Anyone else feel like they've dropped off the radar in terms of antenatal care?

[mrs87]

Hi all

Just wondered if anyone else is having a similar experience with their midwifery team? I'm currently 19+3 and haven't seen a midwife face to face since 8 weeks, understandably given the current situation! I was just hoping that the care would continue but just in different forms (phone, email etc). I had my 16 week appointment over the phone but it was very brief, I was told to email or phone with any questions or worries.

In the last 2 weeks I've started to suffer quite badly with what I assume is SPD/PGP, I've emailed and called my midwife multiple times over the last 2 weeks and nobody has ever got back to me. I've left voicemails on the main line when it hasn't been answered. I've also not felt any movements, no flutters or bubbles whatsoever yet, but I understand that this may be because of an anterior placenta (I only know I have this from a private scan we had, otherwise hasn't been mentioned!) So the midwife doesn't know that I know that, so surely should really be getting back to me with my concerns about movement and the pelvic pain?

I completely appreciate that they are probably snowed under, we are in an unprecedented situation and they are doing their best - but this is my first baby, it's all a bit scary and I'm feeling quite abandoned and unsupported during all of this. Doesn't help that, like all of us, I'm not able to see friends and family.

Has anyone else noticed a drop in their care or is it my particular area that seems to be worse?

Thanks

It’s too early to have concerns about movement, and it’s your first baby. You can buy an SPD support belt online cheaply , try eBay.

Could you speak to your GP? Regarding the SPD?

I know it’s probably not helpful for you to hear but my antenatal care has continued to be great despite the pandemic. None of my appointments have been cancelled and although I’ve never seen the same midwife more than twice, they’ve all been great and in the end of the phone if I need them. I’ve got PGP and was offered pain relief from my consultant but refused it - my pregnancy pillow has been a dream, if you haven’t already got one it will help lots! Stretching in the morning helps a lot too - sit on your bed/sofa, lift your ankle so it’s resting on the other leg’s knee and then lean your torso forward for 10 seconds and then repeat for the other leg.

Don’t worry about the movements yet, I didn’t get some proper kicks until around 22 weeks and that’s normal.

Mine has definitely dipped. I'm 33 weeks, have been quite ill, high risk and asked to not make any further midwife appointments until my dating scan at 37 weeks. This is my second pregnancy and I've been disappointed and feel I have been dismissed and palmed off.

Sorry you're feeling rubbish. Hopefully this all dies down and you get better care.

I’d say appointments drop off generally in that time. I remember going a few weeks of not talking to anyone and feeling a bit like something was missing. But it picks up after your second scan.

However, pretty terrible that you’ve tried to contact your midwife and no one has got back to you!

Regardless of it being too soon for movement - I didn’t feel anything until 22 weeks and also have an anterior (which a private scan confirmed not NHS) - if you’re calling your midwife team and no one is responding, this is a failing of care.
It’s understandable that in the current times things are going to be different, but to just leave you like that, feeling stressed and anxious with no answers is incredibly unprofessional. Is there another route you can take to get hold of them? Do they have a Facebook page perhaps, or are they based at your local hospital where you can call a main reception number and get put through? It may be the number has been updated and you’ve not been told.
Care round our way has definitely changed; they’re doing their best but their communication about changes is shockingly poor which does leave you feeling even more anxious at a time when all you need is a bit more reassurance.

I haven't seen my midwife either, i saw a midwife at 8 weeks then I had a brief telephone call at 16 weeks. I'm 20 +5. Are you due your next scan? I went last Wednesday for mines and baby was perfect, I also have a low lying anterior placenta and I was getting worried also as I felt them early on with my last 2 pregnancies but last Thursday at exactly 20 weeks I started to feel movement and kicks ...he seems to be in a routine now as the kicks are at the same time daily and plenty of them. This is my 3rd baby so maybe give it another few weeks

I’ve posted on a few of the threads and do feel as though ante-natal care has suffered as a result of this whole situation. I feel for the poor staff too though as they are just as saddened as we are but don’t have much of a choice at the minute :(

I would keep trying to get hold of your midwife and if you’ve left a reasonable amount of messages maybe contact the PALS team, you don’t necessarily need to complain (unless you want to) but I have found them to be very good at just shivvying things along a bit when I’ve had no responses - not just maternity but other departments.

The PALS info should be on your hospital trusts website.

Hope this helps :)

You should have had a 16 week check up although tbh it’s not massively vital, they do check the heartbeat but often can’t find it because baby is still so tiny. You’ll surely have your 20 week scan soon?

I have my first appointment in nine weeks with midwife on Thursday but I’ve had two scans between then (20 week then a re-scan because baby was in a bad position). I can feel movement so I’m not concerned.

@mrs87 yes! My 25week one was cancelled, I had an appointment at 28weeks for growth scan, and won’t have another until 34/35weeks. All others cancelled and apart from a girl call to say a midwife would be in touch Iv had no contact and my gp surgery us useless too, closed for appointments. First pregnancy and feeling a bit abandoned to be honest. I’m a preeclampsia risk and don’t like the thought of nothing being picked up until 35weeks due to cancelled appointments. I know there’s nothing we can really do about it but it doesn’t seem fair that different hospitals have different policies, if one can keep appointments etc then surely all can

This is the current appointment schedule for a FTM with a low risk pregnancy from the RCOG if it helps.

I think that posted really pixelated sorry, I took it from a page on the RCOG website though if you wanted to look yourself.

My community care is now non-existent. I saw my mw at 8 weeks and was booked in for the 16 week check but as this all kicked off I got a call to say it was cancelled and the next time I'd hear from them would be a 24 week phone call.

I'd assumed they were happy to do this as it's my third baby (although I'm very anxious because of previous losses) but it seems it's standard for most expectant mums because of CV.

My hospital scans are going ahead but my DP can't come with me.

Baby is due in September so I'm hopeful that we'll be out the other side of this by then (although I won't be too upset if the postnatal ward is still visitor free!)

FWIW I bought a home doppler and it has given me some peace of mind.

I think the main problem is not that appointments are now by telephone but that you be let messages and sent emails to your midwife and they haven't got back to you OP. If you have concerns or worries, it's important that there's still someone at the end of the phone you can talk to, even if it's just to put your mind at rest.

In terms of appointments, the scans are the main thing really so I suppose other face to face appointments are technically non essential and can be done via a phone call. It's not ideal....I have my 25 week appointment this month and don't like the fact I wont have my blood pressure or urine checked as early indications of a problem could be missed. I was also meant to get my whooping cough vaccination then and get the form to give to work so now wondering what happens with those....and of course there's just the reassurance of hearing baby's heartbeat (although I know some trusts don't check for that at midwife appointments anyway).
I do understand the reasons for all these measures and I know everyone is doing their best so I'm.not complaining as such, I just think it's a bit of a sh** time to be pregnant lol.

In terms of your personal concerns, I would contact your GP about the SPD and don't worry about movements. I'm nearly 23 weeks and haven't felt a thing yet.

*'you've left' messages not you be let

I think it very much depends on your area and your GP - I had my 16 week appointment in person with the midwife (just after lockdown) and then my 20 week scan, although I had to go to that on my own obviously. Just rang the surgery to book my 25 week appointment with the GP and they said that it would be in person, not over the phone. Then I have a 28 week appointment with the midwife which will also be in person unless something changes in the meantime. I'm a FTM, low risk.

Don't worry about the movements - I'm 21 weeks and still haven't felt anything but the baby was wriggling around during the scan which was reassuring! I think anything up to 24 weeks is normal especially for your first.

They forgot to call me to tell me my booking appointment was cancelled so I went to my GP as planned, fortunately no one was there so the risk was tiny. When I did eventually get through to the maternity unit as the community midwife's couldn't pick up, they did ring back and apologise a few hours later and did the appointment then.
I felt lucky that I got it sorted that day as they don't allow you to book your 12 week scan here without having had your booking appointment and I should get my screening bloods done then.
I believe I won't have a 16 week appointment and am to book my whopping cough jab in for when my 20 week scan is.

I m a first time mum so I m hoping that after I ve had my scans alone that I might get in person appointments come July as no one will have checked my blood pressure or urine at all but worse case scenario blood pressure machines are easy to get hold off and I ve been trained in using them in a previous job.

Thank you everyone! I'm less worried about not feeling anything yet now

It seems that it really does vary across areas! I do think it should be consistent, although maybe not consistently crap

My main issue really isn't the telephone appointments at all - completely understand that in terms of everyone's safety. It's the lack of response when I've been in touch with a concern, as some of you have said. I'm going to be politely persistent!

My 20 week scan is on Monday thank goodness, so that will be really helpful - although don't think it makes up for having your own midwife there to reassure you on the end of the phone/an email when it's needed.

It really is a crazy time to be pregnant and I feel for all you guys too, especially those further along. I'm due 5th September and trying not to think too far in to the future and what's going to happen when it gets to labour time.

I'm the same I'm only 15 w though, had my 12 w scan and was told I'd hear from midwife but I rang thursday to chase up and they said i needed to ring them! So you can't win. I was told at booking I'd be consultant led but havent heard anything about that so I've got a few questions when and if the midwife rings.

Also what about whooping cough vaccine? Thought that was mean to be specific week.

Anyway, I totally understand your frustrations. I'm a first time mum as well and have no idea what I'm doing. I get the nhs are pulled out but how should that effect midwifery when I thought midwives were sort of separate from regular nursing?

Rant over. I think we all appreciate what the wider NHS are doing but I think we are totally entitled to be frustrated

@mrs87

I totally feel ya!!

Im 23 weeks. 'High risk' am under the safeguarding midwifery team and also under perinatal mental health team. Have horrendous spd and some days its so bad i physicslly cant walk and have to shuffle round the house on my bum (toddler finds it hilarious)

My perinatal mental health worker has dropped off the planet and i got a call to say she is gone and they will re-allocate someone in due course?! No time given.

The phychiatrist did one telephone consultation, prescribed some strong drugs then stated she had to discharge me. Ive had to contact again as drugs not working and its been a nightmare.

I also developed obstetrics cholestasis in my last pregnancy and was told i would be having 2 weekly blood tests this time round.... i had one at 16 week and have heard nothing since, despite chasing.

Ive very swollen legs and a swollen face and some protine in my wee ( when last tested) but ive had no follow up of my blood pressure since - when questioning with my midwife on the phone the other day (she cancelled our face to fsce) i asked how i get these re checked and she just cited nice guidelines and how they wont see me again before X amount of weeks.

Totally understand the restrictions on everyone at the moment but this is crazy?!?! My mum nearly died of eclampsia and im not sure my stressing is going to help my blood pressure.

Rang antenatal who now dont allow walk ins - they just keep saying they will check and get back to me.

And dont!!!!!

@Indigogirl88 I m not as far along as you but I was worried about the whooping cough vaccine being sorted as I had it as a baby. I was told I can get it done at the same time as the 20 week scan. But they can give it between 16 and 32 weeks so there's time still.

Same here. Had 16 week appt via phone, which was completely pointless. Was asked to book a scan for 36 weeks at 20 week scan appt but it got moved to a local hospital so couldn't do that. At scan I was told to call and book a 34 week placenta check scan so I rang this morning to be told I can't do that over the phone. I have no further midwife appts booked either.

@Charis1503 that’s appalling as it sounds like you should be getting extra support and it’s not happening!

At my booking appointment the midwife said I would be under a safeguarding plan - not heard a word and also supposed to be hearing from the consultant psych re my mental health, guess what - not heard a word. These things really are vital to some people and I just don’t think it’s something that they should be scrimping on :(

I’ve said this so many times on previous posts but I am really concerned about the lack of care we are getting. I do get that we are in unprecedented times but I just worry that when this all blows over there will be serious consequences for some women who have not had regular contact with a midwife and it’s just not fair!

If this pandemic continues for much longer I really think they need to look at ways to continue caring for people - not just maternity services but other long term illnesses. I just think far too many people are suffering as a result of this, is it fair to only save the lives of covid patients and just neglect other people/services.. I don’t think it is!

I can totally understand your frustrations, but if you are trying to contact a midwife about movements, it’s far better to contact the unit at the hospital rather than your community midwife. 19 weeks is too early to be worried about movements, they will come in the next few weeks, but the community midwifes quite often have their phones switched off as they are in clinics. I agree that they should have got back to you at some point, but when it comes to movements, once you’re a bit further on, they would advise you to contact the maternity triage at the hospital who will get you in to be monitored. Worth remembering for when you get to that stage.

I think that that midwives have probably been placed in a very difficult position. Most of them if you speak to them would feel terrible about the lack of care women are getting. I think they have probably redeployed a lot of the community ones back to the acute settings to help. Meaning less of them out there to run clinics/man phones etc. Doesn’t make it right though, it’s a very worrying time. I’m 34 weeks now and very anxious about labour and birth and the visiting restrictions. But if that’s what it takes to keep us and babies safe then it has to be done.

Hope all of you that are having problems manage to speak to someone soon and wishing you all healthy pregnancies x