Useless midwife

[annemarie8]

Does anyone know how often you should see your midwife during pregnancy I'm 29 weeks and only seen my midwife once when I was 8 weeks she didn't check me over or anything only took down details other than having two scans I've had no care what so ever every time I'm worried about something I have to make a doctors appointment which I can't always get unless I book it 2 weeks before 🙄 the number she gave me for the midwife team just rings out I'm so frustrated how can someone call themselves a midwife but leave someone 21 weeks with no care at all!

You are usually seen at 16-18 weeks, then 28/29 weeks for second time mums where I live. If it's first baby you are also seen at 24 weeks. What did the midwife say about booking your appointments? Do you book your own or do the midwives make them for you? The booking appointment is usually just about taking a history and making sure appropriate referrals are sent/blood tests taken or arranged/scans arranged.

It can be frustrating when you can't access advise though. Is there a main community midwife office you can contact? Any facility to leave a message so they can contact you back? What times are you ringing?

Is it your first? You should have had a 12 week scan then a 16 week midwife appt then from memory 20, 24, 28 week appts (that's for number 2, I think it's more regular if first baby). You definitely should not have gone from 8 weeks to 29 without seeing someone!!

Have you had blood tests and your diabetes test? I think she should have arranged these too

In your notes there should be a plan of how many times you should see your midwife especially if it's your first baby. On the NHS website there is also a guideline. You should have seen her at 16 weeks thou. I did and this is not my first baby.
Give her a call, or just book an appointment with her and then go from there.

...I think you should book an appointment with her.

In my area thou the hospital books my bloods and scans, midwife I need to book myself.

My youngest is 7 but even with him my 4th baby I saw a midwife every 4-5 weeks.

...I think you should book an appointment with her

I think the whole point is that OP hasn't been able to even get hold of her!

how can someone call themselves a midwife but leave someone 21 weeks with no care at all

Well obviously something has gone wrong somewhere. A referral has been missed and you clearly haven't made it on to someone's list that you should have.

Now you know that you need to ring maternity at your nearest hospital and let them know. The number the GP has given you must be wrong, rather than being passive about this you need to find out what the right number is.

In my area there are appointments at 8-10 weeks, 16 weeks, 24 weeks for first time pregnancies only, 28 weeks and then roughly every 3 weeks until the due date and depending how you're getting on.
Can you leave a message on the midwife line? With mine you had to leave your name and number and they rang back within 72 hours. Are you sure you have the correct number (sorry I'm sure you've checked but just in case!)? You definitely should be having regular appointments.

So far, I've had:

Booking appointment - 8 weeks
Dating scan - 12 weeks
16 week midwife appointment - 17+2

Looking at my notes, I will also be seen by the midwife at:

22 weeks (already have this booked)
28 weeks
31-32 weeks
34-36 weeks
37-38 weeks
40 weeks
41 weeks

Got my anomaly scan booked for when I'm 20 weeks. I'm in Scotland.

I'd ask your GP for contact details for your community midwife team as it sounds like you have missed some important appointments/checks.

You need to ring the Gp and ask to make an appt with your midwife

This sounds like things have gone wrong for some reason. Assuming you are in the UK, this gives up you information about the standard care you should expect
www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/antenatal-appointment-schedule/
I am quite surprised that the midwife hasn’t contacted you, but she may be expecting you to make appointments. If the number you have doesn’t get an answer, just ring the hospital after 9am tomorrow and ask for the antenatal clinic. Ask them what you need to do to get into the regular appointments.
If you can’t find the number PM me & tell me which hospital & I will make some enquiries for you.

I had early appointments, dating and anomaly scans then when I got to 24 weeks, it was midwife appts every 3 weeks

Where I live I have to book the midwife appointments myself at my local surgery. Any scans/care at hospital gets booked for me but all my check ins I call and book myself. What does your purple book say? It might be worth calling your surgery and asking there about midwife appointments

That doesnt sound right OP. Im now 30 weeks, and ive seen my midwife at various times up until now. I think at;
8 weeks (booking appt)
16 weeks
22 weeks
28 weeks
31 weeks (booked in, not yet attended)

Ive also had a 12 week and a 20 week scan.

I think give them a call, I think potentially you've fallen through the cracks in their system. It may be a mistake but its not really good enough. Can you transfer your care to somewhere else?

Have you got your yellow book op? Did she take bloods at your booking appointment?

After every app with my midwife she tells me to book my next one it's usually been for 2 or 3 weeks later. 3rd baby here and had app every 2/3 weeks. You should of had bloods done after your booking app aswell as at 28 weeks aswell deffinately some miscommunication somewhere. Have you had your 12 week and 20 week scans? If you can't get Intouch with your community midwife/team I would suggest ringing the hospital to see if they can help you out as 21 weeks without anything is ridiculous and you could be missing important stuff ie: whooping cough vaccination/ extra scans if needed (not always the case but usually determined at mw appointments) depending on blood tests you could need iron or anything. I wouldnt go through your gp but deffinately phone the hospital

Something has def gone wrong. In my area it’s 8, 16, 25 (first baby only), 28, 31, 35, 37, 39 & 41..

To be honest, you’ve not missed much. You have repeat bloods at 28 weeks & start getting measured from there as well to track growth of bump. So you really need those. The earlier appointments are just to check in, check your blood pressure, urine & dependant on area you may listen into baby (my area do no Doppler listening at all). Certainly at this stage you must be seen regularly to double check everything is going OK!

We have pink notes - do you have anything similar? On the front are hospital numbers & the midwife team numbers too.. please give someone a ring and get booked back in ASAP!

You’ve only missed one appointment.

The NICE pathway is booking apt at 8-10 weeks, 12 week scan, 16 week midwife apt, 20 week scan so it’s 1 apt. you've missed so far.

Your next apt. should be 25 weeks if this is your first baby or 28 weeks if not. Try ringing the antenatal clinic at the hospital to make sure you get booked in.

Sorry I misread that you are 21 weeks. You need bloods at your 28 week apt. so it’s essential that you get booked in ASAP. Raise this to the head of midwifery and ask them to look at what has gone wrong.

I had to book my mw appts myself and they had a specific booking line to call rather than the midwife themselves. Every area will be different, mt friends mw dealt with booking the next appt for her at the end of each of her antenatal visits.

Check your paperwork or call the gp/hospital, check online to find out who the local team are. With mine you never got through to a person but an answer machine, so left a message for them and tests get back to you.