Previous birth notes- what are my rights?

[Summerloving17]

Hi,
I am 35 weeks pregnant with dc2 and despite being high risk, not once has anyone gone through my previous birth notes with me and the midwife said that they can’t access them?!
I had an episiotomy and ventouse as my son got stuck but I’m not sure if it was shoulder dystocia or not! The midwife told me to ask the consultant at my next appointment 36+5 but I would have thought I should be allowed to read through my own records to find out exactly what happened myself.

Has anyone else had any experience or advice of a situation like this? Xx

Contact pals at your hospital, they should be able to advise you.

Are you sure your midwife meant she/he couldn’t access your hospital notes because I’m certain your consultant will have them unless your midwife meant they’ve been lost.

It will be in your big hospital file. You can do a SAR for them.

Do a sar if you have issues speak to the ico

I could be wrong but I think your notes are held at the hospital? I have been to hospital appointments in subsequent pregnancies where they have produced a big file of my notes and it clearly states on the front "not to leave hospital" or words to that effect. So presumably as she is based in the community, that is why.

If you contact the hospital you gave birth in you should be able to arrange to meet a midwife there to review them.

You can ask for a birth debrief with the consultant midwife and they will go through them with you

Thanks for asking this, OP, I had a similar encounter as you. I had quite a complicated and messed up previous birth, and this time round no one seems interested or willing to consult the notes (or let me look at them). I wrote to Pals and never got a response. I've been told the notes are archived somewhere in the hospital and not easy to access. Definitely would have appreciated some closure after the last time, but no one seems to care!

Ask for a birth debrief. I had one about 3 years after my son was born.

Thanks all, I will try calling the midwife unit at the hospital this morning and see what they say! x

When I went to see the midwife (hospital not clinic) she had a folder on her desk and it was all my previous notes in one from my other pregnancies. Im pretty sure you could go and ask in the maternity area at the hospital you had your last birth and they could access them

After the birth of DD1 I was asked if I wanted to go through my birth notes with a midwife. It was a fairly traumatic birth.

At the time I said no as I was busy with my new baby, recovering ok and I didn't feel the need.

2 years later, when I was pregnant again, I asked to go through my notes. I felt it was now the right time to do it. The hospital were really helpful. I was with a midwife for over an hour and she went through everything explaining what it all meant. There was lots I didn't know about or remember. It was very helpful. I had a much better understanding.

You'll need to request it and have a specific appointment just for going through the notes.

I only got to look at my notes from my first birth when I was in labour with my second because the midwife left them (accidentally?) in the room with me. It was quite interesting actually, I had never known DS1 was in distress for example or that they were preparing to give me a section at one point, nobody told me any of that at the time. I think it's really weird that nobody goes through these things with you as standard, it's such a significant event and you are clearly not really able to take things in when it's happening. I guess it's resources but after a difficult or traumatic birth I'd say it's essential.

Ask for a debrief, and request a copy of your notes as a SAR.

My consultant told me that they’d updated their computer system in 2013 so my pregnancy and birth notes from 2012 were lost. They had no idea what had happened with my antibody levels etc, and I had to provide all the information.

I had a birth debrief 8/9 years on. It was absolutely essential for me to help overcome some issue's. Head of midwifery organised it.