come in his own time. She would lift my arms up during contractions telling me to stretch it out.
Anyway, it could have ended up worse, baby was fine with the intervention of another midwife, turns out she had previously been to court for a similar incident where the baby had died.
I wish I had known then that I could have asked for another midwife

I had no faith in one of my midwifes. She was a silly cow and totally wound me up each time o saw her.
I told my surgery I never wanted to see her again. And they made it so.

@Nodrama999 that is absolutely horrific. I hope she's no longer a midwife!

She is still a midwife and I got the gist that the other midwives didn’t think much of her when I broke down during health visitor visits. They begged me to report her, I put something in writing but I wasn’t in the right place to go all the way with it. Also, given that I wouldn’t be told what the results of her actions would be annoyed me, because I wasn’t entitled to an apology after someone took advantage of a persons most vulnerable time

Of course you are entitled to change your midwife. Thats what was told to us during my antenatal class... Its about you and your baby and nobody who is in a duty of care role towards you and your baby should be making you feel inadequate and being unprofessional towards your care.

God you all sound like you've had it much worse than me! I'm so sorry to hear those stories, totally avoidable!!

Reading the above implys she will be there at the birth??? I didn't even know that I thought she was just a community midwife??

I don't want the lady to get in trouble and I'd be mortified if I complained and bumped into her in Asda but I have no faith or trust in her care.

@Nodrama999 That’s horrid. I’m so sorry for you. I hope she’s been removed. Or whatever the phrase is.

I don’t think so op. It whine era in shift. I never saw anyone during either labour that I’d seen before. But it is a big hospital and surrounds.

Tut *who even is on shift.

It’s unlikely that you will have your midwife when you go into labour and during birth. But keep to your instincts. If you are not happy, change, think of it as the health of you and your baby.

Reading the above implys she will be there at the birth??? I didn't even know that I thought she was just a community midwife??

Most likely she won't be there at the birth - unless you have a planned home birth then I think community midwife will attend.
The hospital midwives are likely to be a different team. How big is the team of community midwives do you know?
I imagine It would be easier to change if they are part of a wider team. There are about 8 or 10 community midwives in my area and I think I saw all of them at least once, and not the same one more than twice! Luckily they are all knowledgeable and pleasant, the downside is they all give slightly different advice which can contradict one another

i believe its more important to see a community midwife you like in the days after the birth, when you may feel most vulnerable and need the most support.

I've just changed midwives! My old one was incompetent - not turning up for appts, going to the wrong house after previously being at mine, asking me if it was my first child when I had a pile of toddler toys in the corner, writing the wrong info in my notes, not listening to me, etc, just completely scatter brained.

I rung the birth centre was I had my antenatal scans, spoke to the head midwife and she gave me the info of my new midwife. So glad I changed. Definitely speak to your birth centre and enquire about it, good luck!

Sounds just like mine @Chocolateheaven123 I think it's better I change now before things progress even further.