I'm so hacked off with my midwifes

[lulumamasmentee]

The last two appointments I have had have either been forgotten (nobody turning up) or rescheduled to a week or so later. This has meant that I have actually missed about two appointments that I was supposed to have. My last one at 31 wks which nobody turned up for so i had to phone and remind them and they sent somebody out a couple of days later (which is when I found out baby was breech).

Anyway I was supposed to be having an appointment last week 34wks and they cancelled that and made it today. Sit in all morning waiting for the midwife who turned up at 1pm (not a midwife i've ever seen before) and says "oh I'm not here to do your obs, I just came to tell you your midwife isn't coming today because she's off sick" ok can I make another appointment then? "well not really because we're really busy so you'll have to go to your gp for your 34wk antenatel"

which would be fine except you can't get an appointment for two weeks with my gp, she just said well you'll have to keep trying for a cancellation with them because we've got nobody to see you! so wtf am I supposed to do about checking if the baby is still breech and doing something about that? and about booking the home birth which was supposed to be happening today? oh don't worry about that you've got ages to book the home birth stuff, um 5 wks actually and my dd came nearly 2 wks early?!

I really am so pissed off, I don't mind about not having antenatels at the beginning etc but come on i've had one antenatel since about 26 weeks and i'm 35 weeks today. I've phoned the doctors and they can't do anything I just have to keep on phoning for a cancellation

and these are the people i'm supposed to be relying on to be there when I go into labour! this really doesn't fill me with any confidence at all.

RANT over

do you have a childrens centre/sure start near you?

they sometimes run drop-in MW clinics. worth a try?

write to the head of midwifery, and to the practice manager at the GPs

it is totally unaccpetable to not have basic antenatal care for this lenght of time...your wee, BP and FHR should all be checked regularly..

one AN appt in 10 weeks is just not on

am on your behalf

we do have a sure start centre but they don't do that type of thing, I'm just pissed off because I was looking forward to booking the home birth today and i really wanted to check that the baby had turned around etc

there is usually a sure start midwife.....give them a call...

what a PITA

can you call the antenatal outpatients department direct, at least they might be able to do your checks and see if baby is still breech, good luck

That's awful. Really shocking. I would complain, complain, complain. Call your docs and ask who you can make a formal complaint too - they need to know they can't keep doing this and perhaps you should suggest they reimburse you for any time off work. I changed my docs because I could never get an appt and when I did, I'd be waiting at least 45 mins. Just as bad at the hospital where they make you an appt, and then see you two hours later. Do they honestly think people haven't got anything better to do than wait around without a word of how far behind they're running? So discourteous. I complain each time.

I'm 35 weeks too and my midwife came out to my house the other day to sort the homebirth stuff (she's lovely and was on time). So you do need to stress to them that you should be seeing someone now as you need to feel prepared.

Blimey, didn't realise I felt so annoyed about it too! Good luck!

Oh, and I'm breech too. Sounds like we've got similar plans I've got a scan booked for two weeks' time to see if the baby has turned. In the meantime, am trying swimming, pelvic tilts, yoga positions, reflexology and general baby coaxing - but no joy. Lot's of people have told me not to worry yet and still plenty of time.

OK got all upset and cried at the gp receptionist

the gp will fit me in at 3.10

thanks everyone!

yay ! noticed when i was pregnant with DD< crying got a lot of things done !!

glad you're going

well sorry to come back all negative but that was a load of bulls**t

the gp asked me why I was having a routine ante taking up a emergency appointment slot on a friday afternoon?! he was very impressed at all, I said I hadn't asked for an emergency slot (which I hadn't I asked if they had any cancellations)

he said he would do it but "your midwives are brave just letting you not have one if your supposed to be a homebirth and the babies is breech" he couldn't even tell if the baby was breech (was poking and prodding for about 10 mins) before saying "well I think the babies head down, I can't tell for sure, i'll just put head down" wtf

he didn't bother measuring me or doing the urine sample, he did go and get the doppler after huffing that he didn't have one and going off for 10 mins to look for one

and to top it all off wrote in my notes

"CAME IN FOR ANTENATEL ON EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON!!!"

he told me to call the midwife and get an appointment this week so she could check how the baby was lying and do a proper antenatel

what a waste of bloody time, I feel like just leaving it till i'm in labour and calling them then

lulu - does your midwife not hold a AN clinic that you can get to easily? Are they all home visits?

Your midwife should be able to come and see you. If not, then I would phone the hospital and ask to be seen there.

GP does not have enough experience by the sound of it. Do you have a contact number for the hospital?

there is no midwife at my doctors surgery so you either see one of the doctors or if you are homebirth then the community midwife comes to your house

poor you how terrible. I wouldnt normally suggest ringing materity unit, but might be worth explaining that you have not had AN appointment with midwife in 10 weeks and really feel you need your general checks done.
I would also ring midwife team on monday morning and say you want a home birthing booking in appointment by next week. Our midwifes here come out if you need them and one suggested an appointment on a sunday if i neded to see her urgently.

Have you thought about a doula for the birth, least soeone to rely on during homebirth, or maybe private midwife if you can afford one.

Hope things get better soon, and you have every right to rant
lisa

I see. Our midwives have a room in the GPs surgery and they hold clinics there.

Althought there are community midwives in my area, the service is integrated with the hospital so you can be seen there, even if you are having a homebirth. There is an assessment unit that women can call for advice if need be. Do you have the hospital number. If not, have you phoned your midwives back? You need to let them know that you are not happy or reassured.

I have had an appointment I had one at 31wks that was the first one in 10 wks (sorry for confusion )

i'm going to ring the midwife on monday (there is nobody in the office over the weekend) and tell them I want to see somebody asap

what I don't get is why the midwife who came to tell me that my midwife wasn't coming didn't just do the bloody appointment then and there?

have just tried ringing the community midwife office, no answer as per, will try again on monday

i just really wanted to somebody to say if the baby was breech or not? if he's still breech aren't they supposed to make appointments for a scan, ecv etc?

neither do I. It wouldn't have taken long.

Don't wotty about being breech at 34 weeks - very common. Scan and arrangenents for ECV can be done from 35/36 weeks, especially since you have had a baby before. It has plenty of room to move.

worry even

Doc sounds like an impatient idiot. You've every right to expect regular antenatal appts. I can totally understand you feeling apprehensive about it being breech, particularly as you want a home birth and it can impact on that.

Like I said, I'm booked in for a scan at 36 weeks so they can see if the baby has moved - if that would reassure you, then perhaps call your midwifery unit at the hospital and outline your concerns (home birth, 35 weeks, potential breech, no regular midwife appts) and see if they can book you in for a scan and consultant appt/docs afterwards.

i just wanted to add my sympathy. you've been treated appallingly. As if it's not bad enough having long gaps in your appointments - then to be made to feel a nuisance by a GP who didn't take your concerns seriously and doesn't even sound particularly competent, i think is a total disgrace.
I would write to both the head of midwifery and complain about the GP. They take complaints about GPs very seriously from what i've heard.
Sending you a cyber hug. This is our wonderful NHS at its worst.

I would complain about the GP too, if you explained to the receptionist why you were calling & they allocated you an emergency appt then his beef is with the surgery staff and he should not be taking it out on a patient.
I would write to the practice manager & send the GP himself a copy, and avoid him like the plague.
Hope you get seen properly soon.

I've found that the odd GP at my local surgery is always in a foul mood when they get an ante natal appointment to deal with. To the point where one actually looked at me askance, phoned reception and berated them for their scheduling, telling them he was a doctor not a midwife and didn't like having to be up to his wrists in pee all morning. Apparently I was the third check he'd had that morning. Noting like being made to feel comfortable is there?

Hope the original poster gets her midwife appointment. I've refused to see a GP since the above incident (he decided to not tell me my blood pressure and refused to write in my notes) and my local team have been fab, but I go to them as it's easier for me.

Good luck!

Agnes

I'd phone the local mat unit and tell them you've felt any movements for 24-48 hours-that should get some action taken. Then when you are seen give them a huge piece of your mind!

Unfortunately in the NHS sometimes one has to really stand up to be counted!