AIBU to think antenatal appts over the telephone are pretty much a waste of time and precious resources?

[RainMinusBow]

Just that really.

I'm 39, 33 weeks' pregnant with my third baby, and low risk on every factor.

My baby is moving well and following her usual pattern here. I am more than aware if this changes at all to call a midwife for advice ASAP.

So what actually is the point of a telephone appt? They can't test urine or BP, listen in to baby or measure fundal height.

At a time when the NHS are clearly so short of midwives (hence pulling home births etc), it doesn't seem to me like an effective use of their time.

I'm now under care of an Independent Midwife so will be cancelling my appt anyway to free up time for another lady. My IM will be doing required antenatal checks face-to-face.

I can't believe some of the care you're receiving here.

I'm in NI, and even since CV19, my care has largely gone unchanged. I still go to my GP for my midwife checks (urine, blood pressure etc). They're just in total PPE and measure my temperature before I go in. As I'm under shared consultant care (EMCS with baby #1), I've also still had all my consultant appointments where I've had my urine checked, blood pressure taken, growth scan done, etc. I've also had no issue in booking in for my whooping cough jab and getting my anti d injection. Perhaps I'd be getting less if I wasn't 34 weeks but surely your checks will still go ahead?

I can't remember having many checks from 12 and 20w the first time round (when I was low risk). Maybe once a lot of you get over 20w they'll up the appointments?

I do think some appointments can be easily done over the phone, though.

@PepePig it’s interesting the difference in care!

I did say earlier on in the post that I would be interested to know what people elsewhere we’re getting in terms of care!

I love our NHS but still can’t help feeling let down by the care I’m getting...

One thing I will say though is I spoke to my midwife this morning and she was just so lovely, they are frustrated by it all too :(

Let’s just hope that things can return to how they were sooner rather than later!