What have you called your midwife for (out of interest)?

[Peaplant20]

I always feel like I’m bothering my midwife if I want to call her and never know if I should call her directly, the community midwife or triage. Just wondered out of interest if you’ve needed to call your midwife between appointments and what for? I’ve called triage a couple of times - once for some abdominal pain and once for itching, and I know I’d have to call them if I had reduced movements (which I really hope I don’t need to call for)! Just a nosey post really, FTM so no idea what I’m doing 😂

Second pregnancy but in first I only called community midwife when I was getting bad migraines and needed checking for pre eclampsia.

This pregnancy not at all yet but only 28 weeks. I do think some women are more anxious about things than others.

My midwife wasn't nice so I ignored her and if I needed any information I went to my gp who was much more approachable and competent.

I called just once, about severe nausea and vomiting that had me mentally and physically on my knees - and basically was told to get over it...rang my GP the same day and he was amazing and put me straight onto anti emetics, which saved me.

I just rang her for itching later in pregnancy and she got me in for tests.
I had terrible anxiety through ivf and two losses and if I ever felt ill through it (used to always think his heart stopped) she was more than happy to see me to listen to heartbeat!
I loved my midwife.

Movements etc was triage like you say.

I rang the emergency midwife when I became very weak with morning sickness and honestly it was like I was bothering them and they sent me to a n e when they should have just sent me straight to the morning sickness unit in the maternity wing.

I’ve never called mine although this time I rang the EPU early on as I was having some stabbing pain on one side, needed a scan to rule out ectopic.

I've never rang the midwife or consultants between appointments for any issues, this is baby 6 (5th pregnancy to pass 1st trimester). I did need to alter my booking bloods app due to lockdown and childcare issues this time but that's it, other than that only called the team to cancel apps when I've had 1st trimester miscarriages (not the nicest calls).

I've never actually had details to get hold of 'my midwife' for any of my 3 pregnancies.

DC1 - phoned triage once and went in for reduced movements. I was in Ireland and had private health insurance that provided a 24 hour maternity line (which was for any and all questions), so did phone them early on as I had do much cramping (which I now know is entirely normal for me from start to end of my pregnancies). I had a lot of extra appointments and scans as standard so would save questions for them. My only other check was with a nurse (we had a health centre at work) to get my blood pressure checked as I couldn't shift a headache and my mum had pre eclampsia. Oh and I had a trip to the GP for a urine infection. That's actually quite a lot and definitely OTT compared to how I am now.

DC2 - was temporarily back in Ireland and was concerned I may have a waters leak so called triage who checked me.

DC3 - 28 weeks and called triage once for changed (not reduced) movements and was checked. That was not long after we'd found a problem at my 20 week scan though and I was overly anxious. Actually I did call the day after my scan to get some more information after I'd had time to absorb it.

I hate calling, always worry I'm wasting their time and feel like a bit of a muppet. However, the ladies at my closet (community) triage are amazing. They are so empathetic and have told me I can go as often as I need to for reassurance. The sonographer even told me which days she would be there if I wanted a scan between times. I am not an anxious person, but there was a point after my 20 week scan where we weren't sure if the baby would be okay. I haven't taken them up on that though and don't plan to, but I am eternally grateful for their care.

I've texted my midwife between appointments, she said that's the easiest as she is often in appointments so can't always answer. It was regarding consultant asking me to get a blood test booked in and some blood results. I called the community midwife line once when my midwife was off and they were pretty useless, said they would call me back and didn't bother. They definitely made me feel like I was wasting their time.

Honestly not called for any reason although I did have bimonthly appointments until week 36/and I'm a medic so I had a lot of contact anyway and I'm not overly anxious about symptoms generally.

I have three and I’ve been very lucky with all my pregnancies in that I’ve never needed to call between appointments.
But if you have an issue... well that’s what they’re there for! Try not to see it as bothering them. It’s their job.

Nothing, never needed to speak to anyone between appointments.

Called triage as I was having pre-eclampsia symptoms, spoke to someone who said to call back if they hadn't stopped within a few hours. Called back and was told to go to A&E to which I was baffled by and questioned, I didn't understand why they wouldn't want to see me in the antenatal unit? Got to A&E and the woman behind the desk looked at me as if I'd grown two heads when I said I'd been told to come to A&E by a midwife.
Was sent up to the antenatal unit where I was left for 40 minutes until I was finally seen. Honestly felt like they just couldn't be bothered to see me.

I've texted my midwife twice. First, I was having very heavy, watery discharge when I was only about 18 weeks. She just text back and told me to phone triage. Second, when I had (what I think) were Braxton Hicks last week, we had a conversation over text but ultimately we decided not to phone triage and to keep an eye on things.

My midwife has changed since the first time and so far the new midwife seems to be a bit better about things. However, I've received such good service in triage (I've been in twice) and despite one time having to wait 3 hours, I'd still rather call them and talk to them to see if I should come in or not.

Only called once, for help with severe SPD.

@Peaplant20 so far I’ve called for results for my blood tests and also screening tests as I was waiting a while and heard nothing back and was getting anxious.

I also wanted to ask about movements and if it’s normal not to feel any at my stage of pregnancy but I waited until my 16 week check up and asked then instead.

Not needed to call/text midwife once yet - 34wks. Its my second so I haven't seen her much either as appointments in my trust (not sure if its the same everywhere - e.g., no appointment between 16 and 29 weeks) are less if you're a second timer.

With my first I didn't need to call them either. We are to call labour ward directly for any reduced movements and I did have to call them once around 35wks and they sent me in for monitoring.

Called triage for a bleed with DC1 and reduced movements for DC2. Just called midwife for the first time ever with DC3 as DC1 had slapped cheek and couldn’t get hold of my GP. But had pretty straightforward pregnancies really.

I don't have my midwife's number - just a general hospital community midwifery dept one. I only had to phone once during first pregnancy as I'd been exposed to chickenpox through a child I worked with and wasn't sure if anything needed to be done/checked.
I'm lucky though as my DH is a GP so answers most of my medical queries! Admittedly with eyes rolling!

First pregnancy to get a "Fit to Fly" letter. (Not relevant this time round!)
This pregnancy, as soon as I'd registered as pregnant to request an ectopic rule out scan. She rang me back the next day, booked me straight into EPU. (We can't self refer to EPU in our trust.)
Then today, I text her to ask for my MatB1 form as I won't see her til 28 weeks. Mine is really lovely and friendly - very approachable :-)

I’ve only text her once as I had an awful reaction to the whooping cough vaccine and wanted to see if it was normal and how long it would last. Other than that nothing, am currently 25 weeks

I didn't contact midwife. I did get seen at the hospital antenatal unit twice. Once around 32 weeks for reduced movement and again 38 weeks after a significant bleed - ended up having emergency c section.

Fortunately I haven't had to call my midwife although I did call triage once. Just to say, never feel guilty for ringing either of them, you're pregnant for a relatively short time in the grand scheme of things and that is exactly what they are they for xx

I'm 34 weeks and fortunately haven't needed to call mine at all.

Once when a blood test was missed by the hospital and I needed a form to book it. And once for advice when I had itching, she sent me in to triage