Midwives abandoned me in covid ??

[rhia22]

I am a FTM currently 23 weeks. I have not seen a midwife since my booking in appointment or even spoke to my assigned midwife as last and only appointment was on the phone and she was on holiday. I rang the midwives at 18 weeks due to being up in the night with stomach pains and was told someone would ring me back that afternoon, heard absolutely nothing back and ended up seeking help from emergency pregnancy assessment at my hospital.

I am high risk pregnancy for gestational diabetes due to it being in my family and was due my glucose tolerance test on the 11th June. Woke up to a voicemail saying this was cancelled and the midwives would take my blood at my next appointment.

I don't even have a 28 week appointment booked in as they cancelled all 25 week appointments and it was too far in advance from my last phone call to book the 28 week one. I rang up to book this and was told someone would ring me back, two days later Ive heard nothing AGAIN.

I am absolutely devastated feel like I've been totally left out in the cold during my first pregnancy, understandably the NHS is under a lot of pressure but pregnant people are put in the high risk group so why are we getting less support than usual?? Any one experienced something similar? I am scared to complain incase it negatively impacts on something to do with my baby even though i am absolutely RARING to go and fully ready for a good complain haha.

I think there’s just so much pressure there isn’t time for them to give the care needed and with covid things are slipping through the cracks even more. I’m really glad I booked private for a scan, not everyone’s pregnancy situation will be solved the same way but it was well worth the money for me and put a lot of my worry to rest

I too have felt somewhat abandoned. Im only 14 weeks but so far have just had a brief booking in telephone appointment and 12 week scan. I havent spoken to any NHS midwife in any meaningful way.

However, i had a NIPT with a local private midwife. She came to my house to take the blood and we chatted for about an hour. It was so reassuring and great to talk to a knowledgable midwife who had time for me.

Im considering paying for some one off consultations with her futher along in the pregnancy if I feel like I need it.

Would this be an option for you? I just found mine via Google and some do free intial consultations etc.

@EveningReflection that sounds pretty standard to be honest and not necessarily covid related.

Aside from the booking in appt (which is just questions about medical history etc sono reason it can't be done by phone) you wouldn't see a midwife properly until 16 weeks anyway and even that's just FTM'S so while it's nice and useful, it's not an essential appointment. Same with the 25 week one.

The essential appointments are the 2 scans and the later midwife appointments (after 28 weeks). That's when you really need the f2f appts.

@sel2223 I think I just felt that way because I did the self referral at 6 weeks but didnt speak to anyone until the booking in appointment at 11 weeks. As a FTM suffering from really bad morning sickness, I was feeling quite desperate tbh.

@EveningReflection I was exactly the same tbh. FTM, high risk with awful morning sickness (I had to get tablets from the GP).
I self referred early but no contact at all until 8+ weeks and that was by letter regarding the booking in appt which was for around 10 weeks.
My first scan wasn't until I was 13+6

This was all pre-covid. I'm 30 weeks now.

OP, in your case I'd be tempted to but a glucose meter and check yourself before and (what is it, two hours?) after you had something very sweet.

@nubbynubnub i think i might to be honest, i just want my little boy to be safe and i don't think it is too safe to not find out

also i rang the midwives again this morn and still haven't heard anything back again!