Finally broken down from it all today

[starrysimon]

I’ve been trying my best to hold it together but reading an article from my local news outlet stating the leisure centre in which the midwives are based is closing has pushed me over the edge. I haven’t even had a call from my midwife to inform me of this. Never been given a mobile number for my midwife and no use calling the base now since they’re shut. They are the only midwifery service in my area. I’m now scrambling to get private care but I don’t know if it’s all going to have been bought out by the NHS.

I’m 34+5d and was due an appointment at 36 weeks. They are vital for me as I am at risk of pre-eclampsia and have had a few BP spikes. I’m also due a growth scan at the hospital next Tuesday and I very much doubt it will be going ahead. I can’t stop crying and throwing up from the stress.

If things continue the way they are going I will be giving birth at home unassisted and then going to the hospital as I refuse to give birth without my partner with me. I know that if people don’t take this social distancing seriously and the death toll gets rapidly higher that women will not be allowed a birth partner. I’m fucking terrified. Luckily this is my second child and first labour went smoothly so there’s less to worry about in a home birth situation but still not ideal. I just want it to be a bad dream that I can wake up from

If you have a scan booked it should still be going ahead. All scheduled antinatal care is meant to proceed as normal.

If you have heard nothing from your midwives, call either the maternity unit you are booked under or your GPs who should have some information for you.

My midwife is seeing me at my local hospital cause everywhere else is closing xx

A friend has posted on our town’s Covid-19 support group that her 12 week scan was cancelled until further notice. She has been encouraged to go for a private scan for reassurance and dating. Only vital scans for high risk patients will be going ahead. Although I am at risk of pre-eclampsia, I’m not classed as high risk and was only seeing a consultant for growth scans due to late booking.

Even though mine is for a growth scan, I’ve just been passed down from consultant to midwife in the antenatal unit as baby is growing fine and nothing is wrong aside from the odd BP spike. BP machines can be bought in shops and used at home so they won’t see me as priority.

I understand they’ll be stretched and under pressure but I’m so shocked that the patients haven’t even been informed that the midwifery base has been closed down today. It doesn’t help those that are worried about the future of their care. Also bemused that the news article about the leisure centre closing mentioned nothing about the midwifery base. In some ways I’m glad that it’s happening so close to my due date and other ways it just makes it more hellish. Phone line for my local GP was ringing out and now I can’t get through to the maternity unit for the life of me. There are no other midwives in my area.

How awful, that's terrible, you poor thing. Forget the GP, I doubt they can help, but try not to panic and call the hospital on Monday to try to get the bottom of what's going on.

This may sound crazy, but I would also complain to a) your local councillor and b) your MP and see what they can do.

Hi @starrysimon - how massively stressful for you! I’m 32+2 and have an antenatal apt next week and scan in 3w at St George’s London which is under a lot of pressure dealing with CV cases but hasn’t public changed mat services. Although you don’t have a mobile number for your midwife, don’t you have a list of numbers in the booklet that has your maternity notes? Mine has specific team numbers (as I’m in a highly populated area there are a number if midwife teams) and on the back it has the hospital and some national numbers. Good luck - perhaps your MW just hadn’t had time to contact you yet xxx

I'm sorry you are feeling this way, it is a really awful situation, but please try and keep calm, the stress won't be good for you.
Sit down and make a plan of action. I would suggest that you a) ring the hospital on Monday to check if the scan is going ahead and ask if they have a number for the midwives, and/or b) ring the GP again to get numbers for the midwifes.
If you have any worries over the weekend, you should be able to ring the hospital, they normally have an emergency number.
In terms of your partner coming with you to the birth, that is not something I would worry about just now.
I think it is unacceptable for anyone to suggest you should be trying to arrange private care at this late stage. All pregnant women deserve appropriate care and medical treatment, it is unacceptable to suggest that you shouldn't be going for scans.