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Original poster

Went into triage today because of reduced movement/mean midwife

68 replies

Fiona1987 · 06/04/2020 18:17

Hi,

I went into triage today because I felt there was a reduction in movement. At the moment I'm 24 weeks pregnant and I have an anterior placenta so my movements are hit and miss and don't happen all the time. I just felt something was off today.
The midwife found the heartbeat within seconds, but she was quite nasty to me. She said 24 weeks is way too early to come in for reduced movements and at this point reduced movements are none of their concern. The way she talked to me was quite snappy, uncaring and condescending.
What she said also goes directly the advice in my pregnancy booklet, where it says: "If you are 17-42 weeks pregnant and experience any of the symptoms below contact the hospital:.......- your baby isn't moving as much ( once you start feeling your baby move)."
Also, my community midwife said that I should never take an anterior placenta as an explanation of why there is a reduction in baby movement.

I feel quite silly now. Was the midwife right that I shouldn't have come in ? She did find the baby's heartbeat and it was fast, but she only listened to it briefly. I feel like she didn't do her job properly, but she made me feel like a hypochondriac. It was quite a terrible experience today and despite finding the baby's heartbeat, I felt worse after going to the hospital.

OP posts:
FirstTimeBumps · 06/04/2020 18:25

I'd raise it with PALS. She shouldn't be doing that. She could put someone off coming back when there is a problem heaven forbid x

DareToTiger · 06/04/2020 18:33

It's a shame you had a bad experience, but many medical professionals are currently at breaking point over the increased work and risk to them, plus changes in policy over the coronavirus.

My good friend is a midwife and fainted at work on Friday, after being on call and working non stop, as 2 other midwives are isolating with symptoms. She's now been signed off with severe stress.

Many people in caring professions are really feeling the pressure right now.

blue25 · 06/04/2020 18:37

Maybe consider the huge strain she will be under at the moment. Every patient she sees could give her Coronavirus, so seeing someone who didn’t really need to be there will be very annoying for her.

TemoraryUsername · 06/04/2020 18:40

I'm sorry you had a not great experience.

Please try to cut them some slack at the moment - everybody in the NHS is under huge stress and strain like the rest of us can't even begin to imagine. Flowers

Original poster
Fiona1987 · 06/04/2020 18:40

@DareToTiger: I understand what you're saying, but triage wasn't busy at all. Apart from me there was only one other woman with reduced movement. It was very quiet there. After the midwife was finished, she went back into a glass cubicle to sit with her colleague.

OP posts:
Needingsupportplease · 06/04/2020 18:40

No excuse for been shitty with you if any mother is concerned they should leave feeling reassured or sorted. Hope you dont experience that again and please always go if you are concerned x

Original poster
Fiona1987 · 06/04/2020 18:43

@blue25: The advice says that you should come in if there is reduced movement between 17-42 weeks. So you can't really say I didn't need to be there.

OP posts:
JeanMichelBisquiat · 06/04/2020 18:46

I'd complain to PALS - her attitude could put you or another woman off going in another time, which is downright dangerous. Doesn't matter if things are stressful at the moment - she's given you advice that directly contradicts information you've had from more than one source, and also made you less likely to go back again if you are concerned.

When I had reduced movements with my second, and everything turned out to be fine, they made a point of saying that I shouldn't feel that I couldn't contact them again if I become concerned at another time. Most midwives are really keen to encourage mothers to raise this as an issue rather than second-guess themselves and not get get it checked.

MyDcAreMarvel · 06/04/2020 18:47

Did you monitor the movements for two hours first and then phone the hospital or did you just turn up?

Emerald89 · 06/04/2020 18:47

You followed the advice. She shouldn’t have got snippy with you as it may make you hesitate next time this happens. She was being a cow.

Original poster
Fiona1987 · 06/04/2020 18:49

@MyDcAreMarvel: I monitored it for over two hours and I called the hospital and they said I can come in.

OP posts:
mrsed1987 · 06/04/2020 18:51

Did you call first? As i thought you are usually advised to call and then they tell you if you should come in or not

BeautyAndTheBump1 · 06/04/2020 18:51

No excuse to be shitty with you no matter the circumstances.
Honestly, I just find some midwives seems to be arseholes. I've been hospitalised many times with my HG and have came across a few who made me feel like I was a piece of shit.

Just take it with a pinch of salt, and never ever feel like you cant call them if you get any reduced movements again. It is very serious.

CodenameVillanelle · 06/04/2020 18:51

Please don't report her. You don't know how busy she was or what she has been doing over the past few weeks.

myfav · 06/04/2020 18:52

Op, I would probably not complain on this instance as others have said all NHS workers are under huge strain. However do not let this incident put you off seeking help again if you are not happy with movements or anything else. I was told by midwives that babies don't form reliable patterns of movements until 28 weeks so hopefully today was just a one off.

Marpan · 06/04/2020 18:54

I think in general they are hit and miss depending on who you get. They do try and make you feel stupid sometimes. But she is getting paid to be there to help you.

I did not feel any movement often maybe a handful of kicks EVER.
I bought one of the heartbeat Dopplers on a medical website and used it everyday for my own sanity.

Original poster
Fiona1987 · 06/04/2020 18:55

@mrsed1987: yes

OP posts:
missyB1 · 06/04/2020 18:55

She was probably one of those arrogant unpleasant midwives, luckily they are in a minority. Never mind Covid she might be like that all the time who knows?

The important thing is you did the right thing going in, and don’t let her put you off going again if you need to.

Original poster
Fiona1987 · 06/04/2020 18:58

@JeanMichelBisquiat: Thanks for the advice, I agree with you.

OP posts:
Monkeymilkshake · 06/04/2020 18:59

I wouldnt complain under the current situation.
You were right to go and get checked out and you should go back if this happens again. Good luck.

DerbyshireGirly · 06/04/2020 19:02

Totally understandable that NHS staff are beyond stressed at the moment but this wasn't acceptable. What if OP is put off from calling again and god forbid, something happens to her baby? She did what she was meant to do. Stress isn't a good enough excuse for potentially putting someone in danger, this is how people who abuse elderly care home patients try to justify their actions.

Areallthenamestaken · 06/04/2020 19:07

You did the right thing.

I went in at 18 weeks and got a similar response (not quite as rude as you) but like you, I'd read the leaflets and knew the instructions. I'd rather get a dressing down from a midwife and know my baby is well, than not go in and later find out something is wrong.

denbyellie · 06/04/2020 19:14

She shouldn't have spoke to you like that there was a more polite way to say it... I went in at 20 weeks the other day with the same concern and they were so lovely to me saying they want my mind to be at ease especially with the increased anxiety that's happening at the minute .. and said the same as it shouldn't be a worry until 24 weeks but wanted to make sure I was okay, your allowed to be worried about your baby and not be spoken to like that xx

mayoral · 06/04/2020 19:28

Sorry, tbh 24 weeks is slightly ridiculous. I had anterior placenta with my DC and didn't even feel first kicks till 21/22weeks.

Do you suffer with anxiety? Talk to your antenatal midwife.

FirstTimeBumps · 06/04/2020 19:37

@mayoral how is it ridiculous when the paperwork she had stated after 17 weeks and the advice from her own midwife was the same?!