Tension between consultant and midwives

[Peachi82]

Not sure if what I am experiencing is normal, but it makes me a bit uneasy as I don't want to be in the middle...

Midwife at the booking appointment decided on consultant led care, due to several factors. I am not too bothered, I see the risk factors as well and rather be looked after. I would have also agreed to midwife led care, if the circumstances would be better.I was under midwife led care with my first child and had an attempted home birth.

Every midwife I met since has been rolling their eyes and the last one even interrogated me why I am under consultant care and if I not know that they (the midwives) can deliver babies as well.

When I had my first consultant appointment at 16 weeks, he wanted to listen to baby's heartbeat and asked for a chaperone. It took ages for someone to come and when she came in she was very harshly saying "what is it now "doctor"?" like she was annoyed to be called in and the weird emphasis on the word "doctor".

I don't like this tension between them and this interrogation by the last midwife was very weird. She didn't even listen to my answers why this decision was made, but interrupted me with stories how many babies under which circumstances she delivered. It was a bit like she thought I insisted on consultant led because I don't trust midwives, which is not true.

No I don't think it's normal, I had consultant led care and was seen every two weeks or so and midwife was fine with it and saw me as much as I wanted. They only thing I noticed was our hospital is better than that hospital as I had crossed trusted care, but I took it with a pinch of salt

Let's hope they just happened to be having bad days and it will stop.

The healthcare at the hospital was just most likely run off her feet

Thanks for your reply.
I hope they just had an off day. It felt really weird and also the interrogation of the other midwife last week made me uneasy.

I think there can be some "territory marking" and hospitals can be very hierarchical places

I was placed under consultants care due to a badly prolapsed uterus-had a ring pessary that had to be removed/could bring on labour etc. It was a long time ago so details sketchy but I was supposed to get an epidural so I wouldn't push too soon because of prolapse.

Midwives on duty did not agree. Finally dr came to do epidural and midwife and doctor had a blazing row at the foot of my bed.
Not ideal but was all fine in the end.

Unprofessional and unacceptable behaviour. Working with people like these is the reason I took early retirement from a career I loved.
You have a couple of options, PALS is a good one and there may be a parent/service group you could approach.
If it really does appear to be a culture in that service then CQC.
This is an incredible and exciting time for you and your family, never accept anything less than competent and kind

That's really poor treatment from them, and definitely not what you need at each appointment! I would be very firm with the midwives as to why you have been placed under a consultant. If they are not happy with that, then take it further. You shouldn't have to deal with any of that, it is very unprofessional of them.

For what it's worth, I had consultant led care for my twin pregnancy. My twins were born in May. I saw my midwives as much as I needed to, and no one made me feel awkward for being under the care of a consultant.