What's the point in a midwife?

[Oakie0]

Sorry if this sounds off - but this is my first pregnancy so am a bit clueless, 22 weeks and I don't understand what my midwife is there for / if I should be expecting more (or less) of her.
I am consultant led as am deemed higher risk so understand midwife is less involved because I see consultants instead, but I have spoken to her once in 22 weeks and I didn't really understand the point in that appointment. She told me to text her with any questions, which I had done re my whooping cough and flu vaccinations, and Mat B1 form as I hadn't heard anything about when I should have any of them, and she never replied to any of those. I asked my consultant then GP directly so that's sorted now but I don't feel I can ask the midwife anything and am not sure if I should be?

My midwife told me to text her to remind her to book me an appointment at 26 weeks which I thought was odd that I have to remind her.
At my last consultant appointment they asked me when I was due to see her and I said 26 weeks but they told me to bring it forward to 24 weeks - so I text the midwife and asked her to do this and she replied to me asking for proof, I felt like she thought I was lying, it was like a battle! I sent her a copy of the consultants notes and then she booked it in for 26 weeks anyway so that was pointless!
On one hand I don't really mind as I don't feel like I get anything from my appointments with her anyway, but I worry incase there is something I end up missing due to this all being new to me and if she should be helping me a bit more.

Well you're still quite early, there's not really much need for midwives until approaching the third trimester. I wouldn't have thought injections and whatnot are anything to do with midwives. Matb1 isn't until later on is t it and then you have to ask for it, or I did.

Later on it ramps up with whoever you've got your appointments with but 22 weeks I wouldn't be expecting much of anything apart from the anomaly scan.

Is there something you need help with, you mention needing her to help you more.

There's more hands on stuff later on when you start seeing them fortnightly and they do measurements and urine samples and blood pressure. I don't think I met mine until 28 weeks due to covid and its been fine. You'll have your consultant keeping an eye on you, and the MAU if you have any actual concerns about movement etc. If they're not fussed about you everything is probably progressing well

As others have said you're still quite early on. Mat b1s didn't get given to me until 28 weeks ish.

Whooping cough is 3rd trimester and and it's not flu season so you don't need that yet.

Even so, it's not until later that the amount of appointments ramp up.

Then the midwife will talk to you more about birth choices and what will happen once baby is here.

During labour and delivery then the midwife will be there for that bit.

After birth the midwife visits you at home and comes every few days until you're discharged.

My midwife does not respond to the messages at all! I also haven't met her or spoken to her. Had a phone call from a student midwife once though.
I don't know the results of any of my blood tests, including testing for Downs etc I don't know why I have been scheduled extra scans in this pregnancy (apparently I'm low risk so why the need, would be nice to have the answer) it's a bit pointless giving me her phone number if nobody is going to respond (even if weeks later would be just polite to send me a reply 🤷‍♀️)

You're only 22 weeks, you don't need a midwife for anything much at this point.

She's not Google - anything you aren't sure about with regards to what treatment you get in pregnancy is on the NHS website. what do you think you should be "getting" from her? It's just the obvious stuff like dietary and lifestyle advice in the first 2/3, possibly occasional urine tests and blood pressure.

She'll be more involved in your 3rd trimester.

Thanks for your replies.

I'm not sure I will have any appointments with her after this 26 week one, as I have consultant appointments regularly after that. I just didn't know if I was missing something. If I hadn't known that I had to have these vaccinations through friends & family telling me. I wouldn't have known to ask her / contact my GP when she didn't respond. I've had my whooping cough one now as GP advised I should, and flu is booked in. So I am worried that there might be other things I don't know to ask about so might be missed, I would have thought that's what midwives are supposed to help with.

Yes the Mat B1 form is available from 20 weeks, as part of my maternity leave policy at work they ask me to provide them with a copy by 25 weeks so that's how I knew to ask for that too. But again I didn't get a response. The hospital told me that she should help with it but they supplied it as she wasn't responding.

I've had quite a few questions given it's my first pregnancy and have had a few issues, maybe I am expecting too much but as she told me to text her with any questions it would have been useful to have a response rather than relying on google.

The local midwife team will look after you post birth so you should see them a couple of times just to get to know them.
I am consultant led too, I'll only see my local midwife once later in pregnsncy around 36wk, last saw them for booking bloods. The rest of my appointments are with the consultants or others apps at the hospital.

I’ve said many times I’m surprised how hands off pregnancy is (I don’t expect a handhold but you really are left to things especially when you’re a ftm).

I’m 24 weeks and a half weeks now. Saw midwife at the booking appointment and had a quick call with her at 16 weeks. I have a call with her for 25 weeks but won’t see her face to face again until I’m 30 weeks. Apparently then you get more contact, though I have been told I’ll have fewer appointments towards the end because of COVID they amalgamate some of the meetings. Midwife doesn’t reply to texts or calls. I have the same issue with the matb1 form, work need it next week- I was told at 8 weeks it will get posted to me as we won’t be meeting til 30 weeks but whether I’ll actually get it is another story...

Hopefully when you start seeing your consultant you’ll feel more supported.

This is a helpful page to know what appointments you should be having & what your midwife should be doing. www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/your-antenatal-appointments/

I’m not consultant led so not sure what cross over there is but hope that helps.

I didn’t get my matb1 form until my 25 week appointment. Xx

Oh my midwife also told me to remind her to book the 25 week call and a 28 week (I think!) anti d injection? I was shocked she told me to remind her!! Makes me wonder if we have the same midwife 😂

Please remember you're not the only pregnant lady the midwife see's. The Internet is a fantastic place to find out information and forums like this are also very useful whether your a first time mum or third time.
As for reminding her to book your appointments, I have to book my own by ringing my surgery, Perhaps you could try that route? I've booked my 26 week app 10 weeks in advance as our area is experiencing a huge baby boom like many other areas I'd imagine.

I’m consultant led too but have found my community midwife useful for smaller queries I’ve texted her (like dental form/vitamin queries/getting my hospital test results) and she’s always been very helpful and responsive. I feel like if yours has said that you can text with any questions and then doesn’t respond that’s quite poor form. She shouldn’t offer in the first place if she knows she won’t get round to answering!

I've had "shared care" with all three of my pregnancies, so seeing consultant or midwife depending on how things are going. If you're consultant led then your consultant will be doing appointments with you which in midwife led pregnancies would be done by the midwife, so no wonder you feel you haven't seen much of them.

Somewhere in your notes or in the link above you can find a list of the appointments you ought to have throughout your pregnancy. Are you having them? And with the consultant? Then that's fine.

Some midwives are a bit pants. Sounds like yours is, and I can sort of understand it if you're not properly on her caseload. (No excuse, though!) If you can, I'd save questions for your appointments. I've always been told to book my next appointment at reception as I'm leaving the last one. I was told about flu vaccine etc at my booking appointment but it was all a bit of a whirl so it's also all there in a stack of info sheets at the front of my notes. Have you got those?

I'm currently trying to sideways shuffle away from the consultant and to have more appointments with midwives. The consultant I see is really lovely and patient, but she is quite focused on the medical side of it (obviously, that's her job!). When I've seen midwives I've found it nice to have a bit of "tea and sympathy" from them about how difficult pregnancy can be. My medical bits have been sorted out as far as I'm concerned so I'm hoping to just have one more consultant appointment to review my medication and then just have midwives, as it's the emotional support I can do with more and it really is their job to listen. I've also found them good at knowing what else is available that they can refer you to.

But I've given birth in two hospitals. In the first, with its massive swish new maternity centre, you were just a number being shuffled along their to do list. In the second, it might be a bit grubbier but the quality of care is way way better. If you want to do something differently, they really listen and don't just argue with you about policy. (E.g. no problem moving my early glucose test a month later so I don't end up nearly barfing all over the waiting room due to fasting and morning sickness)

My midwife is as much use as a chocolate tea pot....honestly... I had some bleeding (in 28 weeks) and her reply was well I don't know what to do with you.....umm ok...so rang hospital instead and was seen there. I wasn't expecting to be seen by her but as a midwife surely she could have given me some advice!! Anyway that's my rant about my midwife

Please remember you're not the only pregnant lady the midwife see's.

Slightly patronising.

My midwife is pretty helpful.

Whoever said matb1 form is third trimester isn't the case, you should get it from 20 weeks.

The internet can be helpful but it also can be a hindrance after all they are the professionals they know your medical history and test results so i would also text or ring your midwife for advice/questions you have first rather than Google or Mumsnet.

I've bee consultant led through this pregnancy and I saw a midwife for the first time at 38 weeks (last Tuesday) and it's the first time anyone has taken any notice of my concerns regarding my previous traumatic birth, I'm now booked for elective c section on Monday aaah! I do understand you feel like you're not getting enough care - I certainly did. Consultants are very medial and it is just regarding your medical needs, I never realised how much better it is to see a midwife!!

Regarding MATB1 - the rules have changed regarding this, it's 25 weeks for first time mum and 28 weeks for second time, they can't do it any earlier in afraid, lots of people kicking off at the hospital yesterday over it! X

Even pre covid, I didn’t have much contact from community midwife. General check up/ measurements a few times and then postnatal checks. You can ring and book appointments with them if you have concerns or questions.

I think some people need to have a bit more sympathy. I’m a first time mum and have been slightly disappointed with contact with my midwife.

We’re going into this completely unknown and if OP is anything like me, I’m quite anxious and I don’t feel like I’m have the support or knowledge that I thought I’d have. I realise that a lot of this is my expectations and that I need to readjust my perspective of the type of care I thought I’d receive.

I'm wondering the same thing OP, I havent met mine and she also told me to contact her with any problems. I've had a few issues with sickness, dehydration and back pain. I contacted her everytime and she said to go to a&e. then when I got to a&e they said my midwife should have been able to advise better than just sending me to a&e.

I’ve had 2 babies, one before covid and one during it.
Both pregnancies have been entirely midwife led and I’ve still barely seen them or had any info from them. In my experience they really don’t care until 25 weeks+ when baby would be considered viable.
My first midwife was a cow, didn’t answer any questions I had and made rude inappropriate comments.
My 2nd was lovely and really helped me get the birth I wanted. They are much more use to you From
38 weeks onwards

@Bunny2021

I think some people need to have a bit more sympathy. I’m a first time mum and have been slightly disappointed with contact with my midwife.

We’re going into this completely unknown and if OP is anything like me, I’m quite anxious and I don’t feel like I’m have the support or knowledge that I thought I’d have. I realise that a lot of this is my expectations and that I need to readjust my perspective of the type of care I thought I’d receive.

I think most posters here have been first time mums at one stage and have had to figure it out for themselves too. It’s not easy for anyone and I think that, in general, people on here are being very supportive.

Unfortunately, the nature of the system means that many mums to be are brushed off and told to go to A&E when they have concerns. Keep being the squeaky wheel and don’t feel that you can’t contact your midwife and make an appointment to see them so that you can ask questions/ share your concerns.

If you ever feel that baby’s movements are slowing down/ or stop, contact your maternity unit straight away and go in.

Don’t be out off contacting your midwife about anything you’re worried about. There are loads of groups for first time mums/ oregano to mums online where you can ask questions too.

Sorry my screen is cracked 🤣 not ‘oregano mums’ pregnant ones

I'm 30 weeks into my second pregnancy and barely had any contact. I haven't seen or heard from anyone since my 20 week scan (and even that was just the scan), haven't had my blood pressure checked since 14 weeks at a consultant appointment and only met my community midwife at my 5 minute booking appointment.

I rang our local triage last week as I'm supposed to have had a routine blood test at a 28 week appointment but heard nothing at all from them. The triage midwife assured me that someone would be in touch "this week". So far, radio silence. And I really need my MATB1 form!

I suspect that as I was discharged from consultant care no one from the midwifery team picked me up again.

I've actually bought my own blood pressure monitor to keep an eye on things. I naively believed that as more appointments were on the phone because of Covid, the contact would be better!

Thanks for the helpful replies, it sounds like it really varies dependant on where you are and who is responsible for your care.
Sounds like some of you may have mistakenly thought I was expecting special treatment when I’d just like a simple response after contacting her in the method she had asked, or not having to feel like I am fighting between the midwife and consultants advice.
If she is unable to help with simple questions which she offered to do, I am genuinely confused as to what they are there for at this stage and why I need appointments with her in addition to consultants.
Sorry to hear that some of you aren’t receiving responses & feeling unsupported too.

Agreed, I don’t want to have to rely on Google / Mumsnet etc for my personal medical advice, as proven above everyone’s experiences seem to be different re what vaccinations they receive and when, MATB1 form and the process of who and how to contact someone if you have any questions or something has been missed.
Everyone’s situation is different and some might need different involvement or support than others.